Zimbabweans flock to friendship and reunion site

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By Business Reporter

WITH his trousers rolled up to knee level on his right leg, a man prepares for a ride on his three-speed bicycle. It’s a perfect picture, and those who have lived and travelled around Zimbabwe immediately pick up a setting for this simple black and white portrait.

It is this simplicity, an extra-ordinary ability to tell a story through ordinary photographs that has Zimbabweans forming a beeline for the country’s fastest growing nostalgia, reunion and friendship internet site – Zimdays.com.

With over 3 500 pages supported by the most amazing collection of photographs of Zimbabwe’s town and country life going back to the pre-Independence period, it is easy to see why Zimbabweans are running short of superlatives to describe the site.

“This is one heck of a brilliant site,” a visitor to the site wrote in his testimonial. “It’s hard not to cry when all those memories of good old Zimbabwe come flooding on you.”

Such expressions of feeling are neither isolated nor exaggerated.

“We have been astounded by the response to Zimdays.com from Zimbabweans both at home and abroad,” says Dr Grace Mugadza, a spokesman for the website. “In December 2004 alone we received over 12000 visits to the site!”

The site went online in December last year after months of research. The result was a simple design – limited to grey, white and black. It is easy on the eye and the interactive elements of the design easy to use.

The site has pages for every town, suburb, school and year. Members can read and contribute to each of over 3500 pages. Anyone can currently join for free by registering and submitting their memories of Zimbabwe.

Dr Mugadza said they had launched a Year Book, containing over 100 other pages for each year from 1888 right through to the 1970s, 80s, 90s and now 2004 with historic information, over 200 pictures and access for members to post their memories. Similar pages exist for the towns, suburbs and schools throughout the country.

“The memories of Zimbabwe are incredible to read. Memories of growing up, of days at school, tales of coming of age in Zimbabwe and now stories of life abroad – it’s all there,” she said. “We have a proud tradition of story telling and Zimdays.com lets people write their stories for everyone to read. You get people reminiscing about the first TV on their street, or when they bought their first Pulsar or 404 ….. It’s all there for people to read and respond to.”
VISIT: Zimdays.com
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