By Margaret Kamba
The conviction and determination that nothing can ever stop her from achieving her goals and empowering others has made Reverend Rachael Mushonga reach heights that others at her level would not have.
Aged 69 years and a mother of six children, three boys and three girls, she the Founding President of Wailing Women which is an organisation helping women and girls to achieve their goals in life through the word of God.
This is not the only aim of the organization as it also teaches them to use their hands to make a living.
"Reverend Mushonga likes to talk to boys in the street, giving them hope and teaching them to be good fathers for tomorrow. I teach them to make bath salts, lotions, and beading.
For the women who give birth to children with albinism, I have made sure to help them with sunscreens lotions and lip balms. Zimplats has assisted with suncreen lotions as they have seen my passion to people living with albnisim."
I was attracted to her exhibition stand at the recent event hosted by The First Lady, Her Excellency Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, at Rowan Martin building in Harare.
Amongst her displays, Reverend Mushonga had sling bags, and this particular one had an art picture of a 'rasta'.
The creation was so imaginative that I just had to draw closer to her stand and propose to write about her.
She didn't hesitate to respond negatively as others would normally do at such places. I pray this article adds to her favour and recognition.
How did all this begin for her? It was one of the questions I said my questionnaire would include. Below is her answer.
"Using my own hands was something I learnt from my mother. She used to tell me and my siblings to use our hands so when my husband left his job because of sickness, l told him not to worry," she disclosed.
"I had no money to start, but one day after prayer, l was inspired to take VCR tapes and watch. From just watching, I started making some sun hats and small bags. A man saw the hats and gave me an order for ten hats, and this is how i began earning some income."
With more exposure, Reverend Mushonga is getting more customers.
"I am inspired by how people are coming to me asking me to teach them. I have taught many girls in Chipinge, Makoni district, and Mazowe with some churches now giving me the name MTT, meaning MUKADZI ANE TUNHU TWAKE," she says.
Reverend Mushonga adds that she has "done a lot because of this art such as sending children to school, buying a house in Kuwadzana Extension. After reading the Provebs 31 woman, even at my age, I am still interested in doing my art."
Challenges will always be there for any business and for her it's that markets fairs no longer have as many tourists.
In 2013 she got an award in the SADC Gender Links in Zimbabwe and went to South Africa to represent Zimbabwe in the Alliance Education and Economic Development Category.
"Despite having a Grade 7 Certificate, I do a lot of things. l always tell myself that l can nothing can stop me."
The kitchen soup at Kuwadzana for years has provided relief for those in need while her art now also enables her to pay school fees for less privileged children.