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Rumbidzai Takawira

Ruth Butaumocho : Gender Editor

The adage that not every girl dreams of being a princess speaks well into Rumbidzai Takawira’s life. To legion of viewers who watch ZTV news hour, Rumbi is a mellow, well groomed and beautiful newsreader with a flawless voice, who has since earned herself the nickname “News Bae” But away from the glaring lights of television cameras, Rumbi is a fast paced karateka, who relishes spending energy and time fine tuning her kata dances in preparation for fights.“Karate defines my life. I am passionate about the sport,” Rumbi enthused in an interview recently.

While many girls of her age, would be happy curling on a sofa watching a love soapie or hang around shopping malls ogling over latest fashionable outfits, Rumbi does not fit in that category.

She is an adrenaline junkie, who gets her thrills from speeding on a motorbike, bungee jumping and burning energy on treadmills to build on her weight.

And full contact karate has become her newly found passion, where each punch from an opponent, brings the thrills and vibes that further pumps her adrenaline!

She was among hundreds of karatekas who recently participated in the Second All Africa SO-Kyokushin Full Contact Karate regional Tournament held in Chitungwiza a fortnight ago.

Rumbidzai Takawira

Although she did not win the match, the diminutive but energetic Rumbi had her fine moments of glory when she exhibited good kata moves, to her imposing South African opponent, who eventually emerged the winner in the match that lasted for a good three minutes.

The strength that flew from Rumbi’s pint-sized but energetic body as she showed off her punches and tactics during the fight was just incredible, earning her a thunderous applause from the audience as she bowed out of the ring.

Rumbi who also doubled as a referee during the one day tournament says her participation at the regional tournament has since strengthened her resolve to take karate seriously.

“Karate is a game of self-control, which requires a lot of patience, body flexibility, rules and regulations, dynamism in latest techniques which means one has to master the game in all aspects.”

Apart from dedication to the game, competitive spirit, good stamina and obedience to the mentor is must for every aspirant, as Rumbi herself has followed this from the core to the heart.

For a sport she joined by accident, whilst undertaking her journalism studies a few years ago, Rumbi is basking in karateka’s trappings, a sport which has literally taken her mind and soul.

Rumbi with Taurai Mandebvu and Itai Mutinhiri

“It is a live sport and it does resonate well with the experiences that we go through in our lives.

“When you are fighting, you have to throw the punches, you hit your opponent and sometimes you miss her. Sad as it might see, that’s how life is,” she said.

Recalling her first encounter with karate, Rumbi says it was while she was in college that well known sport correspondent Grace Chirumhanzu approached the group, looking for trainee journalists eager to become sports journalists.

Together with six of her colleagues, Rumbi immediately expressed their interest. And that decision meant they also had to partake in some of the sporting activities to get an appreciation of the fundamentals on and off the pitch.

For someone who had always loved energetic sporting activities, Rumbi immediately fell for karate.

“The moment I attended one tourney, I knew this was for me, I told myself that I would be a karateka, no matter what,” she recalled.

A few years after making that bold decision to join a sport, where the numerical presence of women is insignificant, Rumbi is living a dream.

“I am doing what I enjoy most. They can never be a better life than this,” Rumbi enthused.

Apart from fine tuning her fitness regime, karate has taught her to be disciplined and appreciate the importance of life.

Because of the agility required in karate, Rumbi hits the gym every day, lifting the weights and working on the treadmill.

Her normal training day, includes jogging, aerobics and going to the dojo to work on her kata among other routines before she calls it a day and prepares to go to work.

Her dream of becoming a local and perhaps an international karateka helps her endure the necessary but strenuous training.

Rumbi is already preparing for the 1st SO-Kyokuishin World Karate Championships to be held in Japan in October, where she is hoping to bring an accolade back home.

“I know this is all God’s work and I can say I have no hand in everything that is happening to me.

“God had it all planned before,” said the 26 year old newscaster, who also plays drums at her church, the United Apostolic Faith Church.

Having to juggle karate and her job as a producer/presenter requires a lot of determination, hard work and discipline, tenets that have helped her maintain equilibrium.

“It is not easy being a public figure. People question everything that you do and they want to know why you at a particular place. Discipline and hard work has really helped me to stay firmly on the ground.”

With supporting parents, especially her father Pastor Simba Takawira, who encouraged her to take up news reading, Rumbi has got the whole world ahead of her to consolidate her dreams and aspirations.

“Life has got so much to offer when you put all your plans in God’s hands. I do have aspirations and dreams that I intend to fulfil, and I know God will lead me along.”

Although conceding that her hands are currently full. Rumbi has sets her sights on becoming a diplomat, years from now.

“I have a lot of time at my disposal and I will be taking up International Relations and Political Science because I am already looking into the future,” she said.