A Note on The Stories

This book has been in development for a number of years. In the period since the interviews were conducted, the narrators have undergone significant shifts in their personal lives. Some have formed or ended romantic partnerships, some have experienced positive or negative shifts in familial relationships, and some have embarked on new business ventures or study pathways. An oral history project is always a time capsule, in that it records people’s experiences, memories and perspectives at a particular moment in time. While the narrators featured here are still happy to have their stories published, they expressed a desire for me to emphasise that their lives have since moved in many different directions.

We Must Preach Love, Not Hate

Narrated by Dumisani (Zimbabwe)

Most of my friends call me Dumi. I am 45 years old and have been living in South Africa since 2009. I joined the LGBT Ministry not long after arriving in Johannesburg. A few months later, I took over as co-ordinator. The LGBT Ministry has been a very important part of my life; it is a space in which I can practise my faith while also fighting for social justice. I am very proud of everything the group has achieved. Even with all the obstacles we face, we continue to fight for our rights. We are a family.

Childhood and Family

I grew up in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second city. I am the third of five children: I have an older brother and an older sister, as well as a younger brother and a younger sister. My parents divorced when I was still young, leaving my mother to raise her children as a single parent. She was a talented seamstress and would provide for us by sewing and selling clothes. She worked very long hours, diligently saving for our food, rent and school fees.

My grandmother looked after us children while our mother worked. She was loving and kind, but also very strict. Each evening the front gate would be closed at 6 pm sharp. By then we had to be inside, bathed and seated at the table for supper. I hated this routine at the time, but now I see that it brought stability to our lives.