By Dalphine Tagwireyi
We are officially closing down 2022, but my expression of news events is WOW, what a year it has been.
The 2022 journey has been a bag of mixed emotions, with anxiety heavily playing on me as a particular news story that I covered placed the final nail in the coffin in my decision to move back home to Zimbabwe.
The day a source from Masoyi village, in Mpumalanga, sent an SMS informing me about a search for a missing six-year-old, I honestly never thought that the coverage of this story would impact my decision to finally gather the courage and leave South Africa.
The story of Bontle Mashiyane resonated with me, as I am a mother.
Though we were taught to never allow emotions to be part of our story coverage, this was a
totally different experience for me.
My stomach churned with every new development I heard about.
My heart sank when I learned that a convicted murderer who had been released on parole was the last person seen talking to young Bontle.
I was crushed when I learned that little Bontle’s body had been discovered in a shallow grave mutilated. Visiting her home and seeing her grief-stricken mother was shattering for me.
How do you say goodbye to a child so young? When will children be safe in their homeland? If we, the adults, are the perpetrators then who will protect our children?
So many questions and no straight answers. I zoned out and I remember I could not work after that as I wasn’t coping. I called my mom every day and her constant voice of assurance kept me going.
I wrestled with my emotions every day because this story hurt me to the core and with the mounting Twitter campaign linked to the #Zimbabweansmustgo hashtag, I realised it was this story of tragedy that motivated me to move back home.
We are currently experiencing 18 hours of load-shedding and ironically, we stay next to a general hospital.
I prefer using banks outside of Zimbabwe, as my money is safer there and the charges are also less, but home has been a safe space surrounded by love and family.
My mother always asks “what’s next?” as all my childhood and college friends are now scattered worldwide. I always respond with wherever the pen lands me, there I will go.
Pictured above: Bontle Mashiyane
Image source: Supplied
