Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
American long-distance walker Eddie Bond and South African James Shuping Setshogelo, who started walking from Plumtree town to Bulawayo on Tuesday, are expected to arrive in the City of Kings on Thursday.
Poet Dr Gasolo who started the journey together with them, left the camp, and pushed ahead to Bulawayo, to prepare a grand “heroes’ welcome” for the pair’s arrival.
Bond’s mammoth walkathon, aiming to traverse the length of Africa, from Cape Town in South Africa, to Cairo in Egypt, entered Zimbabwe and found camaraderie in the form of Dr Gasolo and Setshogelo.
The trio commenced their Zimbabwean leg together, setting off from Plumtree Town on Tuesday, bound for the City of Kings.
Today (Wednesday), the walking pair are navigating a detour through Figtree, tackling the penultimate stretch before the final push into Bulawayo tomorrow.
Their arrival is anticipated to be a significant moment, not just for the walkers themselves, but for the city of Bulawayo.
Dr Gasolo, who is already in Bulawayo marshalling support, said he sees this international convergence as a unique opportunity to showcase the city’s cultural heart.
“The idea is to market Bulawayo as the ultimate cultural hub in the country, and how best can that be done, other than giving these two a heroes’ welcome in our city,” said Dr Gasolo.
He emphasised the need for community involvement to elevate the occasion.
“We are asking people to get in touch for partnerships so that we make this a big event. This call to action invites businesses, cultural groups, and residents to contribute to creating a memorable and fitting tribute to the walkers’ remarkable journey and endurance,” said Dr Gasolo.
The sight of Eddie Bond, representing the global scale of the challenge, alongside James Shuping Setshogelo from neighbouring South Africa, and championed by Bulawayo’s own Dr Gasolo, promises a powerful symbol of shared human endeavour. – Follow on X @MbuleloMpofu
