My daily Zimbabwean experiences through rose-colored glasses

Lately I have been working on re-centering my views, on everything.

I, like everyone else have gone through the worst of what the Zimbabwean economy has to offer. 2008 is still very much alive along with the memories of my grandmother who I once went on a mealie meal hunt with, door to door all for hupfu, a basic that had also become a rarity in those times.

I will not focus on all that, that would be stating the obvious, common knowledge that is already flooding the Internet. I was recently forced to be face to face with the version of Zimbabwe that I experience, not the negative version we prefer to dwell on but my daily experience as a Zimbabwean. My gratefuls you could say.

Four words stuck out as I went through dozens of footage I have shot through the past year. Urban, hustle, shining and alive. Believe it or not my experience as a Zimbabwean each passing day reflect on all these even in the gloomiest of conditions.

Once on a Facebook platform I was shocked to learn that there are still people who view Africa as a wilderness, people who have access to the Internet yet still very much oblivious to what is on the ground. Why is that? Is it a narrative we have not successfully debunked? Africa is as Urban as any other nation, we boast of our colorful rural areas but the Zimbabwe I experience every single day is Urban, it is connected and easily affected by the Internet shutdown like America or Europe because our lives have become just as dependent as any other country on platforms such as X, Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok.

There has been a surge in malls in the capital, a reflection of the current economy and hustle culture. One known fact is that Zimbabweans are hustlers, survivors, there’s even a joke that you can find Zimbabweans in any part of the world on a quest for better livelihood. This is my reality, this is the Zimbabwe I know. From the moment I walk out of my home all I see is the hustling spirit in every corner, people trying to male ends meet by hook and by crook to feed their families and to live to see another day. I recently discovered that one of the airtime guys who I see pitching up the earliest in my neighbourhood is a security guard by night, circumstances of his nonstop thrive unknown but yet again, hustle spirit shown.

Growing up, one of my greatest fears was leaving Zimbabwe because of all the natural disasters BBC or CNN would rave on about and I have to admit that should be on top of the list when it comes to things I love about being Zimbabwean. No Tsunami is wrecking everything I’ve ever known, volcano or earthquake just knocking it all down. Drought, maybe… this season being one of the driest we’ve experienced in a while but I take comfort in the safety of being a landlocked country, in our shining warm days that we are privileged enough to experience. That is a blessing and one that I count twice.

I don’t go out much but when I do I can’t help but revel at how alive everyone and everything is! Zimbabweans have soul, kindness all around and that is one of the things I am most proud of, seeing it everyday and experiencing it might

make one oblivious to it but just the greetings even amongst strangers, helping hands in the community and how we relate is remarkable. We look out for each other, we enjoy ourselves, mishaps happen but Zimbabweans enjoy clean nonviolent fun and that is huge!

My Zimbabwe is safe, it’s home and nothing written elsewhere can change my experience and view. This is my country as I experience it everyday.

Love and light

Tarry