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.
Sticky post
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 reason 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

Fungai Machirori1 Comment
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

Fungai Machirori13 Comments
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

Fungai Machirori1 Comment
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

Fungai Machirori1 Comment
Sticky post
Feminisms

A Public Notice on Her Zimbabwe Closure Issues

(N.B: This post has been looked over by my lawyers and was also sent to the main party of concern on 18 September) I did not want to bring this issue into the public domain, but now it appears that it is the only way that I may finally get some closure. As you will know from a notice posted some months ago, Her Zimbabwe … Continue reading A Public Notice on Her Zimbabwe Closure Issues

Fungai Machirori8 Comments
Feminisms

Is Marriage an Accomplishment?

The question that titles this piece came about from a deep and varied internal interrogation I have been having about women claiming marriage as a life accomplishment. Earlier in the week, I posted the following on my Facebook wall; ‘Controversial’ kweshen [sic] Wednesday. I hear it said a lot that women should not regard marriage to be an accomplishment. Because marriage in and of itself … Continue reading Is Marriage an Accomplishment?

Fungai Machirori2 Comments
Feminisms

Are safe spaces really safe?

OVER recent years, the language of creating and sustaining safe spaces has become one I hear more and more often, especially in feminist spaces. For a time, I accepted this language uncritically, neither thinking more broadly about what a safe space truly requires nor introspecting around the various problematics that such spaces often bring with them. As such, I think it’s important to reflect on … Continue reading Are safe spaces really safe?

Fungai Machirori2 Comments