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Writer's pictureRumbidzai Gondo

The Origin Story

The superhero's origin story begins with a tragic accident that leaves him scarred, but also results in his supernatural powers. Take for example, Spider-Man, Iron Man and Captain America, from an accident to superhero.


Well, Ruvimbo Gardens Guest Lodge sort of started like that -that home and two people who had an idea!

Lovemore and Sitabile Gondo were now long retired from their civil service jobs as a police-officer and teacher, and were starting to venture into businesses. Now, they were also empty nesters, well not really, but all their children were either working, pursuing universities or at a boarding school in a different city and country. They were free to let their creativity soar! Little did they know that it was the beginning of an adventure!


In 2008, there was an economic crisis where the inflation rate accelerated dramatically, from a rate in January of over 100,000% to an estimated rate of over 1,000,000% by May, and nearly 250,000,000% in July. Zimbabwe had gone from an economic star to a catastrophic economic instability. Businesses were shutting down or barely staying afloat. Now was the time to get innovative and think out of the box!


The university students at Midlands State University (MSU) were opening schools in September but there was an influx of students and there now arose a critical shortage of on-campus accommodation. Some people in the surrounding neighbourhoods around the university started turning their houses into accommodation. However, in the surrounding high density areas, most of the time, there would be an issue of crowdedness and there sometimes was no water or/and or electricity.

There was a niche for Ruvimbo Gardens Lodge to be a perfect area for student housing. The lodge had seemingly that a student would require including it was about 5 kilometres drive from MSU, commuter omnibuses passed by the lodge going to MSU and the neighbourhoods such as Senga, the ideal setting where there was always electricity and water and a quiet place where students could study efficiently!


Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, presenting the R.G. Lodge!

Don't worry, we'll get to the part were it was officially renamed Ruvimbo Gardens.


See you soon!

















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