Writer
Tatenda Rungisa
65 stories
Bouncing Back Stronger Than Ever After an Abusive Marriage
To onlookers, Vivian Moyana (née Munjanja) embodied success. She was pursuing her MBA, climbing the corporate ladder and had a beautiful family. What they couldn't have imagined was the private battle raging within the four walls of her home. After enduring years of abuse in a toxic marriage, she mustered the strength to leave. This is her story:
Starting Over: How I Walked Away From Abuse into an Unknown Future
Broken-hearted, bitter and lost, I walked into an unknown future - a future which was uncertain. I had let marriage become a huge part of my identity, and I was not sure what would be next, but I walked away anyway.
Becoming Farie Jules: How I Overcame Child Marriage, Depression & Divorce
Farai Juliet Magada, known as Farie Jules, is a daughter, sister, mother, survivor, fighter, believer, emancipated woman, creative, philanthropist and lover of beautiful things. This is her story in her own words.
From Pain to Gain: How Recovering from Heartbreak Birthed my Business
Kerita “Kerri” Choga is a 35-year-old entrepreneur who is also a medical lab technician by profession. She is a free-spirited woman who enjoys life and is often misunderstood because of her opinions on life in general. She’s a passionate woman who takes business seriously and always pushes for the best.
Brenda Ndlovu: From Teen Mom to Accomplished Radio Producer & MC
Brenda Ndlovu, also known as MaBrrr because of her positive and energetic vibes on radio, is a warm-hearted, bubbly, self-driven woman who desires to see other women unlock their potential and exceed limitations. Brenda was born and raised in Bulawayo, the second-largest city in Zimbabwe.
Grace Anne: A Product of Personal Development
Grace Anne is a young woman, a visionary and an aspiring leader who seeks to make positive change in the society she lives in and beyond. She is the eldest child of two and said that she was shy and timid growing up.
Empowered to Empower: How Chef Mhle Uses Her Skills to Inspire Community Development
Mhlelusizo Ncube, known as “Chef Mhle,” is a chef by profession and has evolved into an entrepreneur and community builder.
Catching Up With Princess Siziba
A couple of years ago we interviewed an author, speaker and entrepreneur named Princess Siziba who had overcome many challenges as a teen mom and was determined to be successful. Well, since then, Princess has made in greater strides and now owns a publishing company. We decided to reach out to her and find out all about her new venture!
Fighting for Justice: A Family at Odds
My parents would host parties at home in a bid to entertain guests and their workmates. I was only 11, and on this particular day, a close friend to my father decided it was too late to go back home after the party, so he was accommodated for the evening. Little did we know he had a plan that would change everyone’s life.
Zimbabwe OCD Trust Founder Shares Her Brave Battle Against Mental Illness
Angelica Chiketa Mkorongo is a biologist, now-turned mental health advocate and peer specialist. She is also a mother and wife. She spoke to The Weight She Carries about her journey living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
How Charlene Motshegwe Fought Cancer, Debilitating Pain as a Teen
Charlene Nadine Motshegwe is a 24-year-old Motswana woman who is currently studying events management at Limkokwing University in Botswana and is set to finish next year. She told The Weight She Carries that her background was a fair one. She had a normal childhood expect for having to deal with her parents losing their jobs, which resulted in family and friends helping with fo
From Bad Skin to Makeup Artist: Victoria Munyenyiwa Shares Her Story
Victoria K. Munyenyiwa, also branded as Facebeat by VickieKay in the beauty world and on Facebook (Instagram: @vee_the_makeupbae), is a 28-year-old lady born and raised in Masvingo, Zimbabwe. She moved to Gweru for tertiary education where she obtained a bachelor’s honours degree in human resource management, class of 2016, from Midlands State University.
A Single Mother's Determination to Get Back Onto Her Feet After Loss
Samantha Mpofu (Sammy) grew up as the oldest of four children. Her parents divorced when she was young but she still has fond memories of her childhood.
TWSC Submission: I was Lured into a Marriage Under False Pretense
My relationship with my ex-husband was my second relationship. I dated him for four years with no red flag until I got pregnant. He had a wife in the rural areas and his family was very secretive about it. When I eloped to his house, we had to have a family meeting with family members. The meeting took three hours to start, but everyone was around. People were very hesitant to
Finding Herself After Abuse, Teen Pregnancies and a Failed Marriage: How Patience Tarumbwa Managed to Rise Again
Patience Tarumbwa is a Zimbabwean woman who lives in Bulawayo, the second-largest city in Zimbabwe. She has four children: two boys and two girls.
Star FM's Iyati a.k.a Fiona Itayi Takaendesa Shares Journey to Her Dreams
Radio personality Iyati is a natural-born conversationalist who loves telling and listening to real-life stories, reading and travelling. When her father objected to her continuing school after high school, she left home to live with relatives. Though it has taken years and meandering path, she finally obtained a university degree this year and is living out her dreams at Star
From Teen Mom to Award-Nominated Author & Businesswoman
Nonduduzo Ncube is a 30-year-old author who was born in Beitbridge, a border town in the province of Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe. However, she was raised in Bulawayo, the second-largest city. She went to Mpopoma High School and was raised by very strict parents.
How Tyra Chikocho "Madam Boss" Built an International Brand Despite the Odds Being Stacked Against Her
Tyra Chikocho, well known as Madam Boss, is a multitalented woman, wife and mother. She grew up between rural areas and Harare, Zimbabwe's capital city.“ Childhood was painful and tough..my mum passed on when I was in Grade 6," Tyra told The Weight She Carries." I was left brokenhearted as my mother had been sick for some time but requested to be discharged so she [could spend]
Laizah Baera: Choosing my Calling Above Everything Else
Laizah Baera is an energetic and excited young woman, aged 33. She has been a pastor with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Zimbabwe for the past 12 years. She shared her story about her journey in the ministry with The Weight She Carries.
How Storyteller Fungai Mettler Managed to Overcome all Odds After the Death of her Parents
Fungai Mettler is a 29-year-old Zimbabwean-born inspirational philanthropist and corporate social entrepreneur who was featured in a book project called 50 Young African Women Achievers.
How Nozizwe Mhlanga's Name Has Moulded Her Work as a Philanthropist
Nozizwe Mhlanga, whose first name translates to “mother of nations,” was born into a family of eight children. Her parents instilled in her the importance of helping the less fortunate - a virtue that would lead to great impact in her community. Here is her story:
How Now-Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa Overcame Bullying, Negative Labels and Depression: The Story of Sharon Msiza
“Growing up, I was always a loner," Sharon told The Weight She Carries. "I preferred to be in my bedroom reading a book than to go out and play. But this did not suggest that I did not have any friends nor that I never used to play. One of my brothers made sure I was out and about. 'Don’t you have any friends, Sharon? Please go play and stop being idle,' he would say."
How Hanna Stone Went from a Life of Abuse to Finding Love and Happiness
Hanna Stone has lived through devastating abuses that began in childhood. She was born in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1986. She is the eldest of two children and suffered her first loss at age eight.
How She Turned Her Story of Pain into Helping Women who Have Suffered Baby Loss
I got married at 21 years of age and immediately got pregnant. Throughout my pregnancy, I never had any problems. I went to every appointment with my doctor and did all scans and tests. The day my labour started, I packed my bags and went to my local hospital. When I got there, all checks were done and everything was normal including the baby's heartbeat.
Loss, Heartbreak and the Death of Loved Ones: Hazvineyi Dumba's Story of Healing and Managing Adversities
Norest Hazvineyi Dumba grew up in the high-density suburbs of Glen View 1 in Harare. Her family valued love, peace, happiness and loyalty. Her father was a truck driver and her mother a businesswoman.
Overcoming Heartbreak and Depression: Tariro's Story
Tariro Chasi was born and raised in Zimbabwe in the early 90s and then moved to Namibia to be with her parents back in 2009. She told The Weight She Carries that growing up, she was a very cheerful, loving and ambitious young girl. She was very friendly and sociable, too.
Names and Labels Cannot Define Our Destiny: Tadzei Zhou’s Story
Born with a name that had a negative connotation, Tadzei Njerere grew up with the constant reminder that her father wished she were a boy. She recently talked to The Weight She Carries about growing up in a family and community where being a girl was of little value.
Former Miss Universe Zimbabwe Langa Lloyd Talks Beauty in Embracing Self-Love
Langa Lloyd began modelling in 1994 at the age of 23 and went on to be a contestant in Miss Universe 20 years go. Like the current Miss Universe, Zozibini Tunzi, Langa was the only contestant with short hair.
Danai Ruze: From Child Bride to Young Woman Striving for Empowerment
Danai Ruze is the only daughter in a family of three in a small town in Zimbabwe called Murehwa, which is 75 kilometers northeast from the capital, Harare. During Form 3 (Grade 11), she fell pregnant by a boy she had madly fallen in love with.
Regina Chari: Overcoming Addiction and Managing 21 Years of Recovery
Driven by her passion for orphaned children in Zimbabwe, Regina Chari left her home in the USA and relocated to the motherland and now runs Refuge:Zimbabwe with her husband. Regina opened up to The Weight She Carries about her painful childhood and overcoming addiction.
From a Shy, Reserved Girl to a Digital Marketer and Public Speaker: How Loveness Nleya Transitioned Into Her Passion
Loveness Nleya is at the top of her game and living her dream as a digital marketing consultant, speaker and coach. She comes from a very loving Christian family unit and is the firstborn of three children, two girls and one boy. She narrated her story of stepping out of her comfort zone to pursue her passion to The Weight She Carries.
Restored: Philani Kinyabo's Story of Finding Happiness Again After Bipolar and Depression Diagnosis
Philani Ama Kinyabo is a 33-year-old positive lady who was born and raised in Harare. She has two sisters from her mother’s side and seven from her father’s side. She described her childhood as normal.
How I Found My Purpose: My Unplanned Pregnancy, Job Loss and Pursuit of my Passion
Cynthia studied psychology and HR at Monash in South Africa thinking it would land her in a profession that helped people with their emotional issues. That was what she really loved doing. Her parents advised her to do HR as a backup because they didn’t see a real earning future in psychology.
Embracing My Beautiful: Taida Chikuni's Road to Modelling and Loving Her Body
Taida Lucy Christine Chikuni describes herself as a daring character and a people person. Raised as the only girl with three older brothers, she learned early on how to carve out her own path in the world. In addition to a career in human resources, Taida is a model.
How Sudden Paralysis Turned Into a Blessing - A Story of Passion and Hope
Looking at her pictures, Maria Dube - a 30-year-old woman from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe - looks like a beauty queen. Nothing about them reveals the type of work she loves doing. She has come a long way since her teenage years which she says nearly broke her.
From Young Street Vendor to Business Owner and Humanitarian– How Langelihle Sibanda is Using Her Story to Inspire
At 23, Langelihle Sibanda– whose first name means “a good day” – has lived up to her name and brought many good days to the lives of orphaned and underprivileged people in her community. But life hasn’t always been rosy for her. Her life changed drastically when her parents separated.
An African Woman’s Plight in Search of Greener Pastures: Workplace Bullying and Discrimination Away from Home
Workplace bullying has become rampant over the years. Growing up, it was assumed that bullying occurred only in schools, but it is now evident that even the workplace harbours it. Lisa* shared her story of workplace bullying and how she was able to overcome it.
Sipho Mazibuko Shares How She Bounced Back From a Nervous Breakdown
Sipho Mazibuko is a bubbly 46-year-old who resides in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. She is energetic and a typical hustler. Though she has seen dark days, she has survived them all.
From Teenage Mom to Author, Speaker and Entrepreneur: How Princess Siziba Overcame Obstacles and Found Herself
Princess Noma Siziba is a notable woman of resilience who has risen from the rubble to the eminence of being an author, speaker and entrepreneur. Once broken and an outcast, she uses wisdom amassed from her experiences to help change lives with the understanding that her purpose is to serve others. She has a beautiful daughter and her heart’s desire is to see as many people as
How This Woman Achieved Her Dream of Completing Her Education Despite Enormous Challenges
“I was born in a very disadvantageous family that led [to] me being raised and growing up in diverse places and environments," Nandipha told The Weight She Carries. "My mother couldn’t afford to take all us to school so she had to give us (me and my twin sister) [to] other family members who were willing to help. Sometimes I’d drop [out of] school in the middle of the year beca
From Doctor to Award-Winning Author: How Maria Phalime Followed Her Dream
Maria Phalime had finally become a doctor but soon realized it didn't give her the fulfillment she hoped it would, and the demands of her job became overwhelming. She chose to walk away and has now found success as a motivational speaker, coach and author.
How Priscilla Schaufelberger Survived Being Sexually Abused by Her Father
Born in 1959 in Ndola, a city in Zambia, Priscilla is the firstborn in a family of eight. She grew up with her grandmother in Twapia Township; however, her grandmother’s house was close to her mother's residence.
From the Loss of a Baby to a Life-Threatening Health Condition: How This Woman Survived Against all Odds
Nobubele Ngulube married her best friend in 2017 and the couple discovered they were expecting two months into their marriage."From the first day, it was challenging," Nobubele told The Weight She Carries. "I had severe morning sickness, headaches and fatigue for months on end. Around week 20 of my pregnancy I developed some swelling in my face, hands and feet. But because all
Acid Attack Survivor Reveals How She Learned to Love Herself Again
Flavia Nampiima was headed home from evening lectures at the university she attended in Uganda when a masked man followed her into my father’s compound and threw acid on her face. It was night-time and no in her family was at home that night.
Pregnant and Rejected: Lessons Learned Through Disappointment and Heartbreak
Lilian Choruwa is a bubbly mother of two and a grandmother of one. Life is good now, but when she was 20, she found herself pregnant and alone, with no one to turn to.
From Refugee to Fashion Designer
Tabisha Esperance was born in Goma, DRC in May 1990. When she was a child, Congo was plunged into a devastating civil war which officially ended in 2003, although fighting continued in the eastern part of the country, which led to many of the country's nationals fleeing to other countries. One of them was Esperance.
Surviving Trauma, a Broken Marriage & Widowhood – How I Turned My Pain Into Power
My Name is Samu Fortunate Zungu-Ludaka. I am a 33 years old widow. I am a mother to my two biological children and one step child from my first marriage. I am passionate about women and their upliftment, which has led me to using my gifts which are speaking and writing to not only highlight their issues but also to add hope and to encourage them.
Doreen Moraa Talks About Living with HIV/AIDS Since Birth
On August 8, Doreen Moraa will be 27 years old. This birthday will mean a lot to her because it will mark 27 years of living with HIV/AIDS.
How This Woman’s Faith Helped Her Fight Stigma and a Serious Health Condition
Tatenda Tanyanyiwa is a 40-year-old mother of an 18-year-old son. She grew up in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and is a gifted human resources practitioner who has gained a lot of experience in the hotel industry.
Beautiful Inside and Out: Felistas Edwards Speaks on Her Marriage and Life After Divorce
Felistas Edwards has a lot going for her. In 2018, the well-known Zimbabwean comedian, gospel artist, entrepreneur and MC received the Top Female Entertainment and Social Media Enterprise Business Leader of the Year Award from the Women’s Heritage Society World Organisation.
Learning to Smile Again After Burying My Husband of Less Than a Year
On an ordinary day in 2015, Danai Motsi, met a well-dressed man while she was working at a local medical centre. The man walked in with a friend who was ill.
Author of ‘Weight Loss Wars’ Shares How She Took Control of Her Life and Lost Over 40 kgs
Certified Weight loss Coach Gertrude Nyirenda spent most of her life struggling with her weight. After years of yo-yo dieting, she decided she needed a different approach.
From Scorn to Bliss: Finding Real Love as a Single Mother
Gospel Artist Ashelly Manzunzu is living her dream. Not only does she have the opportunity to perform for tourists who visit the Disney World Animal Kingdom, she released her first album in 2013 (Zvakazarurwa) and is enjoying the success of two recent singles – Vanogona and Ndiye Mwari.
How Bestselling Author & Speaker Monica Kunzekweguta Escaped Becoming a Victim of Child Marriage
Bestselling Author, Certified Life Coach and Speaker Monica Kunzekweguta was born in Zimbabwe and raised by both parents till the age of three when her parents divorced.
Africa’s Youngest Woman PhD Holder Musawenkosi Saurombe Discusses Achievements, Challenges and Inspiration
In 2017, Musawenkosi Donia Saurombe made history by becoming the youngest woman with a PhD in Africa, graduating with a doctorate in industrial psychology.
How Apostle Lillian Bwanya Pushed Past Personal Rejection and Founded a Church
Apostle Lillian Bwanya was born in 1968 in an area known as Rutanga, which is in Eastern Zimbabwe.
Inspirational Speaker Barbara Kamba-Nyathi Discusses Overcoming Cancer and an Abusive Marriage
Barbara Kamba-Nyathi was born in Zimbabwe and moved to Namibia where she resided for 10 years with her ex-husband.
Zimbabwean-Canadian Doctor and International Speaker Spreads Message of Hope and Faith
Dr. Nothabo Ncube is a bubbly, down to earth woman who is a go-getter. As a doctor of medicine, international speaker and consciousness coach, Ncube’s list of accomplishments include being named Canada 100 Black Women to Watch 2017, participating in Oprah Winfrey’s Lifeclass, being a TEDx speaker, and being featured in Canadian Immigrant Magazine.
Living a Purposeful Life - Inspiration by Yvonne Mtengwa
Communications strategist Yvonne Mtengwa wears many hats. In addition to her vast knowledge and experience in marketing and public relations, she is the author of a book that encourages women to address conflict within themselves and in their relationships called Reinvented: Challenging insecurity to live authentically through faith, a real estate developer, and the co-founder
Disability is Not Inability - Prudence Mabhena's Journey to the Stage
Source: Prudence Mabhena Prudence Mabhena was born in the resort town of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, in 1989. She was born with arthrogryposis, a condition characterized by joint contractures. In Mabhena’s case, her arms and legs were severely twisted and stunted. "When I was born, it brought shock to my family, especially my paternal family,” Mabhena told The Weight She Carries.
Brenda Mudzimu's Journey From Being Labelled ‘A Curse’ to Creating a Platform to Celebrate Women with Albinism
June 13th marks International Albinism Awareness Day. To some it was just an ordinary day, but The Weight She Carries took this opportunity to interview a successful woman living with Albinism, Brenda Mudzimu.
Bold and Beautiful: A Woman's Triumph in Carrying Her Scars
She grew up with dreams like any other girl: to study abroad and have her prince charming sweep her off her feet. She didn’t know her life would take a drastic turn a few years down the line.
From Dust to Success: A Village Girl’s Story from Devastation to Triumph
She was a happy teenager with big dreams. One fateful day, the trajectory of her life changed when she received devastating news about her father. With no source of income, her family struggled to make ends meet, and the future seemed bleak. But she refused to let her dream die.
A Fighter’s Story: Feeling Whole Again After a Life Filled With Abuse
Memory Thandiwe Ndebele is a 32-year-old humble and bubbly woman. Just meeting her, you can tell she is a warm and big-hearted person. Nothing about her personality shows the dreadful situations she has had to face. Her second name, Thandiwe, meaning “Beloved” in Ndebele – one of Zimbabwe’s native languages – is very ironic to me after all she has been through. She is definitel
Dear Seeker...
You feel down today because only 60 people liked your post. You were hoping for at least 100. You check your feed every few minutes, wondering when the masses are going to swoop in and marvel at the selfie you just posted. Then you look to see which “friends” are online and wonder why they haven’t liked your picture yet. You take that personally.