Harare — WHEN Wilson Katiyo titled one of his novels A Son of the Soil, he was talking about a patriot who was prepared to sacrifice life and limb for the freedom of his country.

Although the character in the novel was a war combatant, with the second Chimurenga war as the setting, the title however, is still relevant and appropriate today.

One has to just hear the story of one person out of the hundreds of Zimbabweans who fled from their motherland, Zimbabwe, in quest of greener pastures abroad, to understand the rationale behind this.

Most of these Zimbabweans have not only turned their backs on their motherland, but are constantly demonising it for the proverbial "thirty pieces of silver."

But this person -- despite having been breathing the air of one of the world's greatest and largest civilisations, New York, for the past six years -- has not spurned his homeland and is still a thoroughbred Zimbabwean, and very proud to be identified as such.

His name is Chaka Ngwenya, a former Radio 3 and 4 producer/presenter whose vibrant voice made him famous on the then Radio 3 (now Power FM), where he presented, among others, famous programmes such as The Beat with a Message, alongside co-host, Reverend Noah Pashapa.

Chaka's return to Zimbabwe last week in the company of a strong 30-member gospel contingent from Harlem, New York, in the United States where he is now based, was clear testimony of his undying love for his roots, and unwavering passion for Zimbabwe.

The former DJ was instrumental in co-ordinating the New for Sounds for Christ's trip to Zimbabwe, after having known and worked with them in the United States for the past four years.

"It all started while I was just an ordinary member of the Salvation Army during my time as a radio DJ here in Zimbabwe. So when I was elected by the church to go to the States to be their Community Centre Director in New York City, I took up the challenge.

"The centre is a project that deals with youths, giving them some positive, spiritual and pastoral advice on life. I felt that the appointment was part of my media job and immediately took up the post without some hesitation," said the humble, soft-spoken Chaka.

Barely two years after his arrival in New York did Chaka's creative juices started mutating into gems of ideas.

He went on to establish his own radio station, the Southern Africa Radio, which he set up in 2005 with financial backing from his church and well-wishers from the US society.

"The idea behind the station is to market Zimbabwe and African music internationally. They (in the States) don't play much of our music. That is why we thought of starting this station for our own people where our music is given airplay for the American audience," said Chaka, adding that the station is gradually becoming a mainstream one that people in America are beginning to recognise.

His directorship at the youth centre opened up new windows for Chaka, who met and eventually teamed up with the New Sounds for Christ during a church service where he and the group were performing.

"I've always been into music while I was growing up, writing songs and performing in church until people asked me why I was not recording. So when the New Sounds for Christ members heard me singing one day, they invited me to join their group. I happily obliged.

"They are a remarkable people and they are African-Americans who are so attached to Africa. When they said they wanted to go to Africa to see their motherland, I offered to co-ordinate their tour to Zimbabwe.

"They had initially chosen to visit South Africa and were so skeptical about Zimbabwe because of the negative and bad publicity. But after much convincing, they finally relented and said they should do something for Zimbabwe," he said.

Chaka and the 30-member outfit started holding fundraising music concerts in the US. They raised US$26 000.

"Almost everyone wanted to do something for Zimbabwe. The Salvation Army chapter in New York that I work for gave this project the thumbs up and said we should fund-raise for the construction of an orphanage in Guruve.

"Can you imagine the level of commitment to the humanitarian cause such that a 16-year-old member of the church, Jamilian Mills and her sister had to sale some candies (sweets) to contribute towards the fund, while the Salvation Army chipped in with US$10 000. The rest was from our concerts."

Last week, Chaka and the New Sounds for Christ finally realised and fulfilled their dream when they flew into Zimbabwe. Not only did they donate the US$26 000 to the orphanage in Guruve, but went on to hold their maiden concert at the Rainbow Towers Conference Centre in Harare.

The group performed alongside some of Zimbabwe's best gospel artistes Pastor Charles and Amai Olivia Charamba, Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave, Pardon Mutsago and Chaka's young brother, Timothy.

"The New Sounds for Christ chose Zimbabwe after they had heard about its beauty from the stories I told them. They believed that they were coming back home," Chaka further explained.

How does he relate to being a Zimbabwean living in a foreign land far away from his roots; and which of the two places is his best?

Chaka was quick to say: "The States is a beautiful country, but not as beautiful as my country Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has the lovely Victoria Falls, the hospitality, among a host of other things, while the States only has the one advantage of being a country where one has access to all the four corners of the world. It is where all the cultures of the world meet and this makes life easier. But home is always best."

Chaka, however, noted with pleasure that when he landed into the country, he was taken aback by the changes and development that Zimbabwe has undergone.

"I have been away for six years, and a lot of things have changed. Names of roads, even the foods, all are new to me. What you call chips down here is what they call fries over there, so I had to learn all these new things," he said.

Chaka said he derives his inspiration from his Christian roots.

Ngwenya, who could only say that he is thirty-something, was born in Chinhoyi where he attended primary and secondary schools before moving to Dzivarasekwa in Harare. Here, he was closer to the University of Zimbabwe where he was pursuing a degree in civil engineering.

Soon after attaining the degree, he worked as a civil engineer for the same institution while dabbling in his greatest passion, radio.

For remembering his motherland Zimbabwe, co-ordinating the tour of the US gospel group to Zimbabwe, and for raising the US$26 000 which he and the outfit donated to the orphanage in Guruve, Chaka Ngwenya deserves to be The Herald Star of the Week.

As usual The Herald gives out prizes to readers who answers the following questions correctly.

December Winners

December Star of the Week competition winners are:

1. Blandina Katsande of number 4286 Chiedza Township, Karoi.

2. Norman S Nyere of number 40 Area 12 Dangamvura Mutare

3. Mrs Diana Magoronga of 15513 Zengeza 5 extension Chitungwiza.

They correctly answered the questions as 1969, Idya Banana and Teacher.