admin
Tichaona Zindoga Political Editor
“My Zimbabwean dream is to see black, white, coloured, Indian coming together, working as a one nation since mankind needs each other, especially if Government put more resources to the youths and women to improve their livelihood.”
When one talks about the post-Independence, “born-frees” of Zimbabwe, the mind quickly goes to the generation of children born in the 1980s, who were just young enough to be born into the aura and euphoria of Independence.
This group is almost as old as Independence itself!
But there is yet another generation of born-frees that is just expressing themselves on the national scene.
They are best represented by a young woman.
Her name is Tanya Muzinda, a 12-year-old motorsport star, who last year won Zimbabwe Junior Sportswoman of the Year and the Junior Sportsperson of the Year awards at the ANSA banquet, which was held at the Rainbow Towers.
These two accolades came hard on the heels of her scooping the 2015 Zimbabwe International Women Awards’ (ZIWA) Sportswoman of the Year Award in Birmingham, England.
But that is not the only mouth watering fact: her awards meant that she became the only motocross rider from Zimbabwe to win a national sporting award.
This demonstrates the beauty about Tanya’s adventure— and how Independence and majority rule has transformed the lives of blacks in the country.
Tanya’s exploits were unthinkable in Rhodesia.
In the not-so-distant past, black children would not be allowed anywhere near the facilities of elite sports such as cricket, rugby, golf, cycling, squash, badminton, motor racing and motocross; etc.
Things have changed, though.
Apart from black Zimbabweans participating, increasingly, in these niche sports, a young black girl has become the face of motocross in the country!
She says: “Independence brought a lot of opportunity and a lot of options for the ordinary Zimbabwean. It brought hope on ordinary citizens to climb up the ladder of success be it work-related, sports, freedom of worship, to just mention a few.
“It brought and made it possible for athletes like me, a young black girl with rural blood to participate in sports like motosport (motocross), which was a sport for only the minority population and mostly participated by boys and men and to imagine a little black girl riding a motorbike in the 70s was practically impossible, if not, one would be committing a serious ‘crime’,” she told The Herald.
And she went on, displaying wisdom that belies her tender age: “With the world of opportunity that has opened thanks to Independence, I have managed to write my own piece of history, becoming the first black female rider to win a championship in motocross since it was formed in the then Rhodesia.”
The road has not been smooth considering that it’s a new sport to blacks, so support has not been that forthcoming because of a mentality challenge among corporates.
Sponsors were and are used to support known sports associated with blacks like soccer and athletics but it is improving with a lot of awareness and coverage done by the media, she notes.
“The future for young Zimbabweans is very bright, especially with the Government programmes to empower the youths and women in mainstream business and sports, only the sky is the limit.
“My Zimbabwean dream is to see black, white, coloured, Indian coming together, working as a one nation since mankind needs each other, especially if Government put more resources to the youths and women to improve their livelihood.”
Tanya was born in Harare’s Belvedere Maternity Clinic on August 31, 2004.
She is a CM1 student at Jean de la Fontaine, Ecole Francaise Harare French School.She also participates in hockey and swimming.
And her father, Tawanda, is a happy man.
“I am humbled that she has made a difference to the status quo and it makes me feel that investing in our children makes the future of the country bright and will leave a legacy for future generations,” said Mr Muzinda.
Fast facts on Tanya
1. Tanya is the oldest daughter in her family (she has two siblings, Alicia and Jayden)
2. Her family is the first generation to have permanently moved from the village into the city of Harare.
3. She is the first girl in her family to go to school .
4. Tanya became the first Zimbabwean female motorcross champion in history .
5. Her dream is to become the first athlete internationally.
6. In 2015, she walked away with two gold awards namely the junior sportsperson of the year awards.
7. December 6, 2015 Tanya became the first poster child, she was chosen to portray and inspire the image of thrive beyond illness.
8. Tanya made shortlist for the ANSA sports woman of the year. (Factsheet from youthvillage.com).
Online Reporter