The prodigal writer has returned, and I hope you will open your arms and welcome me.
It has been a chaotic month, and I have tried to keep my head above water, but sometimes everything hurts and nothing seems to be working out.
I smothered my creativity to death, I watched the flower wither, and I did nothing. To be honest, I thought I would bounce back until I tried holding the pen and I felt nothing. It felt as if my mind had forgotten that creativity was my best friend.
I miss going to my little place and picking something that I love. Scrolling on online pages has been comforting and Pinterest will always be that girl who is fearless and adventurous.
Sometimes I long for peace, no noise but beautiful silence because this world can be noisy.
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Why didn’t you warn me that having a big heart can cause you to toss and turn at night? People will hurt you and they are not even apologetic about it.
My little circle means the world to me and I have vowed to be intentional about my relationships. I will show up and remind all my favs that I love them. I would rather do it now than stand in front of a casket and recite a speech that is pregnant with regret.
Life is a gift given and I have been living by this mantra. Some of my agemates’ lives were cut short before they turned six, they never experienced the chaos that comes with the teenage years and the liberty to become yourself in adulting.
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Our lights are not even burning bright, some are shaky or shaky. No one has the right to dim the next person’s light. Do your best to ensure that the light does not go out.
Whenever my heart is heavy, I long for comfort food, food that makes me tastebuds and heart merry. I long for music that feels familiar, music that feels safe and a place that I can call home.
Where are you guys finding the strength to run marathons every weekend?
Sometimes I am a mess, I cry till my eyes are puffy, sometimes I laugh until my body aches. I long for the embraces that chase away worry and fear. I long for peace, joy and happiness to locate me, chase after me and never let me go!
My departure wasn’t sudden it was a build up of pain, hurt and betrayal. It was a processing of being stretched, being elastic and getting back to my normal self. It was a process of actions that hurt me and yet no one was apologetic about it. I watched a flower wither because of lack of love, affection and truthfulness. It hurt me that uncalled behaviours were never called out, certain actions were ignored in the name of trying to survive.
Was I not surviving adulting too, I wonder? I had given this love affair my all, just like a teacher I had invested my time in this so called “love affair”. I was just a girl hoping to do it right, and only marry once. I wasn’t pressured into wanting a happy little home, heaven knows it was something I longed for and the ticking sound of the biological clock was deafening. It was both scary and no longer exciting, each menstrual cycle was a reminder of the unfertilised egg and no hope of motherhood. It wasn’t a sweet sixteen but rather a scary sixteenth anniversary of my menstrual cycle.
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I gave him a chance, I justified his actions and yet he kept on hurting me. I loved him but I wonder if he ever loved me. Each hurtful word made me become distant, I longed for my happiness and sadly he wasn’t in the picture anymore. My once source of happiness had now become my source of pain. How can you heal a broken heart from lies? How long does it take for your memory to stop having a circus of hurtful words and actions?
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My mind packed its bags first and it took a chunk of happy memories with it. My heart isn’t here anymore and so is the vessel that carries me. His presence used to excite me, butterflies in my tummy used to have somersaults yet today all I can do is wish we aren’t in everyone’s space.
Touch, fold and pack… will be my new anthem when the sun rises. As the sun rises, the caged bird will flap its wings!
Forgive me father I have sinned, and after that we confess our sins.
Sometimes as we kneel down in prayer, we weep and ask Mwari to forgive us of our sins. To God, our sins are never secret but sometimes all we want to do is to lessen the guilt.
The lies and secrets could have consumed or haunted us.
Instead of choosing to hide the truth, they opt for a confession.
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One longs for freedom and this is why they choose to confess.
We all have a secret, we had our reasons to hide it but maybe it’s time we confess.
In this series, my hope is for the storytellers to find healing, closure and peace.
The noises will stop, and the silence won’t be scary but relaxing. We will smile and laugh more; misery will no longer belong to us. Our new normal won’t be aching feet or wounded hearts. Everything will be alright.
We will be present. We will live in the moment and enjoy life. Puffy eyes, stuffy noses, and tear-streaked cheeks will be a thing of the past. Our hearts will finally rest in a good place.
And we will look back and say, “The Lord carried us through. He heard our cry.”
Waiting is stressful and fills our hearts with anxiety. So we will carry a drop of hope, and take a second at a time.
Where do I even begin? Michelle Lole is a woman who believes in growth — like the mustard seed, small beginnings with the potential to flourish beautifully. I choose to thrive in every season of life. I’m someone who embraces change, learns from every experience, and believes that with faith, courage, and consistency, you can bloom wherever you’re planted.
How did the Mandida brand come into existence?
I hold a Master’s Degree in Medical Biochemistry, and like many graduates, I stepped into the corporate world ready to apply my knowledge. While I’m grateful for the experience and the lessons it taught me, I eventually realized that I was being called in a different direction.
With the support and encouragement of my parents, I took a leap of faith. I started creating content on social media, something I had always loved. That passion led to being a Social Media Manager for a company, which further sharpened my skills.
Along the way, I began revamping wigs and posted a video just for fun. To my surprise, it resonated with so many people and went viral. That moment was the mustard seed flourishing — and Mandida was born.
Why did you name the brand Mandida?
Mandida comes from the Shona word meaning “you have loved me.”
But in this case, the love is directed inward.
Mandida is a self-love brand. It represents the moment a woman chooses herself — when she goes the extra mile to care for her hair, to revamp her wig professionally, to invest in how she looks and feels. It’s more than hair; it’s an intentional act of self-care.
When you choose Mandida, you are quietly saying to yourself, “I have loved me.”
It’s about honoring yourself, nurturing your confidence, and understanding that taking care of your appearance is not vanity — it’s self-respect.
Mandida is love, given back to self.
As we celebrate Women’s Month, how does Mandida give women confidence?
There’s something powerful about a woman who feels beautiful.
Hair plays such a big role in how we show up, for our events, our milestones, and even our everyday lives. When a woman trusts me with her wig, she’s trusting me with part of her confidence. That’s something I never take lightly.
Seeing my clients send pictures glowing in their installations truly warms my heart. Being part of their special moments is an honor.
Feedbacks from clients
If Mandida was a woman, how would you describe her?
Mandida would be determined, hardworking, and deeply supportive.
She believes there is no space for belittling ourselves. She celebrates sisterhood. She understands that life is better when women uplift and guide each other.
Mandida is that friend who wants to see her sisters win — and will do her best to make it happen.
What are some challenges you have faced?
Challenges are part of every growth journey.
In the beginning, I didn’t fully understand the administrative side of running a business — things like tax processes and compliance. It was a learning curve, but I’m grateful for the community and mentors who shared knowledge and guidance. Growth often comes through learning.
Tell us about running an online revamping store and then opening a physical store.
Opening a physical store was truly a dream come true.
For a long time, my business operated flexibly, with clients adjusting their schedules for collections and drop-offs. I deeply appreciated their support. Eventually, I wanted to create a more comfortable and structured space, somewhere my clients could feel safe, welcomed, and valued.
The store became an extension of my personality ,warm, kind, and supportive. And the love the girls give back? It’s unmatched.
I’ve also expanded into being a plug for cute firly things eg fragrances because confidence isn’t just how you look, it’s also how you feel and smell.
Mandida’s work
Please share an incident where you made a mistake?
I believe in accountability.
There was a time I accidentally cut the lace during a lace replacement. I immediately communicated with the client, apologized sincerely, and we worked toward a solution together. Mistakes happen what matters is integrity and how you handle them.
How have you maintained your business despite social media sharing so many tips?
Social media shares information, but experience, consistency, and trust are built over time.
Transparency, efficiency, professionalism, and genuine sisterhood have sustained Mandida. Not everyone has the time, tools, or desire to master the skill — and that’s where expertise and service come in.
How do you deal with difficult clients?
Communication is key.
Sometimes misunderstandings happen, and I’ve learned to approach situations with patience and empathy. My parents have always been my grounding force, they remind me to respond with grace at every turn
What is your wish for everyone who uses your services?
I hope they always feel beautiful, confident, and valued.
And to my girlies outside Harare, don’t hesitate to reach out. I do accommodate clients beyond the city as well. We have worked with people from places like Bulawayo, Kadoma, Mutare and the list goes on
If Mandida isn’t making or revamping wigs, what is she up to?
Probably watching a series (I love a good K-drama), spending time with friends, or enjoying a cute outing. Balance is important.
On Monday the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) were releasing prisoners through the presidential amnesty. According to The Herald newspaper , 4 305 inmates are to be released from prisons nationwide.
When Demand walked out of the prison gates, his emotions were difficult to describe. The sight of Rumbi, his wife, and their daughter Delight made him smile. The little girl giggled and ran to him, and all the fears Demand felt vanished. Yet when Dumi walked out of the prison gates, he was uncertain of where he was going. Sisi Mai B’s response on the call had been cold, and for the eight years he had been behind bars, no one had visited him. He was alone in prison, and maybe he will be a loner as a free man.
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The departure….
The hearts leapt for joy as prisoners knew that they now had to explore life beyond the prison walls. Some people looked forward to going home and being able to experience their child’s milestones in real-time rather than being told in the past tense. The family table would be complete since Baba had returned home, and today, after so many years, Ma would share the bed with Baba. For some, the release meant going to their brother’s or mother’s resting place and honouring their memory. Whereas some people had to go through a cleansing process before going home and making amends for the families that they had wronged.
For some, the embraces were pregnant with fear, apologies, and regret. It felt as if a heavy load had been taken off their shoulders. Many embraces were heavy with fear, apologies, and regret. It felt as though a great burden had been lifted from their shoulders. Yet much had changed. The streets were unfamiliar. Children had grown. Parents had aged. Freedom would require patience.
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Home……
The call from a prison offer caused Vee’s bile to rise. Yes, she knew that the day of the release would come, but it was unexpected. A lot needed to be done, and she felt that she had not completely forgiven Tonde. It was okay visiting Tonde, having conversations with a boundary and now they were in the same space with no security. Chandi had become an orphan because of Peter’s actions, and Peter’s presence in Muwuyu Street would be a reminder of what he lost. Ma’s health deteriorated after Pearl was imprisoned, and the family lost its anchor simply because of Pearl’s actions. Would she be welcomed at the family table? Will people ever address the issue they have bottled for years?
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Who will be brave enough to break the ice and address the issue? Will Demand not feel like a stranger in his own home? Will it be easy for him to fend for his family with a criminal record? Now that he depended on his wife, did it make him less of a man? He brushed the negative thoughts away and sighed. He needed to be kind to himself. He needed to call Mukoma Tonde and ask him to come to his house because the roads and streets had changed. He needed to talk to someone who would not judge him but would listen. Demand longed for love, society reintergration and a chance to start over.
My wish for those returning home and those at home is to find a common ground and healing!
All we need is a warm, hearty meal in the evening. We miss the times we would sleep through the night. How do you explain the constant aching of our bodies without sounding weird? We pray for peaceful days where anxiety, stress and panic do not belong.
Once upon a time, an incident made us cry but it doesn’t make us cry anymore. We go back to a place of pain with so much gratitude.We hope for better days, where we don’t sigh, cry ourselves to sleep or wonder how we can numb the pain.
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We carry ourselves so well and we find a way to cover the shame and hurt. Yet deep down we long for healing and closure. All we ever wanted was to be better people yet people’s actions have bruised, wounded and hurt us. We give pain a seat and as time goes by, we learn to live with it.
Our memory gives us a nudge, and it playbacks the times we overcame fear, doubt and happy times. We look up, and hope the heavens will wash away the pain, shower us with peace and may happiness shine on us.
Rise and shine, the city is awake and the trip from home begins.Some faces are covered with joy, worry, anxiety and uncertainty. “What excuse will I tell my landlord ?” Will I survive until pay day” some thoughts hang on the roof of the commuter omnibus. The tummy ache, the terrible headache leave some passengers feeling uncomfortable. They wonder if the day at work will be bearable or they will have to request to come back home.
Some passenger’s faces look sleep deprived whereas some passengers have decided to take a nap on the ride. Some passengers are chatting with each other whereas some passengers are in conflict with the tout because of their torn notes or because the tout won’t drop them off at their bus stop.
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The trip from home, has some passengers glued to their phones, with some people watching videos, listening to music, responding to messages and reading books.For some people, this is the only time they can catch-up before the busy day at work.Some people utter silent prayers because that is the only thing that will keep them sane.
In the quietness and stillness, people’s thoughts wander to different destinations. Some people excitedly smile as they reflect about the moments that made them happy. Whereas some people try so hard not to shed a tear.
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Each trip is a vessel carrying different thoughts and emotions. Yet each story is unique to each passenger. The only thing that brings them together is their shared trip from home.
The Baobab 