*IdM|NewzFlash : Sir Washington Masenda [Talking Service to the Community]* -Together as one, is a full lesson on values- There's people that have a special sense of duty towards the wellbeing and improvement of our communities. Private citizens, taking these matters into their own concern, as well as holding themselves responsible over them. However, few come in the caliber and form you are here set to read about. Harare International Festival of the Arts, Mugariro Community Winter Arts Festival, ASSITEJ International & ASSITEJ Zimbabwe, Youth Internship and apprenticeship programs [since 1998 till Present], The First Coordinator for Female Football in Zimbabwe, emergency volunteer relief response for National Health Emergencies [HIV 90s outbreak, Typhoid, Malaria and COVID19. He currently serves as the Chairperson to a board that oversees all Poly Clinics in Harare. Today the subject person to this IdM|NewzFlash Profile, Chief/Sir Washington Masenda. Under the essay assertion, Work for a cause, and you'll effect radical impact. *Reflection* _____________ Year 1992, October 23rd, an organization by the name Together As One was founded. Now 34 years on, this year 2025, I get this honor to write on the founder, as so to give context not only on his journey, his work, his impact, however the organization itself. So... I quickly took the opportunity and asked this all so I find important question, to me and all whom else that are concerned. 'From all the countries you've travelled, what country offered the best lesson for Zimbabwe to develop a vibrant Arts scene?' "The best lesson is that we as Zimbabwe need to take Arts as a business. Meaning to organize it for value, both monetary for the sake of livelihood, and then culturally for the sake of Societal or Social identity. With arts we can bring about meaningful impact, the likes of South Africa and other regional states held very important lessons in that regard." Sir Masenda answered. At a popular food spot in Old HighFields, adjacent to HighFields Poly Clinic, Sir Masenda and I sat in conversation, with regards to the questionnaire for this profile. "In 2003 I was given the honors of serving as Head of the Zimbabwean Delegation to Tanzania, for a regional Music Crossroad Competition. The competition comprised of two best teams from each country, Zambia, Malawi, us Zimbabwe, and the hosts Tanzania. Zimbabwe went on to win that competition, as one of our two teams, Gwindingwi Rineshumba took first prize." Sir Masenda recalled. I ensued to listen to him passionately reminiscing of all the other work related traveling experiences. It was after I asked him the question I opened this reflection with, that I proceeded to think on the following. Namibia [and a various cities in that country] 2005, India [and a couple of cities in that country] 2011, Japan Okinawa 2012, South Africa Cape town 2012 & 2014, and then Sweden [a couple of cities in that country] 2014. All these he recited them as to had been festivals, conferences, workshops, and gatherings, pertaining or related to Arts in conjunction with community wellbeing and improvement. What had it taken for these roles, too the travels that sometimes came with them, as well as the Communities, the Nation and the World, to deserve Sir Washington Masenda. *Compounding Reflection* _________________________ 1989, Sir Masenda moved from Mtoko district's Makochera village, coming to HighFields Harare, where his journey was set to kick start. Unemployed at the time, also due to circumstantial complications, holding only a Form 4 education level, he did piece jobs and a multitude of handy-work to put together a living. "In my stay in HighFields I found myself slashing weeds, gardening, hedge grooming, and I was paid whatever the people could pay, and others were generous, whilst others took their chances. I soon after in Avondale was invited to join KL Edwards, a construction company as a Builder Assistant. Which simply meant I was the guy to hand the builders the bricks, the mud, and do other petty onsite tasks [Daka boy]. Hence quickly I moved for the next available opportunity, where I joined Ethinol Clothing Factory in Willowvale." Sir Masenda told. It was in his own recollections that he described the Clothing Factory moment to had began his fortunes, in the way of roles that came from him being recognized for his intellectual and skills value. Sir Masenda went from floor worker to Dispatch Clerk in just a few weeks. That role introduced him to a number of businesses that he had to engage with as part of his Dispatch Clerk role responsibilities. Not too long after, he joined Total Energies as a Dispatch Clerk, responsible for distributing fuel to stations and other business to business clients they had. In 1991 he proceeded to join then Tailor Made, today's Lake Harvest. It was from these early roles that he proved to himself able to grow in many directions professionally, henceforth when was presented with a spot welding employment opportunity, he went the direction. He went this direction without any previous knowledge or knowhow. Around that time, he professes to had already been doing some community work, which he simultaneously was growing along with his professional growth. Being a football fanatic, he says that drove him to undertake getting a coaching license, and undergoing Sports Administration studies levels 1 and 2, when at National Sports stadium there was a presented opportunity to do so, and under the guidance of a Norwegian team of expat technical trainers. Ensued then was in his own words the, "11:00 a.m., October 23rd, 1992 mobilization of artistic youths, from the HighFields Western Triangle area." Which mobilization this culminated in the founding of Together As One/TAO. Sir Washington Masenda _________________________ Born January 24th 1970. Second born in a household of 6 children to his Father, he cites the first born to had been from a different mother. "I attended for my primary school education, Makochera Primary school. Given circumstances at home, we had limited resources, and to add to that, my Father was detained as a war detainee in 1974, resulting in further escalation of the household economic struggle." Sir Masenda further added that his Father's detention and the challenges related to it, went on until 1978 when he was released. It is however a short lived reunion of the family, as his mother passed on the following year, 1979. That I could tell in his recollections that at the time it happened, great pain and a new void had been dealt to him, and altogether the family. This led to his Father only getting married again after 22 years since then. "I think due to my economically deprived background, I had a sense of hunger towards achieving good results at school. I consistently retained my number one place, all the way into Bondamakara High school." He without shoes to wear throughout primary school, only at Bondamakara did he begin a new chapter, one that included wearing shoes to school. He'd almost never went to High School by the way, if it weren't for one of his teachers whom circumvented a ruling that Sir Masenda, was to not receive his 7th grade results due to outstanding fees. *Conclusion* ______________ Together As One, is a full lesson on values. As from the founder's journey of selflessness, perseverance, and passion, communities and in particular the HighFields community have been endowed with that full lesson, in He. Sir. Washington Masenda. In his honourable mentions, he remembers names he's trekked his journey with over the years. Gilbert Zulu [proposed the name Together As One], Pikirai Deketeke [a then Herald reporter who did the first media coverage on TAO's work], Fortunate Rego [A Theater Artist from Mabvuku 1990s], Caleb Maramba [Lusaka Drama Club 1990s], Tonel Marimba [World Vision Urban Programs Manager 1990s], Nickolas Moyo [now Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of sports, arts and recreation], Jassen Mphepo [founder and Director of Patsime Edutainment Trust], James Jingo [Vuka Africa Theater Production Company], Rosemary Chinamasa [Now Assistant Inspector at Southerton Police station], Yvonne Mangunda [Star FM sports journalist], and respectively he mentioned many more. All of them they make a part of what he referred to as, "The pieces that made for the whole Washington Masenda and Together As One impact story." Which I will admit here, that I told however not all, as it is so much to tell. Seemingly also still so much work this community stalwart still engages in i.e. Anti drugs programs and campaigns, youth and women Socio-economic empowerment, health and sanitation education, and much else. Signaling that this story is still ongoing. Chikovhi wrote this. Thank you for reading!