Tatenda Tsumba: From Olympic Sprinter to Voice for Human Rights
Who am I
I am Tatenda Tsumba a Zimbabwean former Olympic athlete who now leverages my international platform to become a critic of the systematic violations of human rights in my former home country.
As someone born in the 90s in Harare, Zimbabwe I grew up seeing the promise of what Zimbabwe could be, a country that still allowed the young people to follow their dreams which allowed me to rise into a prominent sprinter.
With a career that wasn’t only regional but international. At the time representing Zimbabwe at the World Stage which I did with so much pride. I was part of the 2015 World Championships and 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
While at these events I held my head high and did so with pride but conversations with other international athletics started to stir a dissatisfaction into what Zimbabwe was becoming. It felt that as the whole world was moving forward my home country was making leaps in the wrong direction. Which was only amplified even more after the ousting of Robert Mugabe and the coming of the even more brutal leader Mnangagwa who uses violence and bribery to keep himself in power.
While I was out achieving notable performances in my races in 2016 the country was also achieving their worst economic performances and failure to acknowledge the brutality of Gukurahundi!
Following the 2016 Olympics, I noted the stark difference in preparation and training investment between Zimbabwe and internationally competitive nations, stating that for the country to match international standards, there was a need to invest in the work that has to be done. This caused a massive stir within the ruling party ranks who would rather not be told the truth but keep everything tight lipped. This was the start of the target in my back but the unmovable resolve of my start for activism for those without the same platform as I.
The exposure i have gained through my international athletic career has given me a different perspective on well-functioning democracies and systems, contrasting sharply with the political and human rights situation in Zimbabwe. This contrast fueled my inevitable transformation from a focus purely on athletics to one of social justice.
My declared mission is clear:
“I am an athlete committed to using my platform to bring to light the ongoing and systematic violations of human rights in Zimbabwe.”
By utilising my identity as a respected athlete and Olympian, I aim to shine a global spotlight on the issues affecting my beloved country, mobilising my platform to advocate for change and human rights awareness.
