By Grace Kwinjeh|Zimbabwe is in a serious leadership crisis. The country is on auto-pilot and life is tough for the ordinary citizen. Greedy dishonest politicians have made a mess up of national politics, all hope is gone – despair and gloom reign. The country is in dire need for alternatives, game changers, a new kind of leadership, fresh authentic ways of doing things, that will revive the country’s fortunes and restore her to former days of glory and prosperity. Leaders who are driven by a spirit of excellence that will propel the country forward from a place of shame and misery to dignity, prosperity and good standing globally.
The Diaspora home to about four million Zimbabweans, exposed to new cultures, other realities in their daily struggles for survival in foreign lands, picking up new ethos and value systems, could be one such place where fresh voices and leadership could emerge.
Today ZimEye’s Grace Kwinjeh in the Women of Steel profiles, talks to one such dynamic, courageous woman, Barbara Nyagomo, who cut her teeth in politics in the Diaspora. The professional nurse, philanthropist and entrepreneur, is unstoppable as she makes a mark on her country of birth Zimbabwe, already taking ground in key elections – a formidable challenge to other political parties that have dominated the political scene to date. Tired of the structured male dominated patriarchal mainstream politics in Zimbabwe, outspoken Nyagomo with a rare tenacity decided enough-is-enough and formed her own party the Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe (PDZ). In the heart warming interview below, Nyagomo tells her story.
WOS – Who is Barbara Nyagomo?
I have very humble beginnings. I am the first born in a family of seven. Born in Kadoma and my ancestral home is in Manicaland. My father left and remarried when I was 18 years old and I became a second mother to my siblings. I did my primary education in Kadoma and Chendambuya. Went to a Roman Catholic Girls boarding school where I used to stay and work at school as I had no funds to go home for exit holidays. I also drew inspiration and support from my mum’s sister who was a nun there. I spent most of my time with the nuns calling them all auntie(as I did to my mum’s sister). I have two sons who are 10 and 12 years old.
WOS – You are well known as Barbara Nyagomo the politician. Tell us more about the entrepreneur?
BN – I am a Mumtrepeneur. The birth of my first born triggered me to start home-business. I did not want to continue to work 12 hours per day leaving my son at home. Its not culture-specific for me to leave my child daily with another person looking after him. I did a lot of research, did a Business Management course and started to attend and link up with business networks. I was just a Nurse with no business skills or knowledge. I was scared and anxious but determined to do something that would allow me to spent more time with my son. The birth of my second son made me more determined to be a Mumtrepeneur as my sons are both asthmatic. This means that I spend sleepless nights and busy days nursing them and administering inhaler medicine.

Through the media I learnt that people at home in Zimbabwe were importing from neighbouring countries basic daily use products like soap. Because I love science I became a nurse also advancing to soap making and cosmetology (Cosmetic Science) appealed to me. I bought ingredients and started to experiment in my kitchen. My first soap product wasn’t that great lol. It was like a crumbling hard brick.
WOW – That is a big step from nursing to cosmetology. Tell us more?
BN – I did more research and reading and discovered that my soap making formula at that time was not great. I went back to my O’Level Chemistry Periodic Tablet. Thank God I was a science club member at school. My friends and I used to carry the big Abbot Physics book and walk down to the Science club with a swag bouncing like tennis balls chanting”Abafana bePhysics”.
So I discovered that soap making is an art and a science. Soap making is a Base plus a Fatty Acid =Salt. This is something I did in the science lab at secondary school. Wala!! I got it and I had this great feeling. Because soap is a product used on the skin I enlisted the help of a mentor in Manchester to train me and cover health and safety issues.
WOS – What an incredible break-through and what passion there is too. What happened next?
BN – When I had mastered how to make soaps I learnt to make lip gloss, body balm, cocoa butter, body butter and hair care products. I have recently added to my product line up shaving soap, shaving cream, shampoo, room fresheners and roll-on deodorants. I learnt from the best, my soap making mentor is great, a blessed and talented woman.
WOS – Now to your political career. Tell us more.
BN – Since 2007 I realised that I was in a position to help my compatriots in the UK who are asylum seekers and refugees and I have been working since then to support them to access services and help. I support many charities and have founded the Barbara Nyagomo Foundation bnfoundation.org. I actively speak out for the voiceless and challenge social injustices in Zimbabwe and globally. My work is guided by my Christian values. I use my own money, time and other resources to do humanitarian work. I have been to Uganda, Ivory Coast, South-Africa and Zimbabwe to conduct soap making and beads Jewellery workshops.
Given money and resources I would love to do this empowering people in communities to set up community businesses. Since 2010 I have been closely involved in politics as ZAPU Europe Vice Chair and Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe-PDZ (official Zimbabwe opposition party) founder and President.
WOS – Tell us more about your successes on the political front in Zimbabwe as PDZ President. The constituencies you have made inroads in, for instance you contested in some by-elections already, how has that gone?
BN – In the June 2015 by-elections Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe-PDZ contested in four constituencies that was in Kambuzuma, Kuwadzana, Dzivarasekwa and Highfields. Our best results were in Kambuzuma were we came second after Zanu PF.
In the December 2015 Nkulumane by-elections PDZ fielded a candidate and we won 20% of the votes coming after Zanu PF and beat the RDZ.
I have just recently completed a national tour covering all provinces in Zimbabwe to meet people and set up structures. As a new political party just one year old we have a very solid foundation and have covered a lot of ground.
WOS – You are doing so well on the ground beating some men who are trying to make an impact in politics, we shall not name them but we know those who do not even have structures for instance. What would you say is your main challenge as a female politician?
BN – Challenges,barriers and constraints as a female leader in a patriarchal society. I had to cross barriers at family, community and other institutional levels. I am still working hard to bring other women who have been socialised to believe that women cannot lead along to support me. Our society is evolving and at times change is a slow painful process. I can see now our communities warming up to the idea that a female political leader can be acceptable. Leadership should never be gender based, its all about leadership qualities and capabilities.
WOS – As we end what is your message for the people of Zimbabwe?
BN- Zimbabweans we are hard working, peace loving and resilient people. We are able to diagnose our problems but we are not solution focussed.We now need to walk the talk and make a difference. All Zimbabwe’s problems can only be solved by us. We are a country God made with much love,we have everything in our hands. I would like to see more youths and women in parliament to be the voice of the voiceless. Let us all challenge corruption,looting,poor governance and social injustice. Let us all collectively make Zimbabwe a better place.
Zimbabwe is in a serious leadership crisis. The country is on auto-pilot and life is tough for the ordinary citizen. Greedy dishonest politicians have made a mess up of national politics, all hope is gone – despair and gloom reign. The country is in dire need for alternatives, game changers, a new kind of leadership, fresh authentic ways of doing things, that will revive the country’s fortunes and restore her to former days of glory and prosperity. Leaders who are driven by a spirit of excellence that will propel the country forward from a place of shame and misery to dignity, prosperity and good standing globally.
The Diaspora home to about four million Zimbabweans, exposed to new cultures, other realities in their daily struggles for survival in foreign lands, picking up new ethos and value systems, could be one such place where fresh voices and leadership could emerge.
Today ZimEye’s Grace Kwinjeh in the Women of Steel profiles, talks to one such dynamic, courageous woman, Barbara Nyagomo, who cut her teeth in politics in the Diaspora. The professional nurse, philanthropist and entrepreneur, is unstoppable as she makes a mark on her country of birth Zimbabwe, already taking ground in key elections – a formidable challenge to other political parties that have dominated the political scene to date. Tired of the structured male dominated patriarchal mainstream politics in Zimbabwe, outspoken Nyagomo with a rare tenacity decided enough-is-enough and formed her own party the Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe (PDZ). In the heart warming interview below, Nyagomo tells her story.
WOS – Who is Barbara Nyagomo?
I have very humble beginnings. I am the first born in a family of seven. Born in Kadoma and my ancestral home is in Manicaland. My father left and remarried when I was 18 years old and I became a second mother to my siblings. I did my primary education in Kadoma and Chendambuya. Went to a Roman Catholic Girls boarding school where I used to stay and work at school as I had no funds to go home for exit holidays. I also drew inspiration and support from my mum’s sister who was a nun there. I spent most of my time with the nuns calling them all auntie(as I did to my mum’s sister). I have two sons who are 10 and 12 years old.
WOS – You are well known as Barbara Nyagomo the politician. Tell us more about the entrepreneur?
BN – I am a Mumtrepeneur. The birth of my first born triggered me to start home-business. I did not want to continue to work 12 hours per day leaving my son at home. Its not culture-specific for me to leave my child daily with another person looking after him. I did a lot of research, did a Business Management course and started to attend and link up with business networks. I was just a Nurse with no business skills or knowledge. I was scared and anxious but determined to do something that would allow me to spent more time with my son. The birth of my second son made me more determined to be a Mumtrepeneur as my sons are both asthmatic. This means that I spend sleepless nights and busy days nursing them and administering inhaler medicine. Through the media I learnt that people at home in Zimbabwe were importing from neighbouring countries basic daily use products like soap. Because I love science I became a nurse also advancing to soap making and cosmetology (Cosmetic Science) appealed to me. I bought ingredients and started to experiment in my kitchen. My first soap product wasn’t that great lol. It was like a crumbling hard brick.
WOW – That is a big step from nursing to cosmetology. Tell us more?
BN – I did more research and reading and discovered that my soap making formula at that time was not great. I went back to my O’Level Chemistry Periodic Tablet. Thank God I was a science club member at school. My friends and I used to carry the big Abbot Physics book and walk down to the Science club with a swag bouncing like tennis balls chanting”Abafana bePhysics”.
So I discovered that soap making is an art and a science. Soap making is a Base plus a Fatty Acid =Salt. This is something I did in the science lab at secondary school. Wala!! I got it and I had this great feeling. Because soap is a product used on the skin I enlisted the help of a mentor in Manchester to train me and cover health and safety issues.
WOS – What an incredible break-through and what passion there is too. What happened next?
BN – When I had mastered how to make soaps I learnt to make lip gloss, body balm, cocoa butter, body butter and hair care products. I have recently added to my product line up shaving soap, shaving cream, shampoo, room fresheners and roll-on deodorants. I learnt from the best, my soap making mentor is great, a blessed and talented woman.
WOS – You are training women daily online to make soap and other products. Tell us more about this.
BN – I train women online to make soap, body balm, lip-gloss,liquid soaps,shampoo,sauces and mayonnaise. I also cover health and safety issues, including business and cooking lessons. My aim is to socially empower,develop and promote social investments to boost the local economy and create jobs. I teach them to be self sustainable and earn a living to remove the donor dependency syndrome. This allows them to live with their dignity and pride intact.
WOS – Now to your political career. Tell us more.
BN – Since 2007 I realised that I was in a position to help my compatriots in the UK who are asylum seekers and refugees and I have been working since then to support them to access services and help. I support many charities and have founded the Barbara Nyagomo Foundation http://bnfoundation.org. I actively speak out for the voiceless and challenge social injustices in Zimbabwe and globally. My work is guided by my Christian values. I use my own money, time and other resources to do humanitarian work. I have been to Uganda, Ivory Coast, South-Africa and Zimbabwe to conduct soap making and beads Jewellery workshops.
Given money and resources I would love to do this empowering people in communities to set up community businesses. Since 2010 I have been closely involved in politics as ZAPU Europe Vice Chair and Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe-PDZ (official Zimbabwe opposition party) founder and President.
WOS – Tell us more about your successes on the political front in Zimbabwe as PDZ President. The constituencies you have made inroads in, for instance you contested in some by-elections already, how has that gone?
BN – In the June 2015 by-elections Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe-PDZ contested in four constituencies that was in Kambuzuma, Kuwadzana, Dzivarasekwa and Highfields. Our best results were in Kambuzuma were we came second after Zanu PF.
In the December 2015 Nkulumane by-elections PDZ fielded a candidate and we won 20% of the votes coming after Zanu PF and beat the RDZ.
I have just recently completed a national tour covering all provinces in Zimbabwe to meet people and set up structures. As a new political party just one year old we have a very solid foundation and have covered a lot of ground.
WOS – You are doing so well on the ground beating some men who are trying to make an impact in politics, we shall not name them but we know those who do not even have structures for instance. What would you say is your main challenge as a female politician?
BN – Challenges,barriers and constraints as a female leader in a patriarchal society. I had to cross barriers at family, community and other institutional levels. I am still working hard to bring other women who have been socialised to believe that women cannot lead along to support me. Our society is evolving and at times change is a slow painful process. I can see now our communities warming up to the idea that a female political leader can be acceptable. Leadership should never be gender based, its all about leadership qualities and capabilities.
WOS – As we end what is your message for the people of Zimbabwe?
BN – Zimbabweans we are hard working, peace loving and resilient people. We are able to diagnose our problems but we are not solution focused. We now need to walk the talk and make a difference. All Zimbabwe’s problems can only be solved by us. We are a country God made with much love,we have everything in our hands. I would like to see more youths and women in parliament to be the voice of the voiceless. Let us all challenge corruption, looting, poor governance and social injustice. Let us all collectively make Zimbabwe a better place.