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Fair trade campaigner and one of Wales’ leading black women, Martha Musonza Holman, shares her remarkable story of resilience, hope and solidarity in a new episode of Wales, Africa and the World, the podcast by Hub Cymru Africa.
In the interview, Martha recounts her journey from Zimbabwe to Wales, from persecution under the Mugabe government to building a life dedicated to fair trade, sustainable development, and women’s empowerment.
After fleeing Zimbabwe in the early 2000s, Martha settled in Abergavenny, where she founded the charity Love Zimbabwe. Her mission was to build solidarity and love for the people of Zimbabwe. She does this through building links between people in Wales and Zimbabwe, and supporting women in building sustainable livelihoods through fair trade.
“I ended up in prison, beaten up and no one would listen to me… They even killed my dog,” Martha recalls, describing the persecution she faced as a teacher who taught her students the reality about her country’s struggles.
Her journey to Wales began with a simple act of kindness, helping a visitor from Wales whose child had been injured. That moment sparked a friendship that would later provide Martha with a lifeline to escape persecution and rebuild her life.
“They couldn’t believe that I, a stranger, had helped them,” she explained. “That’s how we cemented our relationship.”
From that friendship came Love Zimbabwe, a charity born out of compassion and a desire to see Zimbabweans, their communities and natural environment thrive once more.
“Zimbabwe is a country that is partitioned,” Martha says. “We do have Zimbabweans who are suffering and struggling. And we do have Zimbabweans who are millionaires. But we need love. That love is gone. And that is why my organisation is called Love Zimbabwe, because we need to see what is happening and we need to act.”
Through Love Zimbabwe, Martha works with women in rural communities to learn new skills, make arts and crafts, and gain independence. For her, fair trade is not just about products, it’s about justice, dignity, and hope.
Listen to Martha’s full story in Wales, Africa and the World on your favourite podcast platform or via the Hub Cymru Africa website.
Wales, Africa and the World is a podcast by Hub Cymru Africa exploring global solidarity, global citizenship, and global responsibility from a Welsh perspective.
Hub Cymru Africa is a partnership supporting the Wales and Africa community to contribute to global solidarity and sustainable development.
Love Zimbabwe is a registered charity and fair trade organisation based in Abergavenny, working to support communities and women’s empowerment in Zimbabwe.
Media Enquiries:
Peter Frederick Gilbey
petergilbey@hubcymruafrica.wales
