My name is Paidamoyo Manomano aka Gerald. I was born on 3 June 1982 in Mt St Mary’s Rusunzwe in Wedza, Zimbabwe. I was born and raised in the rural areas of Wedza, my glimpse to what lay beyond my village life came when I started attending boarding school at Chemhanza High school 1997-2000. I met other kids from different backgrounds mostly from well up city families. Adjusting was a bit challenging considering my strong rural background. I preferred herding my father’s livestock- beasts are not bullies – I had a fair share of bullies and being bullied while growing up. My boarding life was an eye opener and something inside of me got awakened, I didn’t know what it was then, just a sense of purpose.
My late mother was very instrumental in shaping up who I have become. I was not close to my father, he didn’t show much affection either. He gave much attention and affection to my half siblings; he took them for shopping and addressed them with affluent titles in front of us like; Dr, Banker, Lawyer or those other big titles. He always said we (I and my siblings) were going to serve our half siblings, you guessed right, my father was a polygamist and had two other wives besides my mother. Giving credit where its due, we grew up very close with our half siblings, mainly due to our mothers’ influence- they felt us kids were innocent and as such we should treaty each other as equals.
My father was a violent husband to his wives (typical to most African men of that era-still happening though but less) - he did not discriminate when it came to bashing them. My mother received much of his violence, maybe because first wives are usually blamed for the man’s infidelities. Again, giving credit where it’s due; my father was a hard worker and he managed to send me and my other siblings to better schools. He owned grocer shop and a bottle store. He was generous too; one of his cars doubled as a village ambulance. He even paid tuition fees for some of his less fortunate friends’ children. Yes, he was respected in the community and his polygamous marriage was an envy of other less informed men.
my life re-told
