The Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI), in collaboration with the Friendship Bench Hub, officially launched the Zimbabwe by Bus multimedia exhibition and publication in Harare on 26 May 2026.
This innovative project brings together a diverse collection of photographs, drawings, paintings, poems, interviews, and short stories that reflect on the profound role long-distance buses play in the everyday social and cultural life of Zimbabwe. By documenting these journeys, the initiative explores buses not merely as transport systems, but as vital spaces of memory, survival, hope, and community connection.
The project grew from professional connections made during the African Women Writers Circle and Retreat hosted by CAPSI at the Wits Rural Campus earlier this year. Publisher Irene Staunton, who long nurtured the concept of the “bus spirit,” observed that these vehicles represent the quintessentially Zimbabwean traits of resilience, fortitude, and humour. She was joined in this venture by writer and cultural practitioner Isabella “Bella” Matambanadzo, whose father was a pioneer among bus entrepreneurs, further anchoring the project in personal and national history.
The launch event commenced at 5:40 PM with a welcome address by Peta, who introduced the Swiss Ambassador, Stephane Réy. Ambassador Réy formally inaugurated the book and exhibition, highlighting how the project captures the journeys of ordinary people travelling in search of opportunity and family connection. The evening served as a tribute to the interconnected lives of passengers navigating both rural and urban landscapes across the nation.
A central highlight of the evening was the prize-giving ceremony, introduced by Isabella Matambanadzo and Mrs. Paul Matambanadzo. Thandi Makhubele of CAPSI announced the winners across three creative categories. In the short story category, Godess Bvukutwa took first prize for Murphy’s Law, followed by Lindiwe Dhlakama in second for Roadworthy. The photography prizes were awarded to Wonai Haruperi for Sitting King and Tanaka Maxwell Chembezi for Rows are Life. In the painting category, Adonis Phiri secured first prize for In Search of a Better Life, while Powell Matonsongoni earned second for Rwendo.
The collection also features contributions from other talented artists and writers, including Rutendo Goneso Harvey, Tanya Chimweta, photographer George Mahenga, and artist Tafadzwa Kuzanga, CAPSI’s involvement in the project underscores its commitment to supporting African storytelling and cultural knowledge production. The initiative was also made possible through the support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Zimbabwe, alongside contributions from renowned authors Katherine Rundell and Lesley Lysaght.
