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Check FAQAbout Violet
Violet Gonda has worked as a broadcast journalist for over 15 years focusing on human rights, democracy, political and governance issues. She has worked as a reporter, news anchor and radio host in several countries including the UK, USA, South Africa and Zimbabwe. She is currently based in London freelancing for Reuters’ Global News Desk. She also runs a small production house under the banner: Violet Gonda Productions. Together with a small group of freelance journalists the team produces explainer short documentaries on complex issues about Zimbabwe. Violet’s main experience is in broadcasting, but she can also produce analytical reports for print, online and social media platforms. Over the years Violet developed expertise in on-air live presentations, script writing, interviewing, research and general radio and television broadcast journalism. Best known for her sharp interviews as a Zimbabwean radio and television journalist, Violet has pursued interests that promote citizens participation, transparency accountability, access to information and media freedom in Africa. She is a former President of the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (2017 to 2022), a global journalism organization with a mission to advance the impact of women in media. Violet has journalism qualifications from Zimbabwe, and was educated at some top schools and universities in the U.K. and U.S, including London’s City University, Stanford University and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
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Violet Gonda
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championship in London featured players competing underwater with magnetic chess pieces, requiring them to hold their breath while making moves. The event, held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel pool, saw Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland emerge victorious over South African Alain Dekker. The championship, created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld, combines traditional chess with physical challenges, making it a unique and demanding competition.
Zimbabwe’s Gold Mafia
Zimbabwe's 2023 elections are marred by credibility issues, with the ruling Zanu PF leveraging state institutions to maintain power. Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa calls for change, emphasizing his integrity. Incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa is portrayed as a near-divine figure, supported by various fan clubs. Controversially, convicted rapist Bobby Makaza is used in Zanu PF's campaign. The opposition CCC faces numerous obstacles, including legal challenges and restrictive laws.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championships in London featured players competing in swim trunks and goggles, playing chess underwater with magnetic pieces. Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland won the championship, with South African Alain Dekker as the runner-up. The event, which requires players to hold their breath while making moves, was created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld to add a physical element to the game.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championships in London featured players competing in chess underwater with magnetic pieces, requiring them to hold their breath while making moves. Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland won the championship, with South African Alain Dekker as the runner-up. The event, which combined physical and mental skills, was created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championships, a unique event where chess is played underwater with magnetic pieces, took place at the Leonardo Royal Hotel pool in London. Players, including the winner Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland and finalist Alain Dekker from South Africa, competed by making moves while holding their breath underwater. The championship, created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld, combines physical challenges with the mental game of chess.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championships in London featured players competing in chess underwater, requiring them to hold their breath while making moves. Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland won the championship, with South African Alain Dekker as the runner-up. The event, created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld, combines physical challenges with the mental game of chess.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championships in London featured players competing in swim trunks and goggles, playing chess underwater with magnetic pieces while holding their breath. Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland won the championship, with South African Alain Dekker as the runner-up. The event, created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld, combines physical challenges with the game of chess.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championships in London featured players competing in chess underwater with magnetic pieces, requiring them to hold their breath while making moves. Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland won the championship, with South African Alain Dekker as the runner-up. The event, created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld, combines physical challenges with the mental game of chess.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championships in London featured players competing in swim trunks and goggles, playing chess underwater with magnetic pieces while holding their breath. Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland won the championship, with South African Alain Dekker as the runner-up. The event, created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld, combines physical challenges with the mental game of chess.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championships, a unique event where chess is played underwater with magnetic pieces, took place at the Leonardo Royal Hotel pool in London. Players, including the winner Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland and runner-up Alain Dekker from South Africa, competed by making moves while holding their breath underwater. The championship, created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld, combines physical challenges with the mental game of chess.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championship in London featured players competing in swim trunks and goggles, playing chess underwater with magnetic pieces, taking turns based on their ability to hold their breath. Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland won the championship, with South African Alain Dekker as the runner-up. The event, created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld, combines physical challenges with the mental game of chess.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championships in London featured players competing in chess underwater with magnetic pieces, requiring them to hold their breath while making moves. Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland won the championship, with South African Alain Dekker as the runner-up. The event, which combined physical challenges with the game of chess, was created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championships in London featured players competing in chess underwater with magnetic pieces, requiring them to hold their breath while making moves. Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland won the championship, with South African Alain Dekker as the runner-up. The event, created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld, combines physical challenges with the game of chess.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championship in London featured players in swim trunks and goggles, competing underwater with magnetic chess pieces. Players held their breath while making moves, adding a physical challenge to the game. Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland won the championship, defeating South African Alain Dekker. The event, created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld, aimed to incorporate physical elements into traditional chess.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championship in London featured players competing underwater, holding their breath while making moves with magnetic pieces. The event, held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel pool, saw 33-year-old Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland emerge victorious over South African Alain Dekker. The championship, created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld, combines traditional chess skills with physical endurance, adding a unique twist to the game.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championship in London featured players competing underwater, holding their breath while making moves with magnetic pieces. Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland emerged victorious, defeating South African Alain Dekker. The event, created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld, combines chess with physical skills like swimming and breath control.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championship in London featured players competing underwater, holding their breath while making moves with magnetic pieces. The event, held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel pool, saw 33-year-old Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland emerge victorious over South African Alain Dekker. The championship, created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld, combines traditional chess with physical challenges, requiring players to manage their breath and body control.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championship in London featured players in swim trunks and goggles, competing underwater with magnetic chess pieces. The event, held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel pool, required players to hold their breath while making moves. Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland emerged victorious, defeating South African Alain Dekker. The championship, created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld, combines chess with physical skills like swimming and breath control.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championship in London featured players competing underwater, holding their breath while making moves with magnetic pieces. The event, held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel pool, saw 33-year-old Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland emerge victorious over South African Alain Dekker. The championship, created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld, combines traditional chess skills with physical endurance, adding a unique twist to the game.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The Dive Chess World Championship in London featured players competing underwater, holding their breath while making moves with magnetic pieces. The event, held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel pool, saw 33-year-old Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland emerge victorious against South African Alain Dekker. The championship, created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld, combines traditional chess skills with physical endurance, adding a unique twist to the game.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championship in London featured players competing underwater, holding their breath while making moves with magnetic pieces. The event, held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel pool, saw 33-year-old Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland emerge victorious over South African Alain Dekker. The championship, created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld, combines chess with physical skills like swimming and breath control, adding a unique twist to the traditional game.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championship in London featured players competing underwater, holding their breath while making moves with magnetic pieces. Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland emerged victorious, defeating South African Alain Dekker. The event, created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld, combines chess with physical endurance, adding a unique twist to the traditional game.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championship in London featured players competing underwater, holding their breath while making moves with magnetic pieces. Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland emerged victorious, defeating South African Alain Dekker. The event, created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld, combines chess with physical endurance, requiring players to manage their breath and body control.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championship in London featured players competing underwater, holding their breath while making moves with magnetic pieces. Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland emerged victorious, defeating South African Alain Dekker. The event, created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld, combines chess with physical skills like swimming and breath control.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championship in London featured players competing underwater, holding their breath while making moves with magnetic pieces. Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland emerged victorious, defeating South African Alain Dekker. The event, created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld, combines chess with physical endurance, requiring players to manage their breath and body control.
A battle of minds and lungs at the dive chess world championship
The dive chess world championship in London featured players competing underwater, holding their breath while making moves with magnetic pieces. The event, held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel pool, saw 33-year-old Michal Mazurkiewicz from Poland emerge victorious over South African Alain Dekker. The championship, created by American chess master Etan Ilfeld, combines traditional chess skills with physical endurance, adding a unique twist to the game.
Thandiwe Newton on reclaiming her identity
Thandiwe Newton discusses reclaiming her original name, reflecting on her African roots and the challenges she faced as a woman of color in Hollywood. She highlights the historical and ongoing racism in the industry and the importance of identity. Newton also addresses the political crisis and human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, expressing support for activists and victims. Her narrative intertwines personal experiences with broader social and political issues, emphasizing the significance of cultural heritage and activism.
Tips for aspiring candidates ahead of July 30 polls
Harvard professor Steve Jarding is conducting seminars in Zimbabwe and other African countries on effective election campaigns, focusing on the role of money, voter targeting, social media, and fake news. Jarding emphasizes the importance of understanding voter needs and running campaigns like a business. He highlights the potential of social media to level the playing field in political campaigns, citing examples like the Podemos movement in Spain. Jarding advocates for the involvement of the best and brightest in politics to improve governance and public service.
Hot Seat: Biti says Mugabe takes at least $4million on every foreign trip
Tendai Biti, former Finance Minister and opposition leader, criticizes President Robert Mugabe and his entourage for excessive travel expenses, alleging they take at least $4 million per foreign trip. Biti discusses Zimbabwe's severe economic crisis, highlighting issues such as illicit financial flows, parallel government structures, and the collapse of local currency confidence. He emphasizes the need for fiscal discipline, structural reforms, and foreign direct investment to revive the economy. Biti also calls for political change, criticizing the ruling ZANU PF party for its mismanagement and corruption.
On Hot Seat we focus on the disturbed political landscape in Zimbabwe. Political Scientist Dr. Ibbo Mandaza says President Robert Mugabe has thwarted an “attempted coup” within his party. Recent public feuds between ZANU PF senior officials and cabinet ministers have exposed high levels of corruption. The succession battle is not only about political power but also about the money. For example ZANU PF Political Commissar Saviour Kasukuwere fingered land baron Phillip Chiyangwa for allegedly misappropriating 12 000 hectares of urban land. Chiyangwa, in turn, accused Kasukuwere of demanding a US$5m bribe to speed up a land deal for him. The party’s 10 provinces tried to oust Kasukuwere. They lodged vote of no confidence against him. But Kasukuwere survived. Political pundits say the provinces had no power, within the ZANU PF constitution to get rid of Kasukuwere and that only Mugabe could do that. Dr. Mandaza explains that an “assault on Kasukuwere is an assault on Mugabe.” Tune in to
The story behind the 'compensation' deal between Mujuru & evicted white farmer Guy Watson-Smith
Guy Watson-Smith, a white farmer in Zimbabwe, was evicted from his farm by General Solomon Mujuru, with the courts failing to ensure compensation for his losses. Despite a court order for Mujuru to return farm equipment and moveables, Watson-Smith did not receive full restitution. Joice Mujuru, Solomon's widow and former Vice President, expressed a willingness to compensate Watson-Smith and reached out to him for reconciliation. A meeting in London facilitated discussions on compensation for moveable assets, resulting in a Memorandum of Understanding. The broader issue of land compensation in Zimbabwe remains unresolved, with the government claiming a lack of funds and the 2013 constitution stating that the UK should pay for the land and the Zimbabwean government for the improvements.
The story behind the ‘compensation’ deal between Mujuru & evicted white farmer Guy Watson-Smith
Transcript: Exclusive Interview with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of Zimbabwe, while in the USA for the Democratic National Convention, was interviewed by Violet Gonda of Voice of America. Tsvangirai discussed his participation in the convention, lessons from the US democratic process, and addressed criticisms from Zanu PF about prioritizing foreign interests and abandoning national issues. He refuted claims of a constitutional crisis in Zimbabwe, emphasized the importance of reforms for free and fair elections, and defended the MDC's engagement with the international community. Tsvangirai also responded to a Freedom House survey on public trust, allegations of corruption within his party, and the quality of MDC officials. He clarified the MDC's stance on land policy, indigenisation, and gay rights, and shared personal reflections on his upcoming marriage.
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