House of Mutapa July Issue

HOUSE OF MUTAPA Striving To Inspire

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HOUSE OF MUTAPA Striving To Inspire

contents 3 - EDITORIAL 18 - COVER STORY - Tsitsi Dangarembga: Conversation with a Literary Icon WRITER’S CORNER 10 - The Woman With the Twisted Hair by Kudzai Mhangwa YOUNG MUTAPA 30 - Farai Hoko - Zimbabwean American Footballer in China GAMECHANGERS: Transforming Communities 4 - Alfred Chidembo - Engineer and Founder of Aussie Books for Zim 7 - Uzillah Hove - Entrepreneur & Business Coach GAMECHANGERS: The Changing Face of Medicine 23 - Dr Cyril Ruwende - Interventional Cardiologist 25 - Malone Mukwende - Medical Student and Co-author of Mind the Gap 27 - Bothwell Kabayira - Medical Student and Founder of Zimbabwe Allied Medical Professional Association LEADERSHIP 12 - Be True to Your Values by Fitzgerald Mujuru THE COVID-19 DIARIES 15 - Dear Corona by Maita Musara FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER 9/21/29 - TinoNyandoro Photography

cover designed by rr chawota picture by hannah mentz magazine designs and layouts by rr chawota Editor In Chief - Rhoda Molife; Creative Design Director - Rodney Rumbidzai Chawota; Chairman - Godwin Chireka; Public Relations Director - Simba Harawa; Social Media Marketing Expert - Rumbidzai Chakanza Mamvura; Public Relations Executive - Vannesa Moosa HOUSE OF MUTAPA PVT LTD is a Registered Trademark. South Africa. Copyright 2020.

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HOUSE OF MUTAPA Striving To Inspire

editorial

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elcome to the first issue of the second half of the year.

Malone Mukwende and Bothwell Kabayira in England and Cyril Ruwende in the US are changing the face of medicine by spotting gaps and filling them, Aussie-based engineer Alfred Chidembo is transforming the lives of children in rural Zimbabwe with reclaimed books and Uzillah Hove is galvanizing women to develop their entrepreneurial skills in Harare. Young Mutapa Farai Hoko couldn’t find anywhere to play his beloved sport of rugby when he moved to China, so he started playing American football, now plays in the Chinese league and is making moves to elevate the sport in Zimbabwe. I really encourage you to read their stories and be inspired to be the change you want to be and see, and remember, size doesn’t matter here. Fitzgerald Mujuru is also back with a feature on self-leadership, something that our game changers know all about.

We’re so thrilled to have on this month’s cover the wonderful literary giant and champion of the arts that is Tsitsi Dangarembga. Did you know that her book Nervous Conditions was listed as one of the BBC’s ‘100 Books That Shaped The World’ in 2018?

If you haven’t read it – now is the time. I will admit that I read it for the first time about 18 months ago which was 30 years after it was first published mostly because I grew up on Caribbean literature and literature from other African countries – that’s a whole other discussion! But I will say that even though I was late to the party, this is a book with a character that I will never forget, and neither will you. When you read the conversation that we had with her, and then read the book, or the other way round, you will understand the genius of it all.

Finally, as we celebrate Zimbabwean literature with our cover feature, we’re also delighted to share original work from two young budding writers - Kudzai Mhangwa and Maita Musara. Remember these names…and remember HoM told you first! And oh, as you flip the pages, feast your eyes on some striking scenes of Zimbabwe taken by Harare-based photographer Tendai Nyandoro.

This month, we have an edition packed full of gamechangers. To make an impact in your sphere, circle, field, community, whatever you may call it, it’s about flipping the script to make a lasting and significant change – this is what game changers do.

What our features beautifully demonstrate is that it is often small and simple changes that can transform the way we do things; and it’s also about being able to recognise opportunities – again they don’t need to be massive ones – then making a decision to act on those opportunities.

Enjoy!

Rhoda Editor-in-Chief & Strategy Executive

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Photo Credit: Siyano Photography

GAMECHANGERS: Transforming Communities

Aussie Books for Zimbabwe 4

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Alfred Chidembo alfchidembo@aussiebooksforzim.org

Photo Credit: Siyano Photography

All over the world, committed Africans are helping to solve issues that strengthen and forward the cause for human sustenance. From medical aid, commerce, community services and drilling down to mining within the resources sector, these educated and skilled Africans are going above and beyond to excel in all they do. For most, their upbringing and the environs they were raised in fuels their passion to change the livelihoods of those left behind.

The harsh truth is that despite the many who succeed whether through adversity or not, Africa’s education crisis seldom makes media headlines or summit agendas. Of all regions, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of education exclusion, with over one-fifth of children between the ages of six and 11 and approximately one-third between the ages of 12 and 14 that do not attend school. Further, according to UNESCO Institutes for Statistics data, almost 60% of those between the ages of 15 and 17 do not receive any schooling. Of those that do attend school, the majority still have limited resources to equip them well for the future.

communities through books – in both Zimbabwe and Australia. Often these children are thirsty for knowledge but lack the right resources. Through its libraries, children from the two continents are connected by a platform for knowledge exchange and sharing in a way that is sustainable and beneficial for both. By simply collecting books from Australian children, families and libraries to establish libraries in rural Zimbabwe, an important connection for collaboration with far reaching impact was established.

For one, literacy and education improves. Providing books is just the beginning - ABZ goes further and works to provide a safe and secure environment for cataloguing and storage by providing furniture, shelving and training to fully equip these libraries for use by the whole community.

An education is not just a fundamental human right, it’s pivotal to increasing employment and income opportunities making it fundamental in breaking the cycle of poverty. It’s key to unlocking the golden door of freedom for all in Africa and is the bedrock of social and economic development and an investment in human capital. More than benefiting the individual, it’s a catalyst for change for families, communities and nations. To effect lasting change, all efforts need to focus on education.

The Birth of Aussie Books for Zim

A unique feature of ABZ is that it centres on community participation to promote ownership, buy-in and sustainability. The scheme encourages the establishment of library committees, comprising of students, teachers and community members. Training is conducted by Zimbabwe-based volunteer librarians to ensure the proper implementation of library systems and to give the committee the capacity to run the library independently. One of the things that has emerged from this type of exchange has seen the beneficiaries engage in small-scale economic activities that have provided opportunities to them despite the poverty and a lack of education.

Aussie Books for Zim (ABZ) launched in May 2015 after CEO and founder, Dr Alfred Chidembo, found that a huge volume of books in excellent condition were being discarded annually from libraries, schools and other sectors in Australia. Reflecting on his journey from a barefooted six-year-old boy born and raised in the rural community of Mudzi in Mutoko, to completing his PhD in Electrochemistry and Energy Storage, he realised an opportunity to ‘turn trash into treasure’ and was galvanised into action.

“The sight immediately brought to memory the children in disadvantaged rural communities in Zimbabwe where I originate from. My passion and appreciation for books came about when I was seven years old and my father moved me to the city from a small remote village in the north-eastern part of Zimbabwe. There, he registered me at the local town library as a personal investment in my future. I was very fortunate for this move, to escape a vicious cycle of poverty that has entangled and crippled many of my friends who never had the opportunity to leave”

Life, Hope and Opportunity ABZ is about life, hope and opportunity. To fulfil these three virtues requires support from and collaboration with partners with shared values and a sense of corporate social responsibility. The key stakeholders for ABZ are the communities they undertake work for.

In five short years, Alfred and his team have established nine libraries within schools, impacted over 20,000 children, shipped more than 90,000 books saving them from landfill and provided invaluable

The organisation is an Australian-registered charity that aims to empower children in disadvantaged

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HOUSE OF MUTAPA Striving To Inspire resources for even more libraries to be set up in rural Zimbabwe. It’s been a simple and easy concept in the sense that, what is considered ‘trash’ in the developed world is treasure in another - treasure that can empower somebody to achieve a level of success that can impact generations. There is no doubt that access to books opens a world of opportunities to any child regardless of their location and environment.

Alfred has a big vision -- to empower one million children over ten years and create a reading revolution within African communities. This task, while daunting, is achievable through the support of strong corporate social responsibility initiatives.

ABZ has already made significant strides towards this goal with a further 150,000+ books ready for shipping to various communities eager for learning and literacy. He believes that with the right resources within their reach these children can scale to greater heights and become professionals in their own right. ABZ are empowering and providing them with opportunities to realise their dreams. It all starts with a book and a safe place to discover their world: a library.

The biggest win for ABZ has been the recent construction of a free-standing library at Chatsworth Primary School, located near the Gaths/Mashava and Dorowa mining complexes and officially opened by the Australian Ambassador to Zimbabwe. This year, 2020, sees ABZ set to construct two more libraries with the assistance of a grant provided by the Australian Embassy through the Direct Aid Programme.

Alfred Chidembo is a PhD graduate from the Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials at the University of Wollongong, Australia. He is a Wollongong Australia Day Citizen of the Year nominee and the recipient of the Wollongong Lord Mayor’s Excellence Award.

“Initially, we thought this was about books only, until we started seeing the impact within the communities. It is actually about life, hope and opportunity”

For more on ABZ go to:

The Vision for the Future

https://aussiebooksforzim.org/

Photo Credit: Siyano Photography

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UZILLAH HOVE

Empower a Woman, Empower a Community, Empower a Nation

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beyond the cultural shift – creating opportunities for women. One of these is Uzillah Munyengeterwa Hove.

Vannesa Moosa vannesach@gmail.com

Uzillah Munyengeterwa Hove hails from Rusape in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe. She is an established entrepreneur, life and business coach and mentor. After many years of being a housewife, Uzillah now owns Today’s Kitchen an organisation that helps women build their homes. In 2015, she founded Today’s Business and Development Trust (TBDT), an empowerment and personal development programme for women. It engages them through innovative participatory programmes tailor-made to deliver tangible socio-economic solutions for entrepreneurial growth. The strategy of the trust has seen members take business trips to countries such as Tanzania and China where they learn from their peers in different countries. Business seminars are also held to ensure the women are empowered in

Since the turn of the millennium, women have been finally truly acknowledged as integral to societal development. Most governments, organisations and civic societies now advocate for the empowerment of girls and women for the overall growth and development of nations. Gone are the days when women are viewed as just the child bearers and caregivers in the home. Even if it is recognised that women can do more than that, the opportunities for them to thrive remain limited. This situation is not only true for our country and the rest of the continent but also in many western cultures, even if indeed there are greater freedoms than ever before.

In Zimbabwe, there are many individuals at the forefront of the movement of driving the next step

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all aspects. The Trust has membership in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, the United Kingdom and Australia.

of the Year by the International Coaching and Mentoring Foundation. However, her true reward lies in the achievements of those who have been part of the TBDT programmes:-

“I believe each woman is endowed with God-given talent. We need to tap into that talent for women to realise their potential and step out to become the best version of themselves and achieve many seemingly impossible dreams”

“Being in business and owning properties is a thing that has been looked at as a man’s responsibility. TBDT has changed the mind-set of so many people thinking that way. I now own properties in Harare, and run my own retail clothing business, all through the mentorship and guidance of Uzillah and the TBDT. I’m my own person and I’ve learnt proper business ethics, financial literacy and there now is a shift in my mind-set. I believe in myself, I work hard and I know where I want to get from where I am.”

One of Uzillah’s objectives is to bring women from all walks of life together and mentor them through to entrepreneurial success. “I would like to alleviate poverty, inequality and other life adversaries facing women in the 21st century. I believe that a woman has strength beyond that which she can comprehend and through determination and soldiering on in the most difficult times, she can achieve greatness beyond her imagination.”

~ Vimbai Chasi Kamukapa “Mai Hove taught me not to look down on myself. I attended her seminars and what she always taught us was to not despise humble beginnings. I have grown from being that mother who would fight for the television remote with the kids, to a responsible woman who endeavours to make sure her children are well fed and have enough clothes for winter. From selling samosas in the street I now own a mobile kitchen and sell my food online and door to door.”

Using her skills as a life and business coach, Uzillah has helped women achieve many seemingly impossible dreams through her work. Individuals are encouraged and given practical support to work for themselves in various income-generating projects.

They are taught to invest profits effectively while ensuring their projects remain sustainable, a challenge that sees other businesses fail. Some of the projects borne out of TBDT include housing, motor vehicle financing, household furniture, appliances, grocery financing and even burial assistance.

~ Shelter Mavhima, caterer and tailor To find out more about Uzillah and TBDT go to: Website: https://todaysbusinesswomen.org/

Most women who have worked with Uzillah say her humility makes her approachable and easy to work with and she has become more of a sister, friend and confidante for many. She also not only helps women manage their businesses but mentors them to run their homes, guiding them through the principles of things as simple (but important) as managing groceries, acquiring assets in the home and becoming a person of integrity.

Facebook: Today’s Kitchen and Home with Uzie/Today’s Businesswomen and Development

To add to the armamentarium for business success, Uzillah has written a book called The Gift of a Woman. It’s a guide to how a woman can discover her God-given talents first and use them to realise financial freedom and self-fulfilment. She launches another book, Shift, this month. Needless to say, Uzillah has become an inspiration for women from all backgrounds and has gained well-deserved recognition for her work in and outside Zimbabwe. In 2018, she received the SERO Leadership Award and last year (2019), she was named the Business Coach

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Tino Nyandoro is a Zimbabwe-based photographer and founder of TinoNyandoro Photography.

He dreams in black and white. His first child will be named Jpeg. He doesn’t know why he loves photography, but he can’t imagine himself ever doing anything else.

IG: @tinonyandoro

Chasing Sunsets

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writer’s corner

The Woman With The Twisted Hair

by Kudzai Mhangwa

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he woman with the twisted hair never skipped mass. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to say that each time I chose to attend mass she was there. She always sat in the same pew, the second one from the entrance and never uttered a word during the service. I had observed how she only moved her lips, not letting any solid sentence take shape. Did she actually know the order of mass, I had wondered? I was driven to sit beside her one day to find out, but I decided not to.

She lived in the flats opposite the church building.

One day I saw her getting her hair done by Rutendo whilst sitting under the mango tree. Rutendo also lived in the block of flats which had seen better days. The walls were muddied while the pipes were clogged and sang out a song to the tune of rotten food and human waste. The woman’s afro was combed out and fashioned into small twists.

She handed Rutendo five US dollars when she was finished and walked away without saying a word.

I approached Rutendo to find out more about the

woman. She said she smelt of rose oil and that her hair was blanket soft. She did not know the woman’s name, even though she had done her hair a few times.

The woman’s speech was unordered, saying anything about anything at any time. One minute she would talk about the latest newspaper headline of a cheating wife being stabbed by her husband; the next moment she would complain about the rising prices of food; then she would say she was planning on getting a new antenna for her television. Rutendo concluded that she would never have a proper conversation with the woman.

There was a rumour that the woman was deported from the United States or the United Kingdom or France; the country of deportation depended on the source of the rumour. Some said that she was married to a rich, white man who spoiled her and gave her everything that she wanted. That could well have been true because she had pure gold rings on each finger of her left hand; the ring finger had an additional one with a large jewel which shimmered like

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HOUSE OF MUTAPA Striving To Inspire water teeming with algae. Even the clothes she wore looked expensive like they were Louis Vuitton or Versace or that brand I had seen in Glamour magazine but could not pronounce - Yves Saint Laurent.

Her face was quite beautiful; it was round with large, intelligent eyes and a well-sculpted nose as if she had plastic surgery done. I wanted to believe that she came from the United States because I could imagine her in the glossy weaves that African-Americans wear.

against people and that she had used her witchcraft to get the flat she was living in. They also said that she did not go to church to pray but to cast spells on the people who attended mass. Her hands were charcoal black because it was a side effect of her medicines, according to these same people. The man who sold newspapers on the street corner told me that one day, he saw her through her window, dancing with her arms stretched up as if she wanted to pull down the ceiling and with facial expressions that looked as if she was chewing a hard piece of meat.

Nobody ever took what he said seriously though.

This was the man who once claimed that he attended the one o’clock mass - a service done in Portuguese.

Others told me that she was a witch from Mutoko who had found herself in Harare. A family that lived in the same block of flats said they recognized her from one of their trips there for a funeral. They say she had gone mad from all the medicines she used

Then one day when I was about to get my own hair done by Rutendo, I met Mai Tendai who said she would clear up any rumours I had heard about the woman. Mai Tendai had something to say about the whole neighbourhood. Not a single week went by when she did not get into a scuffle or outright fight with another woman. Anyway, she said that the woman was a prostitute and that she barely spoke because she did not want people to find out. Mai Tendai swore on her late husband’s grave that she was telling the truth. I accepted it.

Rutendo was late by ten minutes. As I stood waiting, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the woman with the twisted hair walk towards me. She asked to have her hair re-done. Her voice was like a muted trumpet. I calmly explained to her that I was not Rutendo. Her smooth forehead broke into gorges of frowned lines and she spat out, ‘Bien, alors j’irai!’, before storming off across the street. I knew she had spoken in French because I remembered my high school French teacher would write bien in my book when I scored at least 50%.

I finally came up with my own version of the woman’s biography; she had worked as a prostitute and exotic dancer in France before returning to Zimbabwe. She had practised witchcraft at some point in her life, but I was not sure when. That was the story that I would tell others. I watched as she walked over to the mango tree, pick a mango and sit under its shade, sucking on the perfectly ripe fruit, her skin shining like a precious jewel.

I decided then that I would ask Rutendo to do my hair like that of the woman with the twisted hair.

Kudzai Mhangwa is a final year student at the Catholic University of Zimbabwe studying Business Management and IT. He writes poetry, plays, short stories and essays and is also an amateur actor.

His work has been featured in Thinking Out Loud, Poetry Soup, All Poetry and Love and Love Poets.

Connect with the author here: Facebook: Kudzai Mhangwa Instagram: kudzaimhangwa Email: krmhangwa@yahoo.com

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LEADERSHIP

SELF-LEADERSHIP

BE TRUE TO YOUR

VALUES by Fitzgerald Mujuru

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e often find ourselves in unpredictable situations where we have to make the right choice.

This is not however the time to decide where you stand. I believe that if you are going to achieve greatness you must pre-define what your value system is. What is it that really matters to you in terms of moral character, integrity in business and having a reference point from which you make decisions?

If you are going to be truly self-led and remain true to yourself you need to have clear moral, ethical or spiritual values.

determine what your values are in terms of your spiritual life, family, intellectual life, wellness, fitness, personal wealth, business values and career.

When you come unstuck and don’t know what to do, refer to those values. I once worked for a company that had a ‘code of business principles’ that they adhered to with all strictness, even if it meant shutting down operations in certain countries. As far as I can remember they never flinched on that. Did it cost them some opportunities? Yes! They suffered major setbacks in terms of the operations, but the company survived the terrible times.

I’m sure you have heard it said before that when you are in Rome do as the Romans do. It works if the intention is relevance and blending in with societal norms so that you do not become a misfit. It’s not good advice if it means you have to bend your values and become a chameleon that changes its colour to suit its surroundings. Character inconsistencies cannot be your portion if you are going to be a selfled person of high integrity. It is important to know what your values are so that you are consistent in your character, making your actions predictable in whatever environment you find yourself in.

You may be challenged to bend the rules and cut corners for instant gratification and temporary gains particularly when times are tough economically. It’s possible that you won’t get that big order or miss the opportunity to make quick, easy money – but that’s alright! I was once fired from a job as a sales manager because I was not producing results.

I never seemed to be able to close a sale because the buyers with the ‘big bucks’ expected to be bribed. It was against my values to partake in this culture and I lost out because I stood my ground. For me it was important to be true to my values, so I let opportunities pass… and I’m still here. I guarantee you that faced with a similar choice, no matter what, if you stand by your values, you will survive and emerge on the other side with your integrity, reputation and values intact. You will be able to attract opportunities where that kind of integrity is a requirement for success.

I can recall my own inconsistencies in my school days. There was a time when it was frowned upon to listen to secular music in our Christian circles.

So, we all publicly declared that we wouldn’t do it.

Being in boarding school, it was easy to ‘uphold’ this value during the school term because the opportunities for exposure were few and far between. The story would change when it was the school holidays though. As soon as I got home, I would be the first one to turn up the volume on the radio. My favourite radio station played secular hits all day and I was in my element.

Fitzgerald Mujuru has extensive experience and expertise in marketing and sales, and management for top global brands. He is also a sales trainer and business consultant specializing in marketing, personal development and coaching.

Fitzgerald has given numerous seminars to various companies, entrepreneurs and leadership groups and has appeared on a number of radio programmes discussing aspects of leadership and personal development. He has also written three books - Power Thought for Today: Success Motivation, Winning Ways: Precept Upon Precept and This Christian Life - and several online magazine articles. His motivational, training, sales/marketing and leadership seminars have been well attended and highlighted as thought-provoking and value-adding.

Now, you would say that this was just the effects of peer-pressure - normal for a teenage high school student. How many times have we in our adult lives stood for what we believed in when it was convenient and backed down when it was uncomfortable to stay true to our ethical values? We often go for expedience rather than what we believe is the right thing to do. Therefore, there is need to clarify our values so that they become a compass that directs our path, shapes our decisions and guides what we prioritize.

Clear values are the cornerstone upon which life is built. These are non-negotiable guiding principles that determine what you will or will not do whether someone is watching or not, whether you get caught or not. They are a mechanism for self-accountability.

Values will steer you in the right direction at school, work, in your marriage or in whatever circumstance you find yourself in. It takes talent to be a success, but clear values are the backbone of sustained success. It does not matter which way the wind blows you are firm, solid and grounded in what you believe in.

Values simplify life because you have made up your mind as to who you are and from then onward you are simply maintaining that identity. You need to

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MAITA MUSARA 15

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M ly.

aita Musara,12, is a high school student who lives in Newport, South Wales, UK with her fami-

She recently won 1st place in the Senior Category of the Lagos-based Princess Omalie and Zolala 2020 Essay Competition with her poem about the ongoing COVID19 pandemic. The judges found the poem to be original and funny with a clever use of satire.

Dear Corona, Well done!

You’re famous now, Known in every nation and every city; Every town and every country You’ve taken the innocent lives of many What a killer you are Have you had fun ruining people’s plans?

Was it exciting, amazing, fantastic seeing people self-isolate in their own homes?

Filled hospitals no end; Made people sick ‘round the bend Why have you done this?

My childhood is gone; Vanished because of your wicked ways Why, oh why corona have you done this?

Was hiding not good enough for you?

My amusing, enjoyable high school days were taken away from me Just like that, Out the window Now all I do is sit in front of a screen, Trying to find some sort of entertainment; But life has been drained from me

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Plans to go shopping, birthdays, holidays all taken away Do you think I’m happy?

“Stay inside,” is all I hear on the news I’m sick and tired of this life, I want to be around civilization; Making plans to go to town with my friends, But instead I’m locked up in my own home Trips, proms and things all ruined, Because of you Does it make you feel guilty?

Disappointed? Sorry?

Your frightening reign of terror, Destroying people’s lives Breaking hearts of many, driving people crazy Are you proud?

Funny how it hasn’t affected you, Except for the fact That you have visited every community, every society; Every gender, every race How lucky you think you must be!

Oh, what wonders you have seen, But… go away corona!

No one wants you here anymore You weren’t even welcome here in the first place, I’m not happy and you shouldn’t be either

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cover story

Tsitsi Dangarembga 18 Photo Credit: Mateusz Zaboklicki

HOUSE OF MUTAPA Striving To Inspire

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were meant to be grateful for what they received.

Rhoda Molife rhoda@houseofmutapa.com

You became a writer because… … I love story telling, whether it’s drama, poetry, prose or film. I love the process of making up worlds, getting to know characters, giving them space to grow and communicating with them. Early in my career, reactions from readers who interacted with my work were a shock. I had basically been having fun and fulfilling a need of my own. It was a privilege to find out that fulfilling my own needs through storytelling gifted other people with a positive experience. This love of storytelling was bequeathed to me by a wonderful, gentle, older cousin-brother, who would gather us round and tell us folk tales.

Tsitsi Dangarembga, the award-winning writer and filmmaker, was born in Mutoko, Zimbabwe.

Her first novel written in 1988, Nervous Conditions was hailed by Doris Lessing as one of the most important novels of the 20th century and was included in the BBC’s 2018 list of the ‘100 Books That Shaped the World’. The Book Of Not (2006) and This Mournable Body (2018) complete the trilogy that started with Nervous Conditions.

In 2005, her short musical, Kare Kare Zvako Mother’s Day was screened at Sundance. Tsitsi then founded the Institute of Creative Arts for Progress in Africa (ICAPA) in 2009 and its publishing division in 2014. She runs capacity building programmes for African women filmmakers, in addition to fundraising for her productions.

What was your first publication?

It was a number of poems in the University of Zimbabwe student periodical.

And of all of your literary works, which, if any, has a special place in your heart?

Tsitsi is currently writing Sai-Sai And The Great Ancestor Of Fire, a dystopic, speculative fiction work for young adults.

All my major literary works have a special place in my heart. They’re like children. Each has its own special character and is significant for having occupied a certain period in my life, bringing with it its own lessons.

Your novel Nervous Conditions was listed as one of the BBCs ‘100 Books That Shaped the World’ in 2018. What inspired the story?

And in film?

Nervous Conditions was inspired by a desire to put African girls into literature. Growing up the only black girl I had encountered in literature was Fanta in Camara Laye’s The African Child. Otherwise it was a case of being mildly astonished when I came across golliwogs in Enid Blyton.

I do have a favourite film, my short musical Kare Kare Zvako - Mother’s Day. It’s based on an old Shona folk tale. That was the one and only time that I received funding to tell a story dear to my heart. I was able to experiment with form and genre with quite a lot of freedom.

And was the plan always to make Tambu’s story a trilogy?

What prompted the move into films and theatre?

I wrote and produced stage drama at the University of Zimbabwe at the same time that I wrote prose and poetry. Nervous Conditions was not accepted for publication for several years after I wrote it. That led me to think I did not have a career in writing and so I applied to film school.

I didn’t plan a trilogy when I started Nervous Conditions. When it was published, it became clear to me that the story had not come to a real conclusion with both the young female characters entering new, life-changing situations at the end of the book.

My then publisher asked me to write a sequel. As I worked on the sequel, I realised the story would become a trilogy. I liked the subversion that a whole three volumes dedicated to a little African girl from a village would bring.

You also started your own publishing house ICAPA. What can we expect to see from ICAPA? Icapa Publishing published an anthology of short stories by Zimbabwean writers in 2014. It’s called A Family Portrait and is about the creeping violence that is so entrenched in Zimbabwean society. At the same time, we Zimbabweans like to reassure ourselves that we’re a peace-loving nation. I think positive transformation can only occur where people are able to face themselves. A Family Portrait contributes to that process of seeing the self, individual and collective, in all its untransformed nakedness.

Icapa Publishing also invented the ani-book. These are e-books in which illustrations are animated and I’m working on a project to produce three children’s ani-books.

Can you share a little about your childhood in Zimbabwe?

Well, it was informed by having spent four years in England where I moved to with my family when I was two years old. My stay in England meant English was my first language. I wasn’t prepared culturally for the encounter with Zimbabwe, then Rhodesia, when I returned and started school. The teasing by some of the bullies in the senior school was dreadful. They would laugh if I hurt myself and taunt me about where I ‘came from’. I remember almost always being alone and I don’t think my parents were prepared to guide me through the transition. People didn’t care about the minds and emotions in black bodies at the time, in the 1960s. Black bodies, minds and emotions

A lesson you learnt after living in the diaspora is…

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Photo Credit: Prabook.com

… I take myself with me, baggage and all, wherever I go.

What are two of the biggest challenges you faced in your career and how did you tackle them?

Two big challenges I face are finding a social and cultural ecosystem to support my creative ambitions and finding resources to enable me to work. The digital era has made finding a supportive ecosystem much easier. It also enables me to read more as I don’t have to be in a place physically to buy a book.

Obtaining resources to finance my writing, film and capacity building projects continues to be a big hurdle but I give myself an ‘A’ for persistence!

How do we keep the arts alive and viable for artists in an economic and social crisis like we have in Zimbabwe?

It’s a huge task. Repressive regimes do not favour the arts as the arts allow people to express themselves and also put ideas into communities in new ways that can be inspirational. Africans in general and Zimbabweans in particular need to grow into an understanding of the vital role the arts play in regulating and regenerating societies. Wealthy Africans, Zimbabweans included, eagerly donate significant sums to projects such as renovating Notre Dame or to an Ivy League college like Harvard or Yale but are not interested in donating to a similar extent to homegrown arts initiatives on the continent. I find this kind of ignorance quite shocking.

… At the moment, pray.

The last thing you do at the end of your day is… … At the moment, pray or listen to sacred music. I might do something else while I listen to sacred music, such as wind down with social media.

What’s the last thing that you read…for pleasure?!

I’m fortunate that I freelance. This means all my reading is for pleasure. No one gives me lists of works I’m obliged to engage with. I’m currently reading Vasabjit Banerjee’s Undoing the Revolution: Comparing Elite Subversion of Peasant Rebellions for the light it sheds on Zimbabwe’s crisis.

Are your children interested in following your footsteps? What advice do you give them?

The good thing is that choices have expanded since I began my career so, I made sure to let my children study whatever they wanted to. I’ve encouraged them to find professions they can enjoy, earn a living practicing, and to work towards an arts career later in life if they still feel moved to.

What’s one thing you’d like to do that you haven’t done yet?

I would like to get my African women filmmakers’ programme up and running.

Find out more about Tsitsi’s work and follow her here:

Do you have any writing rituals?

Twitter: @efie41209591

No. My writing patterns generally depend on the rest of my schedule at any given time.

http://www.icapatrust.org/

The first thing you do when you wake up is…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIlZEJbp17Y

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Photo Credit: Michigan Heart IHA

Gamechangers: The Changing Face of Medicine

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Rodney Rumbidzai Chawota rodney@houseofmutapa.com Dr Cyril Ruwende, MD PhD is a board-certified cardiologist specialising in interventional cardiology, and is the medical director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at St Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor in Michigan USA. As an interventional cardiologist, Cyril and his team use catheter-based techniques to diagnose and treat a variety of heart and blood vessel diseases.

He is an alumni of St George’s College in Harare, graduating in 1986, before going on to study medicine on the Gradwell Bequest Scholarship at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ). He maintains strong links with his alma mater visiting the school whenever he returns home and is proud to say that it remains an incredible institution.

He graduated from UZ with honours and was then awarded the Rhodes Scholarship to complete a Masters in Diagnostic Imaging as well as a Doctorate in Immunogenics at Oxford University in the UK. That was back in 1992. Though he has fond memories of his days as a postgraduate student at Oxford, he remembers being constantly reminded that he was an outsider by the Brits. At times he would be even asked when he was going back to his country, and that’s when he realised that if he were to stay there, he would certainly not get past the glass ceiling as far as his career was concerned.

Photo Credit: Linda Kawka

selves as well. He also points out that because of the economic impact of COVID-19, a lot of people have lost their jobs in the healthcare system. Then, the inadequacies of the US healthcare system have been exposed at national level with an uncoordinated and fragmented approach to the crisis. He also points out how the entire issue has been politicised and that there ought to be clinical trials for robust therapies and the discovery and widespread global use of a safe and effective vaccine.

In 1996 he moved to the US and completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in cardiovascular diseases and interventional cardiology at John Hopkins University in Baltimore. His initial plan was to pursue a career in infectious diseases but he fell in love with cardiology; he was particularly drawn to interventional cardiology because it allowed him to treat patients with both drugs and procedures. He then joined the University of Michigan as an assistant professor in the cardiology division before starting his own private practice, and after having grown frustrated with the “hierarchy and politics of life in academia.”

“Systemic racism in the US is real particularly for blacks who are the African descendants of slaves” And then there is the second crisis that’s hit the country… again - that of racism. He recalls that 24 years ago, “before the George Floyd incident,” when he arrived in the US, he was given “the talk” by his African-American friends about how to behave as a black man in America and avoid getting shot by the police. He had always been a fan of African-American culture and was surprised by the extent of poverty, poor education and single parenthood of some black neighbourhoods. He admits to initially being judgemental about African-Americans, but after understanding the legacy of slavery, Jim Crow Laws, housing and banking policies, the inequalities of the criminal justice system and police brutality against people of colour he is now filled with admiration for their resilience.

Despite the US being a “divided country”, it’s been the best place he’s lived in, out of the three. “There is a culture of rugged individualism and often unchecked capitalism that at times hurts the collective and particularly the less well-off in society. The political system has become quite dysfunctional and from a policy perspective, appears unable to meet the challenges of today’s world. All the same, it’s been quite welcoming with an intoxicating dynamism and energy. America offers motivated immigrants a lot of opportunities to achieve to their best potential and fulfill their dreams. As opposed to the UK, meritocracy is the order of the day in the US.”

“I am cautiously hopeful that the majority of Americans now accept that systemic racism and white privilege in America are real and that policies to address these issues need to be crafted and implemented. The November 2020 election will reveal whether this optimism is justified or not because the choice between the status quo and change will be very clear”

What are his thoughts on the state we are in with the COVID-19 pandemic? COVID-19 has “turned the world upside down” and healthcare professionals have had to quickly adjust the way they deliver care to patients effectively whilst protecting them-

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HOUSE OF MUTAPA Striving To Inspire

Photo Credit: Michigan Heart IHA

Though Cyril has achieved great success in a highly specialised field of medicine in the US, his heart remains in Zimbabwe. It’s been “heartbreaking” to watch home disintegrate as it has over the last two decades. He recalls how in the early 2000s, his hard working parents watched as nearly five decades worth of their retirement funds were wiped out in just a few years. As far as the healthcare system is concerned he acknowledges that there has been a

massive “brain drain” but knows that he must find a way to get more involved with healthcare and education back home.

And what’s the secret to success from where he stands? “Career success will come when there is hard work, personal values, motivation, passion for one’s chosen field, high parental expectations, great mentorship and a bit of luck!”

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HOUSE OF MUTAPA Striving To Inspire

M

Malone Mukwende

alone Mukwende is a Zimbabwean-born medical student at St George’s Hospital Medical School in London; he recently completed his second year.

Tell us about Mind the Gap – how did you land on the idea?

So I’ve created this hand book about the signs and symptoms of diseases as they appear on black and brown skin. I’m hoping that this resource can shift the culture of medical education here in the UK.

This month he made national and international headlines after releasing the clinical handbook Mind The Gap with his co-authors. He penned the manual after recognising that there was no clinical teaching on signs of illness in black or brown skins. The publication has been lauded as one that ‘decolonizes the medical curriculum’ and Baroness Thornton paid tribute to his ground-breaking move in the House of Lords on 14 July 2020 as they debated ethnic diversity in medical education and learning.

When I started medical school, I noticed the lack of teaching about darker skins. We were often being taught to look for symptoms such as red rashes. I knew that I would never see a red rash on my own skin. When I flagged this to my tutors it was clear that they didn’t know of any other way to describe these conditions and I knew then that I had to make a change to that. After extensive discussions with peer tutors and lecturers, it was clear there was a major gap in medical education and a lot of the time I was being told to go and look for the answers myself.

Outside of medicine, Malone is a keen fashion enthusiast and photographer, and some of his images have even been published in Vogue Italia.

Rhoda Molife

I then undertook a staff-student partnership at my university with two lecturers, Margot Turner and Peter Tamony, who helped me to create Mind the Gap.

rhoda@houseofmutapa.com

How long did it take to get here?

Malone, we were so excited to see the news about how you are literally changing the face of medicine. Welcome to House of Mutapa!

So we started production of the work in October 2019.

by

And is it a textbook?

Hi! Thank you for featuring me in this brilliant magazine.

Yes, it is. We are currently working on publishing and how to distribute it.

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HOUSE OF MUTAPA Striving To Inspire definitely exceed 100. In my immediate family it’s two of us and my parents… and none are doctors.

Would you say there is something unique about a young British-Zimbabwean’s experience that’s different to that of other British Africans? Any similarities?

I don’t think I can say that we are part of the Black British generation. There is almost a sense of estrangement because we are too ‘Zim’ for the British and too British for the Zims. We occupy this unique space, but I cannot yet put a name to that space.

I hear you are a keen photographer and a mad fashion lover! And your photography has been published?

Yes so, my work has been featured in Vogue Italia’s online submission form Photo Vogue. I’ve now had five pictures featured on the service and for me that’s incredible because I’ve only been doing photography for about seven months. I hope to get more features in the future though.

The medical school experience so far has been… … An interesting experience… an interesting love and hate journey! There are aspects of the course which I really enjoy and others that are not so great.

Overall though it’s been good. It has helped me to develop as a person. The complexities of the course have taught me some very important life lessons, especially resilience.

How do you want to see it used?

I’d like to see it in all medical institutions, worldwide, from GP practices, hospitals and healthcare libraries around the world. Mind the Gap should be the staple go-to resource to help clinicians educate themselves on how things may appear in people with darker skins.

The reception has been…

Incredible! My social media posts have amassed over three million views and I have featured on news platforms such as Sky News, ITV News, BBC World, the British Medical Journal and Medscape in the US. I’m constantly bombarded with messages and notifications on my phone. It truly is a blessing to know this many people care about the work that I’m doing.

“It is important that we as future healthcare professional are aware of these differences so that we don’t compromise our care for certain groups” Let’s talk a bit more about the mind and the person behind this great initiative! So, you were born in Zimbabwe? Where?

Yes, I was, in Harare. I came to the UK after my 2nd birthday but we visit Zimbabwe from time to time.

And a bit about your family?

I come from a big family. I mean really big and I honestly don’t know exactly how many we are. We

What was the inspiration to do medicine?

Just knowing I could be in a position where I could change people’s lives is powerful. I want to help as many people as possible with my knowledge.

What are you enjoying the most right now?

Well I’m enjoying the reception the work has received. It’s been so necessary to address this issue and it’s great to see that the world is waking up to some of the cracks in the system. I want to continue to enjoy this work for many more years to come as we drive a shift in medical education systems.

What future do you see for yourself?

I have a wide range of goals that I would like to fulfil.

However what’s most imperative - the most important goal of mine is to remain happy. A happy mind is where great things stem from and with this foundation in place, I believe I can achieve the unachievable.

Some words of advice to anyone who wants to be the change they want to see?

You are never too small to make a change. The best time to start was yesterday!

Follow Malone here: Twitter: @Malone_mk LinkedIn: Malone Mukwende

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Bothwell Kabayira

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fessionals and students in and around the healthcare industry in the UK.

Rhoda Molife rhoda@houseofmutapa.com

Bothwell’s aim is that the organisation becomes the main body representing Zimbabwean healthcare workers across the UK, offers mentoring for students training for careers in healthcare and plays an integral part of a change in the Zimbabwean healthcare system using the collective experience and resources gained here in the UK.

Bothwell Kabayira, 25, is a UK-based final year medical student at the Medical University of Plovdiv in Bulgaria and the founder and president of newly-formed social charity ZAMPA - Zimbabwean Allied Medical Professional Association. ZAMPA is a platform where medical and allied health professionals of Zimbabwean origin can support, network and develop with one another and is open to all pro-

“… I didn’t want to make it just for doctors – that’s why I called it allied medical professional association because I want to bring in everyone”

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HOUSE OF MUTAPA Striving To Inspire He founded the organisation whilst on lockdown in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic and after becoming aware of other societies for Africans such as the Medical Association of Nigerians Across Great Britain (MANSAG) and the Ghanaian Doctors and Dentists Association (GDDA-UK). He loved what they did – charity work, conferences and seminars.

Though he was allowed to join because they don’t discriminate, he always wondered where the “Zimbabweans were at.” His research had shown that Zimbabweans are the 10th most common nationality and 2nd most common African nationality after Nigerians in the National Health Service and so there was a need for some sort of organisation. “There were some organisations for Zimbabweans but nothing that was really visible and that were doing what I would have hoped or expected.”

So, being inspired by what he saw and realising there was a gap he founded ZAMPA; he specifically wanted it to be inclusive which is why he called it ‘allied medical professional’ as opposed to ‘medical’ which would imply that it was for doctors only - “I didn’t want segregation.”

“My aim is to bring Zimbabwean healthcare professionals together and the magic will happen as we inspire the next generation. I also want to refute the myth that Zimbabweans don’t work together.” Over the last three months, ZAMPA has gained a steady following on all their platforms and has been able to link student nurse members with mentors. “I’ve even been helped by some of the senior members of the organisation too.”

An only child, Bothwell moved to the UK at the age of eight from Zimbabwe. He’d always loved science and understanding how the human body worked. When he was younger, he witnessed a friend break a leg in an accident. They were initially given the wrong advice by a stranger whilst waiting for an ambulance, but it was when he saw the paramedics, nurses, doctors and radiographers in action looking after his friend that he decided that he needed to know what to do in an emergency situation – “that was the motivation to study medicine.”

as SADC and others across the continent.”

His advice for anyone who wants to be the change that they want to see is, “Just start now. I was always planning ahead - kuwerengera is the Shona word and would always say, ‘I’ll do it later, I’ll do it later’. I say start now and don’t wait until later. You don’t need to be older and wiser or qualified… you don’t need to be anything. Just start now. Anyone can make a difference, so why not you and why not now?” If you want to connect with Bothwell, just catch him on a flight… whenever we can fly freely again!

He says the medical school experience has been tough, but it has allowed him to grow on multiple levels and he credits his mother for supporting him all the way. “It has been hard being away from family and friends, but I’m nearly done and will be back in England soon.” This dispels one myth about studying medicine. “People think you studied abroad so its easier, but it’s just as tough and you have to be very dedicated.” A typical day for the Aston Villa supporter is waking up in the morning, spending the day in the hospital, studying, then coming home, so easy it’s not and dedication is a must!

“One thing people don’t know about me is that I love to talk. If you sit next to me on a plane, I’ll talk to you.

You’re with me for three hours and you’re trapped so I will find out about your life and be your friend!”

Who amongst us wouldn’t want to be friends with a gamechanger like this?

What drives Bothwell? ‘I want to change the world.

Africa is my passion and I hate that we are so behind in many things. If we can focus on the basics, we can drastically change quality of life for so many. And I know to do that we will have to work with others so I hope that ZAMPA can collaborate with groups such

Facebook: Zimbabwean Allied Medical Professional Association – ZAMPA

“I’m loving my life and am thankful to God for using me. The future is bright” Find out more about ZAMPA here: IG: zampa_uk

Twitter: @ZampaUK LinkedIn: ZAMPA - Zimbabwean Allied Medical Professional Association

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HOUSE OF MUTAPA Striving To Inspire

TinoNyandoro Photography

Tunnel Vision

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HOUSE OF MUTAPA Striving To Inspire

YOUNG MUTAPA

Farai Joshua Hoko Photo Credit: Pixelcraft

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arai Joshua Hoko, 26, is a software developer who moved to China six years ago to study.

Along the way he discovered American football and now plays for the Shanghai Titans in the Chinese American Football League. by Simba Harawa simba@houseofmutapa.com Tell us about the move to China first of all and how you discovered American football there.

I came here six years ago as a student. Back when I was in high school in Zimbabwe, I played rugby.

When I first arrived in Shanghai, I couldn’t find any rugby clubs that I could join. I knew about American football though having watched it for a long time.

One day on the subway, I saw a guy carrying shoulder pads and a helmet. I approached him and asked him whether he played for a club, where they trained and whether I could join. After chatting he gave me the details about joining and I started training with them.

When did you start playing?

That was back in 2015.

How popular and established is American football in China?

It’s still in its infancy and is not professional like the American Football League. We have more than 50 teams nationally, two adult leagues and a college league for both tackle and flag football. Some of these leagues have sponsors and more than 500, 000 people watched the NFL Super Bowl from China this year.

You seem to be involved with the game in Zimbabwe too.

I’ve always wished that we played the game in Zimbabwe and so started looking at ways it could be introduced there once I started playing here. Sometime last year (2019) I came across the Zimbabwe American Football Federation (ZAFF), let them know what I wanted and shared my experience and some ideas about the way forward. Though I’m not directly involved with the Ministry of Sports, I’ve helped with equipment and facilitated some training and coaching clinics.

What hopes do you have for the sport in Zimbabwe?

If we were to introduce the game at both primary and secondary school level, that would help lay out a firm foundation. We can then get our own national team - that would be my dream. I would love to see one of the Zimbabwean kids playing in the National Football League in the USA. So back to your move to China. What was the expe-

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HOUSE OF MUTAPA Striving To Inspire rience of moving to such a different culture?

At first it was hard to get used to the food, but now I’m fine with it. Then there was the language of course which I had to learn but now I can speak it.

Then of course there is being a foreigner. As an African living in China, I attract a lot of attention from the locals because some of them would never have seen a black man before. Most people here don’t have much knowledge of Africa and some even take pictures of or with me. There are positive and negative experiences for any African here, but I choose to ignore the negative and focus on the positive.

Can you share a little about the Zimbabwean community?

We have a big community of Africans here and a substantial number of Zimbabweans as well. There is another Zimbabwean American footballer who plays for the Wuhan team. They actually beat us for the final of the Chinese National Football League Championship game. When they went back to Wuhan, the city was placed on full lockdown the following day because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

What was the impact of COVID-19 on you and the footballing and migrant community?

It was very difficult to say the least, the sudden change, with many people becoming sick and not knowing what was happening and how it would end.

I was very concerned. The impact on me was limited though because I went back to Zimbabwe in December and returned to China in February when the restrictions had been eased. On top of that, in Shanghai, there were less restrictions than in Wuhan.

Even though for me the fallout was minimal, I totally empathise with the loss of life, loss of businesses, loss of opportunities and how it has affected people mentally.

want your child to gain from that country. Sometimes it can become way too expensive, then parents can’t afford the bills leaving their children to struggle and even become stranded in a foreign country.

When that happens, children can be exploited because they are so vulnerable. So it’s important that they know they can maintain the standard of living for their children because it’s not always easy to sustain and support a child in a foreign country.

And for a young migrant right now?

Same advice. You need to research that country and think about what you want to achieve there.

And how are things now the lockdown has lifted?

Most of the teams are back at training and hopefully we’ll have league matches before the end of the year.

And aspiring athletes and their parents?

Look after yourself and be especially careful about what you eat. It’s important to take care of your body even at a young age. There are some things that you should not even eat if you want to be a professional athlete. There are so many sacrifices that you need to make.

So, after what you have seen, what advice would you give to parents before sending their children to study abroad?

Do your research about the real cost and what you

For parents I would say that if your child is talented, they need to be supported. That talent needs to be nourished.

Photo Credit: Pixelcraft

What’s next for you?

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I hope to open opportunities for others, so one day I will open my own academy. The other thing I really want to keep doing is supporting ZAFF and the Ministry of Sports. Sports is a good way of empowering others.

Follow Farai Joshua here: Facebook: Farai Joshua Hoko

HOUSE OF MUTAPA Striving To Inspire

TinoNyandoro Photography

A Bridge and a View

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