Started from the bottom now we here!!

In the last week I have had interactions with a lot of people in my past, from schoolmates, ex-bosses and workmates and it reminded me of what an amazing journey I have had and how God aligned certain people and experiences in my life to shape me. When things happen at the time that they happen, you can never make sense of it, but when you look back, it all makes perfect sense. I would like to take you on a journey of my professional background just so you have an appreciation of who I am today. I left St.Johns High School (Emerald Hill) in 2003 without the slightest idea of where I wanted to go. My mum immediately said she didn’t want anyone to stay at home so she got me a job soon after high school at Eaglesvale prep as a grade 1 assistant teacher, who also doubled up as Tennis coach and music teacher (ofcourse). My first salary was $300 and also had a free accommodation at the school and at 18 years, I was balling out of control with that money! I was sensible enough to start my diploma in Personnel Management with IPMZ which I completed a year later. After that I left Eaglesvale and was employed by Egnes Ndlovu who owned Beanbag Trading. I was her personal assistant and we specialised in corporate gifts and branding. We had a small office in town and it was a 2 man band so the interaction was very one on one and I learnt a great deal. Then came African Sun, at that time Zimsun. I was hired as a call centre operator, along with my close friends. I easily rose through the ranks and went to front office, then guest relations. I have the fondest memory of my boss Tapiwa Mtshiya who has got to be a woman I can only aspire to be. When I was in guest relations I fell pregnant (at 21 years...story for another day). So I could not continue to be on my feet and was moved to functions! Can you believe that at that time I was so disappointed by that move not knowing that a new passion was about to be unearthed. I was put under Edna Kaseke who allowed me to sit all day and do all the admin work (which was hectic by the way). She also taught me everything I know about the business. African Sun had a thorough way of induction and in no time I knew the ins and outs of any kind of event. By the time I went on maternity leave I knew I had a future in event management. So I gave birth at 27 weeks (story of my life) and was back at work now officially as a functions coordinator! It was great. I had just had a life changing experience, was now married and had a new perspective on life. I decided to go back to school and start my degree in Sociology and Gender studies with the Women’s University. Picture this, I had a demanding job, I was married, had a severe pre- term to take care of, and somewhere in there I started Wildfire Events. It got so overwhelming so I decided to leave for an 8-5 job which I got at a company called Oratile Logistics as sales and marketing executive! It was ok, but didn’t really enjoy it for long so I went to AIT Distribution as a Marketing Executive at that time headed by Tapiwa Chinyadza. More fun times there. I then left AIT and started to do my own thing running Wildfire Events. I hosted some of the most amazing parties with my husband who had a crazy network of people and the name grew bit by bit which allowed me to get a few jobs here and there. My most memorable big event was the wedding expo where Barbreanne Linnel allowed me to host the entertainment stage in Harare Gardens. I had never done it before but managed to get the best entertainment to run through the whole day, set up an amazing stage , got Divine Concert Sound to do the sound and Willis Wataffi was the main act amongst others ALL FOR FREE!!! I remember going home that night thinking ...How on earth did I do that??? Somewhere during all this madness I met Edith weUtonga and played for her band which was a total pleasure and I could earn a few dollars in the process so I was set! So fortunes changed and things got harder and Zimbabwe was also on a crazy spell at that time. It affected every area of my life including my marriage which unfortunately I could not save. I tried to get back into employment and luckily got a job at Nashua Zimbabwe as a sales executive. At Nashua I had the best sales training I have ever received as they had a consultant come in from South Africa. Unfortunately I did not stay there for long because magitare were calling and I just couldn’t bear working for someone else. I just knew I had to go but I had no plan B. God then put me in a place where nothing else would work but magitare! You know when Jonah was called and he refused but had to be swallowed by a big fish to get the idea...well thats kinda what happened. I left my matrimonial home in November 2012 to the comfort and support of my family and I tell you things started happening. The gigs started coming, the opportunities knocked in all directions and Tariro neGitare was born. The Acoustic Night also started taking shape thanks to the Zimbabwe German Society ably led by Roberta Wagner and my first tour to Germany even changed my whole perspective on my career. I am back at school, now doing my Masters in Development, still running Wildfire Events and Magitare Trust and following my passion through Tariro neGitare. I have no fears, no apologies and no regrets and I can safely tell you that this all happened not on my own power, but a greater force was at work all the while and I was being prepared to walk a journey that I am so confident to walk in because I am assured of the promise that my gift will make room for me. Whatever situation you are in, whether good or bad, you are there for a reason. Bottom line...started from the bottom now we’re here, and still going!!! Be inspired!

Ngoma Yorira

Monika Chanda from SFM interviewed me today during her breakfast show as I had just released my single Ngoma Yorira. I love her interview style and she took me back to my first album as she played the songs Isheanesu and Zuva neZuva before playing my new single. She took me back to a place I had long forgotten where things were not so clear, with so many distractions and complications , so much that music became the only outlet (and thank heavens for that). When I look at myself at the time I wrote those songs, and then look at where I am now mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually, I am in awe. I have learnt through experience that life is about the decisions that you make. Sometimes when you make the decisions, people will not understand you, but when you focus on the goal and the purpose and the Creator who approves them, then you will definitely see a positive turn of events. I will not get into the details of where I was, but I can surely testify that where you are now, whether good or bad IS YOUR CHOICE! You got yourself into that situation and you can get yourself out! As a result I celebrate every success and every victory, and appreciate the special moments with friends, family and anyone who makes me smile! Ngoma yorira, my new single is a celebration of who I have become. It is definitely not my usual style, but when the producer Russo gave me the instrumental, it made me feel so liberated and his faith that I could deliver was so humbling! I love and respect people who take me out of my comfort zone and try new things! Literally translated, Ngoma Yorira means the drum plays, and it signifies festivities and celebrations. I am celebrating me and how grateful I am for what God has allowed to happen in my life. Its not perfect, but I honestly wouldn't want it any other way. If happiness can happen to me, surely we are no different! Live your life, enjoy every second and make the decisions for your life that will make you be the best you that you can be. #NGOMAYORIRA If you haven't had a chance to listen to the song, you can download it on Soundcloud...for FREE :) !

Child Labour

Today I had the most humbling experience. I was invited to play at an event and the theme was focussed on child labour. Resultantly, there were some children from Chiredzi who were invited to participate as there is a project being implemented in that area to discourage child labour and encourage education by supporting some of the children financially to go to school. So the children who I was working with were all in Harare for the first time. We rehearsed and performed my song Zuva neZuva which they sang beautifully. One of the beauties of my job is that I get to sit through the whole event, which particularly is a blessing for me because I like information and can never seem to have enough of it. So one of the children gave a touching testimony of how he was taken to South Africa because of peer pressure and worked 8 months at Messina without pay. A well wisher gave him some money to return home, which he did and through this HIVOS project, managed to go back to school. Another had a relative take them as a maid when she was 12 as there was no money to educate a girl. All too familiar right?? All this is obviously a result of poverty. It just got me thinking how we take so much for granted. I then watched these children have fun on the trampoline at the Dutch embassy residence and the joy on their faces was just priceless. Kids just want to have fun but sometimes abject poverty makes some parents resort to using them as cheap labour. Don’t get me wrong, of course I feel that children can help around with daily chores around the house, but the scenarios being talked about today involved proper abuse where the fathers would go out drinking and the children have to go to the fields, herd cattle, or sell something to make sure that the family gets a meal. This then deprives them of the basic human right to education. I also noticed a different attitude with the one child who had been working in Messina. He seemed a bit pompous at times and had a mentality of an adult as he was surely exposed to too much during those 8 months. Probably this will just exacerbate delinquency if not counselled or addressed. We need to allow kids to grow naturally and not deprive them of their childhood. The discussions around child labour today challenged me and I guess for now the best I can do is raise awareness that its real. I know HIVOS is heading a large project on child labour and the Dutch Embassy is also involved this year so I’m sure if you want to be involved somehow you can get in touch. Of noteworthy importance was the presence of Botswana embassy as well and apparently they have had some success in mitigating the issue of child labour. I am not able to get specifics right now as I just stumbled upon this, but hey now you are aware!! Just be grateful for your situation and if you can do anything in your little circle of influence, then please be my guest!

Nike Philosophy

As I am winding down the year, I am looking back at the things I had set out to do at the beginning of the year. Some goals I have exceeded beyond measure and some...well, I haven't even attempted, and some of the reasons why I haven't are a bit silly if you ask me!! John Maxwell talks of the Law of diminishing intent which states that the longer you wait to do something you should do now, the greater the odds that you will never actually do it. The reality is that you will never get much done unless you go ahead and do it before you are ready. I don't remember where I read this but I have also moved from being goal oriented, to being growth oriented, and that is how I exceeded some of my set goals. Instead of focusing on my goals I have focused on growth. Personal, professional, spiritual...practically every area of my life. This has resulted in me accepting challenges that I would not have normally done and also realizing that the sky is the limit. So the goals you set will easily be achieved, hence a focus on growth keeps you setting greater achievements and you are not limited to what your mind can conceive. The beauty of personal growth is that its yours and remains yours for a lifetime. Most importantly, you must see value in yourself to add value in yourself. So I have adopted what I have called the Nike Philosophy which basically states..JUST DO IT!!! Clearly John Maxwell is my favourite at the moment and he asserts that growth should happen through attitude, goals, discipline, measurement and consistency. Bottom line, its all your self effort and you set the parameters by which you operate. To initiate the process, JUST DO IT! Wise King Solomon gives a metaphor of the ant in Proverbs 6:6 'Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise. Which having no captain, overseer or ruler provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.' Its amazing how one of the smallest of God's creatures can become one of His greatest teachers. Implementation is important. We all have great ideas and plans, but what makes one person different from the other is implementation. Here is the metaphor of the ant expanded by John Maxwell that will help in implementation: A - Attitude of initiative- Ants don't need a commander to get started N- Nature of integrity- Ants need no outside accountability and work faithfully T- Thirst for Industry- Ants work hard and will replace their anthill when it gets ruined. S- Source of Insight- Ants store provisions for the summer. So if you are going to be anything like the ant, you better implement the Nike Philosophy. Just do it, and be disciplined and learn as you go! You will be surprised where you will end up! If you don't step forward you will always remain in the same place. Fear of failure hinders us from achieving our goals. People never fail unless they stop trying. So #JustDoIt!