This Is Honde Valley

29/04/2025

You'll see me selling bananas at Makunike, or expanding our fields in Samanga.
You’ll find me hustling in Hauna, trading vegetables and tomatoes at Bvuma.
You’ll catch me clearing waterways in Duru or herding cattle in Gatsi.
You’ll spot me cycling to Mahwemasike, or hiking the paths to Ngarura and Rupinda.

Look closely — I am there.
My catapults hang from my neck.
My gumboots are a little oversized, just like my t-shirts. They were passed on to me by a brother from another mother...
I sing a song whose lyrics I don’t know, but that won’t stop me.

You can’t miss me.

Honde Valley lives in me.
I dive into the river from Pungwe Bridge.
I am Honde Valley.
I document Honde Valley.

Listen when I speak.
Read when I write.

I have no other home.
Though I have travelled far, I have known no other place.
The road that leads me home is engraved in my heart.

I am Sagambe.
Chisuko. Chavhanga.
Muriri. St. Peters Mandeya. Jombe.
Katiyo. Chikomba. Sahumani.
Samaringa. Samutete. Murara.
Muparutsa. Bengo. Zindi.
Chiwira. Pachidye. Mapureti.
Kwambana. Muterere. Duru...

I am Mapokana.
I am Honde Valley.
Honde Valley is here - in me.

29/04/2025

On that particular day, we were greeted by a few crocodiles. One of them, perfectly camouflaged, was slowly approaching - completely unnoticed by us. Some young boys playing nearby, aware of our oblivion, sent one of their own to warn us: "Musasvike padhuze, pane garwe." I followed the direction of his pointing finger. I needed no further warning.

The havoc crocodiles have caused in this area is well documented. I took a few cautious steps back and turned my focus elsewhere - to the spillway and the immaculate rainforest. Stunning as always.

27/04/2025

This is Nyawamba Dam, named after its source river - the Nyawamba River. The dam, commissioned in 1997, is one of the key landmarks in the Valley. Years ago, when the planning and eventual construction of this massive water body were underway, nobody could predict how massive it was going to be. We hadn't witnessed anything of that magnitude. However, when compounds started sinking and 'drowning,' we began to realise how huge it was going to be. Number 2 disappeared. Numbers 7, 8, 9,.... were all submerged.

Exactly 28 years ago, on the 24th of April 1997, a ceremony was held to mark the official opening of the reservoir. Water was trickling in, and the spillway was not active yet. The Governor for Manicaland Province at the time, Hon. Kenneth Manyonda, cut the ribbon. He spoke glowingly about the project. Everyone was happy, of not about the dam, then about the food which was served to accompany the party.

Lurking in the horizon, in some of the pictures, is a mountain in Mozambique. Vanoti ndimo makapinda Sekuru Nyamurodza nembwa dzake. He was a Simboti. Story for another day...

07/03/2025

Benny Hadassah Muzanamombe is a Zimbabwean gospel musician known for his heartfelt and soulful music that blends traditional African rhythms with contemporary Christian themes. Originating from This Is Honde Valley, Muzanamombe draws inspiration from the Bible, aiming to inspire and uplift his audience through his songs.

His musical journey began after completing his O-Level studies at Dzivaresekwa 2 High School in Harare. Despite facing initial challenges, including opposition and encountering untrustworthy individuals, his resilience has enabled him to remain relevant in the gospel music sector.

As of March 2023, Muzanamombe had released four albums and seven singles. He was set to release his fifth album, "Muparidzi Mutema," on April 1, 2023, featuring six tracks, including a collaboration with Pastor Blessing Shumba on the song "Makamira Muropa." In January 2025, it was announced that he would release a new album titled "Mwana Wandakaberekera Rubatsiro" on March 15, 2025.

Muzanamombe's dedication to his faith and his ability to blend traditional and contemporary musical elements have made him a notable figure in Zimbabwe's gospel music scene.

Sheyaiwo ka flyer aka, hatina ma bloggers mufunge tinotovimba nemi. Muchiisawo pama profile nema pages enyu nema status kuWhatsApp uko. Let's do this!

28/12/2024

For these and many other blessings, we thank you Lord! This Is Honde Valley

08/05/2024

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Tinashe Nyatsero, Douglas Chikwenjere, Prince Mushonga

07/05/2024

Where did the Sa in your surname come from?

I once had an interesting exchange with my then Form 1 Agriculture Teacher, whom we used to call Fungi because of the way he used to pronounce fungi (the plural of fungus). Inini murume mukuru they still call me by my first name yet iwewe just a small boy wakutonzi Sa... We laughed, the whole class joined. But he had a point. Sa..., a prefix of respect common in Manicaland, particularly in Honde Valley, is fixed on my surname. Whilst others have to earn it, I earned it at birth. It's something I would take for granted. But then later on I started quizzing where this came from. Why Sa... not Va? One popular explanation was presented: it's a bastardisation of Sir. They said back in the day, most people from Manicaland worked in hotels and as gardeners where the use of the title Sir was prevalent as a sign of respect to their bosses. Wasu, someone from Manicaland, was intrigued by the noble title and the Queen's language in general that he took both home. In addition to constructing Shona-English hybrid sentences, he started using the Sir (Sa) title on his name. An ordinary Gambe became SaGambe (Sagambe). Maringa fancied himself as Samaringa. A Humani decided to go with Sir Humani (Sahumani), something that Manga and Humbe and Mbawa and Mbona and Dondo copied. The list is endless. So exciting was the new normal that even the registrar's office started documenting it as such. The prefix became part of the legal name. Just like Sir Furgerson or Sir Elton John, an ordinary Wasu became knighted, albeit without the Queen's blessings. But is this how Sa became part of our names? I tried searching a bit deeper. The hotels and Sir theory is widely accepted. However, I found something interesting. They say in the Chimanyika dialect the prefix "SA" refers to "the guardian of" or "the keeper of" or someone particularly associated with a certain thing. For example, Sadondo is the custodian of the Dondo (bush or forest). Saka munhu ndiSawani?