Tinotenda

Reintroduction, I am Binogun Winnie, daughter of God and your African sister both in mind and flesh. One thing though has not changed and that is the fact that I still have the intention of feeding you good literary food. Today, I will be posting the highlights of my interview with Tinotenda Mushore, granddaughter of Andrea Jacob Mushore. He was the first black millionaire when Zimbabwe was still called Rhodesia. Enjoy!!

I'm Tinotenda Alexandra Anesu Mushore, from the Shona tribe born and partly raised in Harare.My grandmother (ambuya) is one of the few women who was encouraged by her husband to be a proactive member in the society. No matter the circumstance  they found themselves, they always gave back to their community and even till now my ambuya still runs an orphanage. My granddad (sekuru) had aloof properties that he would rent to people that were not always given the opportunity to start their own buisnesses.
Despite all his efforts during the agitation for independence, he never lost faith. Later on, he was offered an appointment as Finance Minister, but he rejected it because he knew how dirty the game of politics could get . On his deathbed he made sure that my Ambuya notified Mugabe that he was not welcomed at his funeral. Of course he was not happy seeing the country whose independence  he fought so hard for become ruined gradually by the  very people who swore to protect the country.
 My grand parents went through a whole lot! Despite being orphaned at age 14, caring for his 5 siblings because his stepmothers hated them, he still triumphed. I don't know why but problems always seemed to have a way of locating my Sekuru. When he wanted to buy a grocery store, he was disallowed because he was black. So he had to buy a barber shop and sell groceries by the side because he could not cut hair.
 My uncles and aunts were sent to all white schools because my grandfather could afford the fees and he wanted the best education for them. Yet he had to contend with stories of how his sons were mistreated in school. They were not allowed to stand in front of the bathing line because the white boys didn't want their skin colour to contaminate their water. They were thus placed at the back, as the last people in line. Sometimes when it got to their turn, they discovered that the water was already spat on and defecated in by the white boys, it was not easy. On some days they would come home recounting how their heads were flushed down the toilet. Despite all these, he always encouraged his children to repay evil with every form of good.
 Even when he had enough money to buy a house in Chisipite where the whites lived, he was told that it was impossible. He then had to search for a grey area in the law that stated that he could not be thrown out if he already lived in the house. As a result of this, he had to move into the house at the dead of the night with his wife and children.
 Even though Zimbabwe has overcome that period , we still have our individual battles to fight today. Take me for example I struggle as a model on two levels. One is the fact that I am a woman of colour and the other is  being too short according to fashion standards but I haven't let that stop me. I'm not represented by any agency because they didn't want me initially. They complained about my height but now that I've booked campaigns such as HIVOS and I am on the cover of a Dutch Greenglossy Pulp de luxe they are all running after me.
 Most times, the people with darkest histories have the brightest futures . Keep on working hard and you will thrive! Never sell yourself short! Never be ashamed of who you are. You are beautiful, you are loved. You are needed. You are worth It. Promise me you won't forget that. Promise me you won't let your scars define you! Let your truals shape you and your victories humble you! For you were born to stand tall - Tinotenda Mushore