Africa is divided into nation-states, tribes, clans, families and individuals but above all, the address of the power to reason and freewill is the individual or the grain in the sand of fellow human actors.

It is the human actor who is mobile and possesses the power of causation and agency. Today, we present, Mr. Shaine Kamhungira, a Zimbabwean born aspiring film maker who decided to leave Zimbabwe to prosecute his craft and secure a better life than what he perceived Zimbabwe to offer.

Mr. Kamhungira, was born on 14 April 1988, and he describes himself as an aspiring script writer and film producer.

“I was introduced to the world of content creation in the year 2016 when I was a producer presenter for a radio program called, Mubanha Nhamo Show. The show aired on Diamond FM, a community radio station in the eastern border city of Mutare. The show focused on promoting entrepreneurship and would invite start up business owners to come on radio and share their experiences with listeners

I left Diamond FM to pursue my longtime dream of being a film producer and produced my first documentary film called Entreprenuer.com and some of its episodes were broadcasted on the Zimbabwe national broadcaster, ZBC.

I came to South Africa two years ago, and so far I have done two productions as follows: (1) Life Beyond Borders that I host on my YouTube Channel. Life Beyond Borders highlights some of the challenges that foreign nationals face when they arrive in South Africa.

I have also written and produced a documentary feature film titled Zimbabwe’s untold story. The film highlights the reasons why there is massive migration of Zimbabweans into South Africa.

I am passionate about film making, I am hardworking and honest and I am always willing to learn new skills,” said Mr. Kamhungira.

Set out below is a chat between Mr. Kamhungira and a member of the Banking on Africa’s Future (BOAF) – 10,000 POL campaign to identify, profile, showcase, and salute the lives of diverse migrants on a digital platform as a way of raising awareness that not all migrants choose South Africa as a destination to undermine the rule of law and to interfere with the opportunities that documented persons are privileged to access.

Mr. Koomson, Director of Social Inclusion at the Africa Heritage Society (AHS) powered BOAF campaign said, “It does not occur to me that if all foreigners were exterminated or deported, SA citizens will be better for it.

I was talking to a number of undocumented workers in the hospitality industry and I posed a rhetorical question on who their employers were.

All of them identified the firm that presumably employed them. When I asked a further question as to whether they serve customers or the customers, they all said they served the customers. I then asked if they differentiated the customers by the tips they get for service or whether they were documented or not. They responded affirmatively saying that they serve food and beverages and this is what customers pay for. I then said, what if the hospitality industry coming from the covid19 factor need tourists to protect jobs and incomes in the industry, should these undocumented service providers be deported without any consideration to the customers who does not need to be South African born.

They all responded by saying that the issue of Identity Politics if not handled with care, can be counterproductive not least because customers when stripped of choice by law or administrative measures, can simply refuse to visit South Africa is they are foreign and this will adversely affect the country’s prospects.

I am, therefore, excited that a script writer and documentary film producer chose South Africa as a base to produce content that may provoke, ignite and inspire tourists to choose to visit and also for the root causes of unmanaged and uncontrolled migration to be known and hopefully for lasting solutions to be found.”

ENJOY THE CHAT AND IF YOU LIKE THIS ONE STORY OUT OF 10,000 STORIES TO COME UNDER THIS PROJECT, PLEASE CONTACT +27745182620

[10/2, 10:07 AM] POL00012: Are you originally from Zimbabwe? If yes, when and why did you choose SA as a place to live and work?

[10/2, 10:09 AM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: I was born and spent most of my adult life in Zimbabwe. I have been in SA for 2 years’ now

[10/2, 10:10 AM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: South Africa is the closest country to Zimbabwe that has a modern and sophisticated economy. So I reckoned it was the best place for me to seek opportunities

[10/2, 10:12 AM] POL00012: Would I be correct to conclude that distance is what drove you to go south or the quest for a better life?

[10/2, 10:13 AM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: Distance yes and easy access. If I could go to Australia, I could but I have no access to go there

[10/2, 10:14 AM] POL00012: Why would you choose to leave a place of birth to a place with no support system and hostility?

[10/2, 10:17 AM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: To pursue my vision of becoming a film producer. My place of birth has limited opportunities

[10/2, 10:22 AM] POL00012: Why is it that your country of birth has limited opportunities?

Did you consider that your selfish decision to cross the border is a cost to South Africans who also may want to become film producers?

[10/2, 10:26 AM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: There are limited opportunities because of the economic, political and social environment

I produced for ZBC and I did not get a cent for my efforts

How are you supposed to grow if you are donating content to a broke national broadcaster?

[10/2, 10:27 AM] POL00012: How long did you produce in Zimbabwe and kindly share your pathway to the point you chose to cross the border?

[10/2, 10:28 AM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: Filming making is based on creativity. It’s an intellectual thing. I don’t see where I have taken an opportunity from South African

[10/2, 10:29 AM] POL00012: Do you agree that what you see in your self-interest need not be seen using your eyes by another?

[10/2, 10:31 AM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: I produced for about 4 years. When I realized I was not growing I had an idea of doing it here in South Africa

[10/2, 10:31 AM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: ??

[10/2, 10:33 AM] POL00012: Do you agree that there are South Africans who believe that their citizenship and right to use SA as an address to advance their interests is superior to you right or privilege?

[10/2, 10:36 AM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: Yes, definitely. All foreigners are looked down upon. No matter how intelligent you are.

But the challenge is mainly from black South Africans

Whites are more receptive

[10/2, 10:37 AM] POL00012: Why choose to generalize instead of talking to lived experiences?

[10/2, 10:38 AM] POL00012: Have you been exposed to any prejudices since you arrived in SA?

[10/2, 10:38 AM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: You can see it in the work place. Black South have a superiority complex

[10/2, 10:39 AM] POL00012: Is it all blacks or the few that you have come across?

[10/2, 10:42 AM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: I work in restaurants

There is way that South Africans view people who come from other countries who are also African

It becomes better if you learn their language. If you act like them.

They will accept you as one of them

[10/2, 10:44 AM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: I think we do it as well

There is a way we view other foreign nationals

For example, there is this norm of looking down on people from Malawi

Because of their English etc etc

We then feel more superior to them

[10/2, 10:44 AM] POL00012: Are you suggesting that on between your two ears, is the universe of all black South African experiences in relation to Zimbabweans?

[10/2, 10:47 AM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: No some of them are good people

[10/2, 10:47 AM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: But we will always be a threat to their existence

[10/2, 10:48 AM] POL00012: Let us turn to your chosen career, film production, imagine it was midnight and you were asked to identify 5 film producers who you think stand out as shinning stars, who would they be?

[10/2, 10:49 AM] POL00012: Why should you compound yourself with unknown others?

[10/2, 10:52 AM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: There is a lady called Nakai Tsuro from Zimbabwe she is doing good productions

1. Tsitsi Dangarembga is also a seasoned film maker from Zimbabwe
2. Ben Mahaka
3. Steven Spielberg
4. Quenton Tarantino

[10/2, 10:55 AM] POL00012: Thanks. Who would you want to be like?

[10/2, 10:56 AM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: On this list?

[10/2, 10:56 AM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: Or my personal vision

[10/2, 10:56 AM] POL00012: It is your choice.

[10/2, 11:06 AM] POL00012: Who do you regard as your personal role model?

[10/2, 11:07 AM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: You are one of them

[10/2, 11:08 AM] POL00012: Say so and explain why?

[10/2, 11:14 AM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: If you could establish a business empire

[10/2, 11:14 AM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: Then surely it’s possible for me to establish a film production company

[10/2, 11:18 AM] POL00012: Can you tell us about the documentary that you recently produced and what inspired it?

[10/2, 11:28 AM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: The documentary features Cde Margaret Dongo

The late ZAPU Chairperson Cde Mark Mbayiwa

And an author Trymore Chiguvare

They all give an account of Zimbabwe’s socio-economic and political environment since independence to the current

It talks of Gukurahundi and the land redistribution program

And how all these anomalies have led to the migration of Zimbabweans into SA

[10/2, 11:29 AM] POL00012: Do you agree that a decision to leave Zimbabwe or any country of birth, is a personal one?

[10/2, 11:35 AM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: Yes, it’s personal

[10/2, 6:00 PM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: Maswera sei

[10/2, 6:01 PM] POL00012: Was the Q&A helpful?

[10/2, 6:46 PM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: It was very helpful

[10/2, 6:47 PM] POL00012: When can we finish the last part?

[10/2, 6:56 PM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: Even today

[10/2, 6:56 PM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: I have some questions for you as well sir if you don’t mind

[10/2, 6:56 PM] POL00012: Ok

[10/2, 6:57 PM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: The initiative is meant for Zimbabweans only

[10/2, 6:57 PM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: Or it is meant for all foreigners

[10/2, 6:58 PM] POL00012: What came to mind when the campaign to convert undocumented to documented human beings who are already living and working in South Africa from different African addresses?

[10/2, 7:03 PM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: I thought is this achievable

And I thought what could be my role in this campaign

I realized film could be a tool to achieve this

[10/2, 7:06 PM] POL00012: Do you think this campaign should be limited to people of Zimbabwean heritage or be part of nation building on the back of the idea that diversity is strength.

 [10/2, 7:10 PM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: I think it should go across all foreign nationals.

However, to get the ball rolling and to get the campaign on the go it is easier to start with Zimbabweans

[10/2, 7:13 PM] POL00012: Do you agree that immigration is an inherently divisive issue and assume you were inducted to the 10,000 Points of Light Hall of African Famers, what would be your key questions that you think need to be popularized to raise awareness that SA is better if you were assimilated into it?

[10/2, 8:06 PM] POL00012: ?

[10/2, 8:31 PM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: How can foreign nationals not belong in South Africa,are they not Africans?

If South Africa is one of the most sophisticated economy on the continent, why then is it a challenge that it attracts immigrants from other countries?

[10/2, 8:38 PM] POL00012: You ask how can foreign nationals not belong to SA when the reality of anti-foreign African immigrants is alive and well.

Are you suggesting that natives of South Africa have no right to limit or stop the conversation of undocumented foreign immigrants into documented residents and citizens?

[10/2, 8:48 PM] SHAINE KAMHUNGIRA: They have every right. However, it’s the way they question

Obviously there should be some form of order and control when dealing with immigrants’ no one is disputing that

Immigrants should get access to documentation. People don’t just leave their country of origin for no reason.

There are push factors and pull factors. So at the end of the day saying to someone you don’t belong here it sounds inhuman

[10/2, 9:01 PM] POL00012: Should people who by virtue of birth and place of birth in SA not enjoy a better claim to exclude foreign born persons from belonging or assimilating?