Mpofu drives youth leadership through faith and social action
Listen Mpofu is a young lawyer and youth leader whose work focuses on empowering students and young people through faith, leadership and social action.
He is a semi-finalist under the Youth Impact Award category at The List Awards 2026.
Coming from Chikombedzi, one of Zimbabwe’s marginalised communities, Mpofu’s leadership journey was shaped by his rural upbringing and experiences of the challenges faced by young people.
He attended primary school at a farming school in Hippo Valley Estates before moving to Silveira Catholic boarding school and later studying law at the University of Zimbabwe.
In a conversation with The List Awards by Identities Media, Mpofu said his work was inspired by witnessing young people navigate education, faith and socioeconomic pressures,
“My journey is inspired by the resilience and vibrant spirit of Zimbabwean young people and students who strive to make a difference,” he says.
His involvement with the Zimbabwe Young Christian Students (ZYCS) began in high school and grew into a leadership role focused on student welfare, spiritual development and social action. Influenced by the movement’s “See, Judge, Act” methodology, Mpofu moved from observing challenges to actively addressing them.
Since 2022, he has helped expand ZYCS into new communities, leading efforts that established grassroots structures in the Dioceses of Mutare, Harare and Gokwe. Under his leadership, membership grew from 16 schools in two dioceses to 24 schools, alongside four rural community missions in Nemangwe, Gokwe.
Mpofu has also built partnerships with organisations including ZIMCODD, YETT, ACT Ubumbano, Amnesty International Zimbabwe, Jesuit Youth Ministry of Southern Africa and the National Movement of Catholic Students.
He mobilised 85 participants for the 2025 annual workcamp, with participation rising to 135 in 2026.
“I also helped set up the very first office for Southern Africa Young Christian Students with myself as Assistant Coordinator,” Mpofu says.
His leadership journey has also taken him into human rights, climate justice and emerging leadership programmes, including training under Amnesty International Zimbabwe, Transparency International Zimbabwe, the Raoul Wallenberg Institute and WeLead Africa.
For Mpofu, recognition at The List Awards provides an opportunity to take his work further.
“Winning this, especially as a young leader, means I will be placed in a position to scale my impact beyond national borders and grow the scope of my work,” he added.
His work continues to centre on creating opportunities for young people, particularly those from rural communities, while using faith, law and leadership to promote values, participation and social responsibility.