Online Reporter
By Sipepisiwe Moyo | Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
AFTER a jaw-dropping 11-country ride across Africa, Bulawayo’s power couple, Vusumuzi Mkandla and Thandolwenkosi Tshuma, pedalled into the City of Kings to a hero’s welcome — and tears of joy.
The adventurous pair arrived at Bulawayo’s Large City Hall on Saturday after cycling for over a year, navigating potholes, parasites and passports, driven by love, grit, and a burning desire to see Africa on their own terms.
Their return was nothing short of poetic — literally.
Dr Gasolo blessed the moment with a stirring poem while Vuyi Sax serenaded the crowd at the KaMandazi Restaurant with soul-soaked saxophone melodies. Overcome with emotion, Tshuma wept in her husband’s arms as cheers echoed across the venue.
The couple’s two-wheeled odyssey began in South Africa on April 10, 2024, taking them through Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya — facing malaria, food poisoning, language hurdles, and the sting of stereotypes.
> “People told us cycling was for white people, but we stayed committed,” said the couple.
Sleeping under stars and battling the elements, they discovered more than roads and borders — they uncovered the soul of a continent. They were inspired by the resilience of Malawians, puzzled by Zambian currency, and moved by the sacred silence of Lake Kosi in Tanzania — a lake shaped like Africa and home to no living creature.
Meeting the Maasai people in Tanzania became a highlight, deepening their cultural appreciation.
> “This wasn’t just travel — it was a celebration of love, unity, and the power of partnership,” they said.
Now back on home soil, Mkandla and Tshuma aren’t slowing down. They’ll be sharing their story at this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, living proof that dreams don’t need engines — just courage, love… and a sturdy bicycle.
