So, we in Zimbabwe recently became free of the man who has been running the country as his own household for the past 37 years, and for the first time, we actually have hope that the economy will improve.
Now, this is probably the first step in a long climb back to being a prosperous nation, but it has given many people hope, inlcuding the small bunch of skateboarders who have been skating here over the years. Now that we have hope, we do see the opportunities for skateboarding in Zim becoming a big thing. The possibility of skateparks being built in the future. The hope that we will soon have a supplier of skate gear coming to set up shop locally, and even the possibility of a local skateboard parts manufacturer coming up to supply the skate culture with its means of expression.
For us, the few currently active skaters, we are lucky enough to be spending a couple of days with a Zimbabwean born skater, based in South Africa, who knows a bit of what it takes to get somewhere, as he has already been invited to a world class skate tournament, The Kimberley Diamond Cup, 2 years in a row. He has also made the effort of organising, selflessly, a couple of skateboard decks to help out the need for supply in Zim.
I'm looking forward to this, and so is the crew I skate with, the Zimbo Skaters. I will post pictures after our time with him to share with the community.