Kedha Uses Social Media to Unite Zimbabweans
“My dream of uniting Zimbabweans of different racial and social backgrounds is being fulfilled and I thank all those that have been supporting the page for providing this networking platform which is growing daily,” says Smith.
WASHINGTON — Some innovative Zimbabweans in the diaspora are taking advantage of the boom in social media platforms like Facebook to connect socially worldwide. Curtis Smith, a Zimbabwean based in Canada and also known as Kedha, says he was inspired to start a social media page called  as a way of bringing people from all walks of life to share social issues. Smith has over 43,000 Likes on his Facebook Page which he uses not only for entertainment but also philanthropic work. “With the stresses people in the diaspora face due to pressure of work and other causes I started compiling videos sharing my life in a hilarious way which resonated with the public and led me to see a niche that needed fulfilling," says Smith. He says he has been inspired by how Zimbabweans from different social backgrounds are interacting on his page on a daily basis. “My dream of uniting Zimbabweans of different racial and social backgrounds is being fulfilled and I thank all those that have been supporting the page for providing this networking platform which is growing daily,” adds Smith. Asked if he considered himself a celebrity, he jokingly says: “I may be famous now but it is not yet reflected in my net worth”. "I still work my long shifts here and am in the middle of preparing for my wedding in Zimbabwe in December." “I have not been very active on my page of late and I have tasked other administrators to run it while I prepare for my wedding,” he said. Smith says he spent most of his childhood in his rural home, Gokwe, developing his love for Shona and the African culture. Through his page Zvirikufaya Na Kedha, Smith has been able to raise funds to support people in need. For instance he recently raised money through his page to pay for the cancer treatment of a Zimbabwean woman. He says the woman is recovering. Romance has also blossomed on the page with some couples even getting married. “We have a few people who have linked-up romantically through our page and we hope that this will encourage others to also use this platform as most people in the diaspora are often too busy to find time to socialize,” said Smith. He says the platform has also been used to showcase Zimbabwean talent with scouts reaching out to a number of promising acts. Smith adds he's currently in talks with sponsors to turn his popular page into a television station. Thousands of Zimbabweans are producing videos and posting on Kedha's Zvirikufaya page allowing them to discuss various issues ranging from politics to the economy and related issues.