Bulawayo Poet Dr Gasolo Embarks on 250-Kilometre Walk to Advocate for Creative Industries

Bulawayo-based poet Dr Gasolo will leave his rural Matshetsheni Village on Thursday morning to begin a 250-kilometre walk to Bulawayo, aiming to highlight the importance of the creative sector as a viable economic contributor.

The annual walk serves as a platform to call for greater support for Zimbabwe’s creative industries, ensuring they survive and flourish. Along the route, Dr Gasolo will engage with communities, sharing his vision and addressing pressing societal issues.

Key topics include the rising threat of drug and substance abuse, which endangers future generations, and mental health challenges, which claim lives daily. Dr Gasolo hopes to raise awareness and inspire action on these issues through direct interaction with people along the journey.

The walk spans three days, with the second day taking participants from Gwanda to Esigodini, before concluding in Bulawayo Metropolitan on the third day.

Dr Gasolo said he is fully prepared for the physical and mental demands of the march. “I can safely say that I am prepared, as I have made sure that I am physically and mentally fit. The support each year is growing, a sign that people are hearing the message, and I hope they will put that to practical use,” he said.

Support for the walk includes donations of water, T-shirts, reflective vests, food along the route, and massage services to ease fatigue. Dr Gasolo’s commitment reflects his dedication to promoting Zimbabwe’s creative sector while addressing critical social challenges.

The march is expected to draw attention to the economic potential of the creative industries and the urgent need to address drug abuse and mental health issues in local communities.