My name is Joseph Chifamba. I was born in 1980 in Murewa. I did my primary education at
Dombodzvuku School. My secondary education at Cherutombo Secondary and Advanced Level
at Marondera High School. My Media Studies degree was with Zimbabwe Open University.
After my Advanced Level studies, I became a Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation licence Inspector from 2000 to
2001, then I was employed by the Ministry of Education as a temporary teacher in 2002. I worked
for a clothing manufacturing company from 2003-2005 as a stores clerk , and a Administrator Store
Manager and also an Operations Manager. I become self-employed soon after my wedding in
February 2006.
I saw a fellow Catholic holding birds made from cow horn, I fell in love with the beauty of cow
horn. He brought in his skills and I brought financial resources and we worked together from
February 2006 to September 2006 and we separated. I was not fully skilled to work alone but my
great interest pushed me. I remember one of my early clients who left me because she had found
“real artist” elsewhere.
I worked hard to improve my skills so I can be a “real artist”. I started getting new ideas from
different clients which helped me a lot. I now make totally different products from the ones my
mentor taught me. I have exhibited in a number of local, regional and international fairs namely Harare
International Festival of Arts (HIFA), Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, South African Arts
Festival in Grahamstown, Decoret Johannesburg, Bushfire Festival in Swaziland, Zambia Agric
Show, Zambian Arts and Design Show, Durban 2010 FIFA World Cup, China International
Import and Export Fair and a number of small business fairs.
I also trained people in Ongwediva Rural District Council in Namibia 2007. I won second prize
in the ILO Green Enterprise competition.
