Tapiwanashe Zimhamba: The accountant who became a fitness icon

TAPIWANASHE ZIMHAMBA, a qualified accountant, has forged a career in fitness training, modelling and acting.

Tapiwanashe (32) is the first of two sons. He attended Milton Junior and Milton High School.

While not particularly drawn to sports in his school days, Tapiwanashe went on to earn qualifications in accounting and even delved into Sports Science at both Nust and Unisa.

Tapiwanashe landed his first accounting job at Edgars where he spent five years. Despite the lucrative nature of accounting, Tapiwanashe found himself increasingly drawn to fitness and began dedicating a significant portion of his free time to working out at the gym.

He went on to participate in Mr Novice Zimbabwe in 2018 and gained a commendable runner-up finish.

Later that year, he won Mr Africa Zimbabwe and was crowned the prestigious Fitness Icon of the Year in Nigeria. This victory motivated Tapiwanashe to take up the sport seriously, and he started competing in more competitions, winning more titles and enjoying it more.

He has amassed a significant social media following, exceeding 85 000 fans and landed brand partnerships beyond Zimbabwe and collaborations with Verimark.

In recognition of his achievements, Tapiwanashe was voted Zimbabwe’s Social Media Fitness Personality in 2023.

“I used to participate in a lot of clubs at school like Debate and Interact, not sporting activities,” he said.

“In those five years (at Edgars) I wasn’t satisfied so daily after work I would go hit the gym. Then one day I decided training other people was what I loved. I then started including other people in my training schedule and this kick started my fitness career.”

The Mr Novice Zimbabwe competition in 2018 marked the start of Tapiwanashe’s competitive journey.

“This competition gave me confidence and I could face my fears so I ended up doing fitness modelling which was a boost to my fitness career and that put me on the map,” he shared.

Tapiwanashe’s success continued in 2018. After winning Mr Africa Zimbabwe, he represented the nation at a competition in Nigeria.

He founded Next Level (NXTLVL), a comprehensive fitness brand, which offers a range of sportswear, supplements, personalised nutritional advice and fitness training programmes.

“NXTLVL is a sports brand that is going to take over Africa in the next two years. Like Nike and Adidas, it is going to be the biggest fitness sports brand spreading hope and motivation to the hopeless African child.

“As NXTLVL, we also do charity work every Saturday at George Silundika and 9th Avenue called ‘Feed for Free Zimbabwe’ where we provide the homeless with a warm plate of food,” he said.

His online presence has allowed him to connect with a wide audience and promote his various endeavours.

In 2022, he ventured into acting, securing a role as a bodyguard to the character “Mrekza” on the popular South African soap opera, Generations the Legacy. The experience showcased his talents beyond fitness and modelling.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Tapiwanashe enjoys cycling as a recreational activity that also maintains his fitness.

“Cycling is a fantastic sport and recreational activity that offers numerous benefits, whether you’re a professional cyclist or just enjoying leisurely rides,” he says.

He also continues his modelling career with Edgars.

Demonstrating his commitment to inspiring others, Tapiwanashe co-hosts a weekly fitness show on Bulawayo’s Skyz Metro radio station alongside Taboka Nleya. Furthermore, his influence extended to being recognised among the top 50 influential Zimbabweans in South Africa.