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Inside/Out with Kelvin Hazangwi, Padare Men's Forum on Gender
Kubatana.net
January 20, 2012

Full interview with Kelvin Hazangwi - Read and listen

Describe yourself in five words
I'm an activist. I'm crazy in a way. I'm loving and patient.

What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
It was from my father who said all you need is a good heart and a good head.

What's the most ridiculous thing you've ever done?
Being asked to do the Zora Butter dance by my two sons at the T20 Cricket final and they recorded it!

What is your most treasured possession?
It's my diary. I had the privilege of being raised by wonderful people. After they passed away there were some critical questions that I wanted the answers to but they weren't around to answer them. I wanted to know how my father handled anger; how he solved difficult situations at work. So the diary is something for my son to help him answer those questions when the time comes.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Disempowerment. When you are in a situation where you cannot provide for yourself or your children.

Do you have any strange hobbies?
None that I know of.

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
I have scars, a reflection of a very naughty childhood.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Books.
Interviewer: What are you reading now?
A book called ‘Men and Families'; I'm trying to teach young men about feminism.

What do you have in your fridge?
We eat lots of white meat. There are lots of fruit juices and Castle light.

What is your greatest fear?
I'm afraid of snakes. Ironically that's my mother's totem. My wife kills all the snakes that come to the house.

What have you got in your pockets right now?
Money.

What is your favourite journey?
I find travelling to the Eastern Highlands refreshing. I find that I have a sense of belonging when I'm there.

Who are your heroes in real life?
My mother; she had to leave school to raise her brothers. Growing up she always emphasized the value of an education. I think of her in the work I do - it relates to her life story. If she could have finished school and gotten a diploma or a degree she would have gone very far. She gives me inspiration.

When and where were you happiest?
I wasn't there when my first son was born. I was happiest when my second son was born. I was there in the room. There's something about new life that just makes you happy.

What is your biggest vice?
I've yet to discover it.

What were you like at school?
I was afraid of girls in primary school. I went to an all boys' boarding school, but in high school I went to a mixed school. Whenever I was around girls I would treat them like little girls. I was shy.

What are you doing next?
I'm pursuing my PhD in gender relations and writing a book about gender relations in Zimbabwe. And developing a course on young men and feminism.

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