Author: Fungai Machirori

I am an award-winning journalist with strong opinions and alternative perspectives to what many would call 'the norm'. My core interests are in identity and culture, and the personal politics therein. Who are we? Who were we? And who will we become? I believe that conversations around these questions - and many - are essential for imagining and creating contemporary futures.
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PanAfrikana

Why Zimbabwe’s Coup Was An Isolating Experience For Me

“He has resigned.” The three words in the Whatsapp message that had just come through from my friend didn’t need further explaining. Robert Mugabe – the only president most of us had known our whole lives – had finally bowed to popular pressure to step down after a week of some of the most incredulous sights during Zimbabwe’s short-lived coup. I was not in Zimbabwe … Continue reading Why Zimbabwe’s Coup Was An Isolating Experience For Me

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Feminisms

A Response To Dr Guramatunhu’s ‘Hair Activism’

Yesterday, as I went about my day, I came across an article published by ‘The Chronicle’, titled ‘Meet ‘hair activist’ Dr Guramatunhu’. Before I had even opened the article in a new tab on my screen, I was fairly sure I knew what it would be about. But still, I opened and read it, much to my irritation and bemusement. Why is Dr Guramatunhu so … Continue reading A Response To Dr Guramatunhu’s ‘Hair Activism’

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Feminisms

Crisis Communication Is Not Just For Corporates: The Zimbabwe Gender Commission’s Missed Opportunity

NB: This article was written yesterday before the ZGC issued a fuller statement about the alleged dress code mooted to curb sexual harassment among tertiary students in Zimbabwean universities. You can read their full report here.  A few years ago, I wrote an article bemoaning the public relations response of Econet, Zimbabwe’s largest telecommunications company, to a crisis on its hands. Over the long Easter … Continue reading Crisis Communication Is Not Just For Corporates: The Zimbabwe Gender Commission’s Missed Opportunity

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Feminisms

My Politics Told Through Job Sikhala’s Waistcoat and Bernardo Silva’s Tweet

So I‘ve been following all the jokes about Job Sikhala’s infamous waistcoat. I have even shared some of them on my Facebook wall for my friends who might have been missing out on the action on Twitter. Truth be known, I even visited Sikhala’s Twitter profile to look for any old tweets that I could quote with a witticism or two about his wardrobe malfunction. … Continue reading My Politics Told Through Job Sikhala’s Waistcoat and Bernardo Silva’s Tweet

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Feminisms

“No One is Jesus Here”: The Battle Royal Between Ego and Altruism in the NGO Sector

[This post was graciously shared with me by a Zimbabwean woman who returned from abroad some years ago to start an NGO working with marginalised youth. She asked that I share the piece anonymously]. “Want to start an NGO? A little advice, use your own money”. It was the height of the fundraising season and I tweeted this out, to the disapproval of a few … Continue reading “No One is Jesus Here”: The Battle Royal Between Ego and Altruism in the NGO Sector

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Feminisms

The Politics of Funding and Funders: My Personal Experience

Yesterday, I bumped into a man. Well, we didn’t really bump into each other… I was in the pharmacy looking for a quotation on a prescription. As I walked out, I heard a name – not entirely mine – but one that I had been called enough times in the past to regard as part of my identity. “Hey, Her Zimbabwe!” the man shouted out. … Continue reading The Politics of Funding and Funders: My Personal Experience

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Feminisms

Madam Boss Didn’t Owe Any Of Us An Apology

Yesterday, news on the social media streets broke that Madam Boss (real name Tyra Chikocho) – the popular comedian who often produces viral online content – had issued a public statement to her fans apologising for wearing a sexy catsuit to the StarFM Music Awards held this past weekend. In her apology, both she and her company wrote the following; My dear Fans. Firstly I … Continue reading Madam Boss Didn’t Owe Any Of Us An Apology

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PanAfrikana

What Tuku meant for a ‘musalad’ girl like me

I distinctly remember a friend visiting me one December day towards the end of 2016. I was having a particularly down morning because of a few issues that just weren’t resolving themselves as I had hoped they would. In my despair, I was blasting my Oliver Mtukudzi playlist on my laptop and cleaning every corner of the house to avert any further frustration. “Fungi!” she … Continue reading What Tuku meant for a ‘musalad’ girl like me

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