Tatenda Tanyanyiwa is a 40-year-old mother of an 18-year-old son. She grew up in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and is a gifted human resources practitioner who has gained a lot of experience in the hotel industry.
She describes herself as her father’s favourite before her parents’ divorce when she was 12 years old, and fondly remembers the routine drives her father would take her on in the evenings before her bedtime.
Tatenda’s father was involved in traditionalism, seeking guidance from his ancestors. She and her siblings were pressured to take part in some of the rituals, but Tatenda loved the Book of Psalms.
“There I found God and solace in the midst of the traditionalism that my father was becoming lost in,” she told The Weight She Carries.
The family initially attended the John Wesley Methodist church where Tatenda enjoyed the music and felt the God’s presence. She was born again for the first time when she was 11 years old at a Scripture union camp. Shortly after, her brother, Pastor Tich, invited the family to attend a Word of Life congregation, which he discovered when Tatenda was 12 years old.
This led the family to rediscover God and Tatenda rededicated her life to God. When she was 13, composed her first song, “In Your Presence, Lord.”
Life, however, was challenging for Tatenda and her five siblings. They lived with a single mother who was unemployed and found it challenging to provide for her children.
Tatenda felt helpless because she could see her mother struggling, not only to provide, but emotionally as well. Tatenda felt helpless because she couldn’t do anything to lighten her mother’s load. She to rebelled in anger and started partying. She never felt completely abandoned by God, however.
“From a young age, God has been with me, and there was always a nudging in my heart, that sweet love from my Father. God always brought me back to His presence time and time again,” she said.
When Tatenda was 22, she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Her mother was initially disappointed, but soon became Tatenda’s strongest supporter.
“It was the toughest moment of my life. Whilst everyone else was at school or out having fun, I was home raising a child, working hard in a job that could barely provide bus fare to work, [and dealing with] an absent father not interested in his son. I found solace in the presence of God and in worship, writing music [in the midst] of it.”
– Tatenda Tanyanyiwa
There are many aspects of motherhood that Tatenda found difficult. At church, she was an outcast who was considered “unclean or too unholy to be considered as a worthy minister.” Fortunately, she did not let this get her down. She relied on God’s grace and overcame the stigma, finding a way to minister to other single parents.
Eventually, Tatenda released her first album “Love Song for You” in 2011. It is a worship album and reflects her views on praise and worship.
“Worship is being in love with God, so much so that He becomes the centre and core of everything you are. Worship is not a moment but is your lifestyle, where any free moment, every thought you have, becomes God-centred and you are constantly communicating your love, your praise and your worship to God – adoring Him,” she said.
In July 2016, Tatenda was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis. This is a complex condition involving a blood clot in one’s veins, which sometimes has no symptoms. Risk factors include smoking, hormonal contraception, travelling long distances without stretching one’s legs, and being overweight.
For Tatenda, her symptoms were unbearable pain in her lower back and upper thigh along with swelling in her leg. Her doctors were surprised by her diagnosis because although she was slightly overweight, she lived an active lifestyle that involved swimming nearly every day.
She was hospitalised for three weeks and had to recover at home for a few more weeks. The diagnosis and the side effects of her medication, which can include excessive bleeding, prolonged periods, and thin skin that is easily bruised and blotchy skin were hard to deal with. She consistently turned to God.
“It was tough, but also exciting as I saw God’s hand working consistently in my life. At times it seemed slow, at times it was immediate and I got quick responses,” she said.
Her mother was also there for her during the hospital stay and the recovery process. Tatenda eventually published her book, Tate’s Healing Journey, later that year to share with the world the healing power of God.
Tatenda’s final words to women are: “Love God, love life, forgive quickly and get your praise on even when you do not feel like it.”
She also reminds us of James 4:7 – “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Finally, she advises single women to “trust God even when it does not make sense, or the are delays in the desires of your heart”; and divorced parents to “love God fiercely and cherish your children, as children suffer more from the aftermath of divorce than adults.”
Tatenda will be starting her master’s degree this July.
Achievements/Awards
- 2018 Female Manager of the Year – [Megafest Southern Region Awards]
- Vice Chancellors Prize – [National University of Science and Technology]
- NUST Book Prize – [National University of Science and Technology]
- Best Graduating Student in Human Resources Management [NUST prize sponsored by Lupane State University]
- Published Author [2017] – “Tate’s Healing Journey” – published on www.africamustread.co.za
- Registered and Published Musician [2011 and 2017] – registered with ZIMURA
