From Karoi fields to Windhoek bars: Kudzai Gasho’s...

From Karoi fields to Windhoek bars: Kudzai Gasho’s journey of farming, business and Pan-Africanism

Philemon Jambaya
Karoi dust on his shoes and Namibia’s wind in his hair, Kudzai Gasho’s story is a tapestry woven from humble beginnings, entrepreneurial spirit, and a deep love for Africa. Born and raised in Zimbabwe’s Karoi, Kudzai knew the rhythm of the land long before textbooks and classrooms.

Fields were his playgrounds, lessons etched in the sweat of tilling and the thrill of harvest. His father, a commercial farmer, planted the seeds of resilience and resourcefulness that would blossom into a life brimming with ambition.

Gasho gives praise to his former school, Chinhoyi High as it has shaped him to be what he is today.

“Chinhoyi High School wasn’t just bricks and mortar; it was a crucible where minds met and identities forged. It was here that I encountered ‘the guys from Up Town’, broadening my horizons and igniting a curiosity about my own heritage,”
Gasho a Pan Africanist was inspired by Steve Biko and he now believes in Africanism.

Steve Biko, the South African anti-apartheid activist, became his beacon, leading him down a path of self-discovery and Pan-Africanism.

“The colonial narratives in history books left me unsatisfied, hungry for a truer, more African perspective. I embarked on a mission to reclaim my continent's story, one dusty archive and whispered tale at a time,” he said.

Malawi, Namibia, Europe – Kudzai’s passport became a testament to his restless spirit. He navigated the labyrinths of international economics, built businesses from the ground up, and even ran a bar named Club Makokola, a nod to his Malawian roots, in the heart of Windhoek. Each experience was a brushstroke painting his worldview, adding layers of resilience, adaptability, and cultural understanding.

“I am a global villager at one point I ran a bar and a Taxi business in Windhoek, I named the Bar Club Makokola, a name I derived from a club I once patronised in Windhoek,” he added.

As a boy who grew up in the village, he understood the importance of farming as his father was a farmer and we got their family maize from their own yield But the farmer’s heart never strayed far from the soil.

“Back in Zimbabwe, I returned to my agricultural roots, tilling the land with the wisdom passed down from my father.
Farming wasn’t just a livelihood; it was a connection to my ancestral soil, a testament to the enduring spirit of my people,” Gasho added.

However, Kudzai’s fire extends beyond the fields. He’s a man of convictions, a Pan-Africanist who believes in the collective destiny of a continent. He’s a Zanu PF member, drawn to their ideology of Ubuntu, the interconnectedness that binds Africans together. Politics, for him, isn’t a spectator sport; it’s an active pursuit, a way to shape the future of his people.

Yet, family remains his bedrock. He envisions a future where his children inherit the wisdom of their ancestors, the principles of Ubuntu guiding their path. He’s a social creature, passionate about his community, a man who speaks his mind with conviction, unafraid to hold a mirror to society’s ills.

Gasho’s story is a testament to the human spirit's boundless potential. From humble beginnings to the global stage, he’s a man who navigates diverse landscapes with an unwavering passion for his land, his people, and his continent. He’s a living tapestry woven from the threads of hard work, cultural pride, and an unwavering belief in a brighter Pan-African future.