Meet The Versatile Mr Charles Gavaza…

Around 2008 when Zimbabwe’s gradual descent from being “the bread basket of Africa” to a basket case, Charles Gavaza was almost 15 years into a teaching career and still piling the academic accolades to his resume. Little did the younger Gavaza know that things in his native land would deteriorate so drastically as to find himself uprooted to a South Africa where people like himself are often accused of taking everything from locals – from jobs, hospital beds, right down to women.

But it was what it was.

Much of the world had turned its back on Zimbabwe. Overnight, inflation levels went through the roof. Salaries were hardly worth the payslips they were printed on, wheelbarrows stuffed with near-worthless Zim Dollars were being pushed around empty supermarkets just to buy a loaf of bread. If nothing else, South Africa at least held the promise of the rule of law and some quantum of both economic and political stability. Like so many of his countrymen, there wasn’t much debate as to the next move. 

With an idea, some determination and a lot of patience anything is possible. Image: Supplied

And so it came to pass that in the summer of 2018 his “great trek” would land Mr Gavaza in Cape Town where he worked as a plant sales consultant at Garden Pavilion nursery. His presence was felt almost immediately as the Employee of the Month award could consistently be found dangling above his work station. Shortly thereafter he moved on to “the gardening services industry where I propagated plants from seeds for resale to customers and also working with learners.” One of those learners, it turned out, was the grandson of then educator at Hantam Community Education Trust’s Umthombo Wolwazi, Lesley Osler. The school had intimately aligned itself to the habit of recruiting the finest minds for its learners and Mr Gavaza’s extensive qualifications and experience would invariably mean that the two would organically gravitate towards one another.

One can’t imagine a more contrasting setting for the man: from a Zimbabwe of torrential downpours, to windy coastal Cape Town and now in an arid Karoo standing in front of a Technology (TMS) class on a farm school that has enjoyed rave reviews from such reputed writers as RW Johnson. Gavaza would fall into the affable embrace of that community but his restless temperament and a lifelong passion for agriculture found him soon in search of implements and seeds but most importantly, land.

The early stages, before it had grown man-high. Image: Supplied

After many decades of sheep-farming Maeder Osler had long vanished into retirement. His bones were beginning to creak, sight deteriorating, and so when Mr Gavaza came with his maverick plan of farming pumpkin, squash, spinach, corn, butternut, spanspek, cucumber (in the Karoo!) the old man was unsure but trustful enough to let Gavaza have a go at it. Utilising “manure, dry leaves and other organic residues to revitalise the soil” has made all the difference. It’s a surefooted, affordable way of ensuring that the soil remains healthy. A stroll through this garden will vouch as to how good the man really is. The corn stands man high. The irrigation system is a shipshape artery of water. On weekends you’ll know that Mr Gavaza is in town as punters clamour at his stall, eager to get their hands on some of the fresh-from-the-ground, affordable, organic produce. Almost every inch of the one acre garden at Hanglip is aflush with colour; scarlet tomatoes, fleshy green spinach leaves, basketball-sized pumpkins, spanspek that drips down the corner of the mouth.

Not for nothing that our brothers from up north have garnered a reputation for hard work. During his stint in the area, Gavaza has done some exceptional work at the Africa Joy farm in Jacobsdal along the Orange River. “I established a garden at this farm using compost and waste bales of hay,” he says with an air of self-satisfaction. That endeavour has since flourished, with families in nearby communities popping in to pick fresh strawberries on the weekends. 

Recovering from the brutal heatwave earlier this year. Image: Supplied

With his wife, Petronela, by his side their work at Hanglip also serves as a living lesson to the farming community, as well as to agricultural students on attached farms. Because of his tenacious solitary hustle, many of his students would be telling themselves, “if Charles can do it…” and as a result, small subsistence gardens have since began cropping up all over the area. 

Coy, and with a reflexive propensity to downplay his achievements, Mr Gavaza will most likely cringe at eParkeni telling you that apart from being a qualified teacher, he also holds a masters qualification in business administration and is an active fanatic of “America’s favourite pastime” – baseball. In Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland he was instrumental in introducing the sport to rural communities. He has worked as a baseball development teacher and, in that capacity, has spent some time in Japan.

Nowadays amongst the many things that keep his mind deep in thought is how to harness water from nearby springs so as to change the supply of fresh farm produce. He keeps a close eye to developments in his country; is immensely grateful to the farmers who’ve assisted on his ventures thus far; but mostly, it is when he is with his wife and two kids – Prince and Tiara -, sat around the dinner table, chatting, laughing, and just happy to have found a second home in a strange place known as the Karoo. 

1 thought on “Meet The Versatile Mr Charles Gavaza…”

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *