The Sunday News
WHAT began as a hobby, of just posting on Facebook detailing the biographies of Zimbabwe’s traditional leaders and their areas of jurisdiction has since seen a young lady’s profile nurtured by the day.
Rapelang Immaculate Ncube has grown to become a Facebook sensation with her daily educative posts titled; “Know your chiefs/districts”. Her focus has been on the country’s districts, giving detailed accounts of resources in these areas, leadership framework and even the historical backgrounds of these districts.
Despite her being the daughter of Minister of Rural Development, Preservation and Promotion of National Culture and Heritage, Abednico Ncube, Rapelang denies that her newfound fame has anything to do with her father’s ministry, averring that this was a mere hobby, revealing that she uses her own resources to research before posting on Facebook.
Sunday Life reporter Vusumuzi Dube (VD) managed to catch up with Rapelang (RN) last week where she chronicled her rise to Facebook fame where she said it was always about resilience and ignoring the negative comments she would occasionally get.
VD: Following you on Facebook you have since become an overnight sensation with your insightful posts on culture, development and our local leadership, how did all this start?
RN: This all started as a pastime hobby, I just started posting about chiefs, their profiles and areas of jurisdiction, I have so much knowledge on these issues and it became an extra that my father was appointed the Minister of Rural Development, Preservation and Promotion of National Culture and Heritage. My main goal is just to educate people about culture, heritage and traditional leadership structures. That is why you see me talking so much about chiefs and their importance, artistes and rural development. I do these researches voluntarily because I’m working on a book entitled; A Guide to the Matabeleland Traditional Leadership System. I prefer to take a car and just drive out just for the love of my parent. Minister Ncube does not even know that I post these things on Facebook. Another thing is I am doing my PhD so I do research a lot for my thesis.
VD: How has been the following to your posts?
TN: When I posted for the very first, the response was massive. Many people liked my status with some even commenting that I was now crazy. They were saying it in a good way though. With time my posts became intense such that some began to question my knowledge and I began to get very few likes and comments. Only people that are close to me have been following my posts because they know such posts mean no harm. Some have preferred to inbox, some have tried to dim my light. I used to have low self-esteem on Facebook, I would even delete whenever people did not like nor comment, but then look, I have finally decided that I will never ever again let anybody demean me of my own prowess and self-ego. What I have learnt is to never ever let the number of Facebook likes determine your destiny. Facebook is just a glass house.
VD: What of your writing and research skills, noting that most of posts are very detailed and well-researched?
RN: I have always had knowledge of chiefs since childhood because I was exposed to newspapers at a very tender age. My first article with the Chronicle Newspaper was when I was nine, it was a poem.
My mother’s brother Dr Kent Mholi Vimba was a reporter with the Chronicle so he helped me get published. Later in 2005 March, I remember I went to Chronicle newsroom, to challenge an article that had been written by one Mziwandile Ndlovu who was a student on attachment from the National University of Science and Technology. He had been so radical in his article criticising Christian doctrines. I had with me a counter article to challenge the one Mziwandile had written. I was shown the office of Kamangeni Phiri, who was responsible for features. He took my article and the following week I started writing for the Youth Chat Column.
As I progressed my desk editor became the late Salatiel Mutasa then Kennedy Mavhumashava. I was not a regular on Youth Chat because my friend Butholezwe Nyathi ended up monopolising the column.
VD: You have said this is all a hobby and you use your own resources, is it not expensive and what challenges do you face?
RN: It honestly is costly but it’s not like I go to all the places that you see me posting about. I am just an avid reader of newspapers. I know every district’s history because I follow the news and the newspaper.
In terms of challenges; honestly I don’t face many challenges because I’m well informed and besides, I am a people person, I talk to all age groups. You can find me talking with elders my father’s age just sharing knowledge. I talk to the rural folk, I respect people. Everyone is important to me. I am also a very funny character, everyone likes me. I’m down to earth and always on the right side of the law because of my personality you end up giving me information whether you like it or not.
VD: Hasn’t your being Minister Ncube’s daughter raised eyebrows, with people accusing you of taking advantage of his position?
RN: I might be a minister’s child but I’m a very humble person. The reason why I post such “useful nonsense” on Facebook is because I’m Rapelang and not Abednico.
People have been victims of social media activists like Evan Mawarire who created movements that were only meant to advance their venal tendencies at the expense of the suffering masses.
I’m a different person altogether. I post mainly to educate, entertain and inform. My role is that of a citizen journalist. I have no intentions whatsoever to be in mainstream politics. Instead I prefer to watch from the terraces.
VD: Away from your Facebook posts, tell us about yourself, your family and educational background?
RN: I am turning 30 soon. I really don’t like disclosing my age. My Chief is Nhlamba of Gwanda South; my village of origin is Monyatse. I attended Mtshabezi High in Gwanda North for my Ordinary Level and Townsend Girls High in Byo for my Advanced Level studies.
I briefly went to the Midlands State University, but my parents then felt that I was lagging behind in my studies and so I had to continue my studies in South Africa. I proceeded with a university in South Africa, then went on to do my post graduate studies in East Africa. I’m currently doing my PhD thesis with an institution in West Africa that is Nigeria, my major is Public Policy and Development.
I have two other diplomas from institutions in Zimbabwe and another diploma with an institution in East Africa. I have an undergrad in International Relations and Diplomacy, Honours in Public Governance, Masters in Public Governance, Diploma in Mass Communication, Diploma in HIV/Aids Management, Diploma in Migration and Refugee Studies.
As for now I will continue posting my educative posts and working on my book which will encompass all these posts in greater detail.
VD: Thank you Rapelang for your time and good luck in your future endeavours
RN: Thank you!
