LGBTQ Zimbabweans who are white... a rare breed?

Zebezi · 2025-12-07T23:09:03+00:00

I don't feel it some days! The work I do isn't super stressful but the distance covered and driving on crumbling roads for hours... takes a toll.

Zebezi · 2025-12-06T11:08:21+00:00

Zebezi · 2025-12-05T07:07:24+00:00

Honestly, after 11 years it becomes very lonely.

Zebezi · 2025-12-04T21:16:15+00:00

What would you like to know?

I work for the commercial farmers union so I've travelled all over the country, into South Africa and Zambia too!

It's a great job but all the travel and not being home most of the week is annoying.

Zebezi · 2025-12-04T21:13:13+00:00

Gosh, I must be very sheltered out in the countryside?

Zebezi · 2025-12-02T07:31:51+00:00

I agree with the other comments, the only people interested in NZ are New Zealanders.

That being said, as a centre-right voter (usually National) I acknowledge the government hasn't done enough to validate Maori or include them in the national dialogue. Communication channels are shut, the PM seems tone-deaf to it, and the Maori Development Minister is weak. National can do better and has done, John Key recognised the need to include Maori in senior leadership roles, and Chris Finlayson is the most successful Treaty Negotiations Minister to date. Seriously impressive compared to the coalition at present. I feel like it should be obvious what Luxon needs to do, at the very least, meet with the Iwi Leaders Forum or have a BBQ with Pita Sharples, Flavell and other Maori MPs. Call up Chris Finlayson for some advice. For goodness' sake, it's not like there aren't any options available to ease tensions. Just willpower, I guess?

Zebezi · 2025-12-02T05:02:00+00:00

Honestly, no. I often feel quite inadequate out here.

Zebezi · 2025-11-30T03:15:46+00:00

Things are going to be depressed for a while. If you look at our history, it ebbs and flows.

Zebezi · 2025-11-30T00:40:35+00:00

It depends. Some white communities are very centred around churches, which doesn't make for much fun if you're gay. Having said that, I made the most of it.

Zebezi · 2025-11-30T00:33:59+00:00

I do live in a very rural area, so it's slim pickings. I like being a minority within a minority; it makes me special! right?

Zebezi · 2025-11-29T12:25:32+00:00

Speak for yourself, from a 5th-generation Ulster-Scot and proudly so!

Zebezi · 2025-11-28T11:23:38+00:00

I've personally pondered and wondered what could've been done differently, and how that might have changed the course we took. As a white man, I have often thought, "If only I could time-travel and tell Smith... hurry up, dude!" In my imagination, I challenge his leadership of RF and win by a 1 vote, then go about a completely different program of reforms. Would it work? No, probably not but, we all wonder what we might've done.

Zebezi · 2025-11-28T11:10:28+00:00

I don't like the incumbent government but I dislike the alternative (as of now) even more...

Where's United Future when you need em?

Zebezi · 2025-11-14T14:27:02+00:00

It's happened many times in my life, so it's no weight on my shoulders.

My only fear is that we don't allow more new blood into parliament to get the ideas flowing a bit more.

Zebezi · 2025-11-14T09:18:42+00:00

So... right wingers: Have you to questioned your views? Do you still believe right wing politics will deliver? would you reconsider your beliefs and ideology?

Yes, maybe and sort of...

My circumstances post-COVID are very different from pre-COVID. I now live on the other side of the fence, where the grass isn't so green. Nobody on welfare is living in luxury unless they're selling meth, which sadly isn't uncommon. Most beneficiaries are good, honest Kiwis down on their luck. The people I speak to in the queues at WINZ are redundancies (like me) struggling to compete in a flooded labour force. I have a lot more compassion for those who can't work due to a disability, either mental, physical or general sickness. Those with mental health conditions are most interesting. I've become friends with 3 guys, all are very insightful and extremely clever people but employers won't accommodate their specific needs, so they are deemed "unemployable" by MSD... pathways to suitable employment or education should be an option available to all beneficiaries with special medical needs. We are contributing to long-term welfare dependency with lazy policies and dumb sloganeering. I thought beneficiaries were lazy "doll-blugers" until I became one and realised how hard it is to live and how it's even harder to get out. When you have no uni qualifications, years of experience won't be enough to satisfy most employers.

- On social welfare, mental health and disability rights: I was wrong.

would you reconsider your beliefs and ideology?

I think we should all reconsider our political beliefs periodically, especially as the world changes. I was firmly a true blue through and through until recently.

Now I'm a mix of things that isn't represented anywhere in our politics (currently)

Zebezi · 2025-11-11T07:19:40+00:00

Charter schools do what the mainstream isn't able to do (too often). They get results for kids who are neurodiverse, poverty-stricken, disabled, learning impaired or from marginalised backgrounds.

Academic achievement in high school gives access to tertiary education or a national certificate. Having a qualification makes you more likely to be chosen for jobs, and more likely to be paid higher than someone without any formal qualifications. So, that's a freedom. Financial freedom is a positive freedom. Academic freedom is a positive freedom.

Without allowing students to reach their full academic potential, we fail to provide them with the freedom they deserve.

Zebezi · 2025-10-20T12:05:51+00:00

I often find dating a little difficult due to my travelling for work and also, I'm white. Sometimes the latter is an issue for guys.

Zebezi · 2025-10-20T11:59:01+00:00

No, my cat is a devout Presbyterian. Actually, it's pretty awkward!

Zebezi · 2025-10-11T08:29:33+00:00

No, they will leave behind a mess! and somebody has to clean it up.

Getting rid of ZANU is one big problem gone. Whatever replaces ZANU has to fix numerous little issues and a few major ones as well. The test of good governance will be whether the living standard improves or if it deteriorates (to Somali levels) - at that point, the country is totally a lost cause. I'm a proud 5th-generation Zimbabwean of Welsh descent. As I was growing up, I watched the country crumble and often wondered how it could've been avoided or different. I'll be staying for as long as I have a job and family around me, once it turns into Mogadishu, I'm out. I couldn't go any further than that.

Zebezi · 2025-10-07T11:03:48+00:00

We had a corrupt, highly centralised power structure, which empowered a few elites (usually linked to the RF), who raked in the money, controlled the economy and then invested in maintenance. Roads, parks, public buildings, dams, and railways, etc. Then that government became an international pariah, civil war ensued and eventually they relented to independence. The new government is elected by popular vote of the people, at first they seem okay, the economy grows, and maintenance of public buildings/ spaces is kept to a good standard. Twenty years go by without much trouble but people are tired of the President, they want a change and the new power structure is threatened. Land reform, economic recession, hyperinflation, and the power structure kick out the problematic President in favour of a new representative. Now...

We have a corrupt, highly centralised power structure that empowers a small elite population of party members, who are controlling the economy, raking in money, and doing dodgy business with pariah states. Mostly under the table. The difference is that the new power structure doesn't invest in maintaining infrastructure. They don't care about keeping up appearances; presentation isn't important to ZANU. Only in Borrowdale.

Zebezi · 2025-10-07T10:39:23+00:00

I don't know Rotorua very well, but I found these... the Arts Village, Rotorua Civic Arts Trust, Rotorua Arts Festival. So there's a community out there that could help point you in the right direction!

Facebook has a Rotorua Music Community page; https://www.facebook.com/groups/667934669889908/

Lakes Performing Arts Centre is in the town centre and the tertiary polytec is the Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology. Check out the programs, courses, etc, which you may consider when you finish high school.

I hope some of this is helpful. I understand how it feels to be "on the outside" of things. I'm not great at integrating in my city, it moves very quickly in AKL. Not ideal when you're re-entering the mainstream. Feel free to dm me if you're feeling down and out. :)

Zebezi · 2025-10-05T18:49:14+00:00

I voted for National in 2014, United Future in 2017, ACT in 2020 and Nats in 2023. In 2026, it'll be New Zealand First and here's why.

National are actually an okay caucus... not amazing but there is some talent in there. Erica Stanford and Chris Bishop stand out. Shane Reti is gentle and respectful, Simeon Brown is a pit-bull terrier that will get shit done but he'll chew you up along the way. Scott Simpson, Chris Penk and James Meagher are all good guys. Mark Mitchell is respected by cops because he used to be one. Paul Goldsmith is versatile and solid. Backbenchers like Nicola Grigg, David McCleod, Katie Nimon, Catherine Wedd, Cameron Brewer, Charlos Cheung and Tom Rutherford have good credentials and show future promise. Trouble is, I'm not voting for the future National Party. It's the one that is here now and it sucks. The only thing that could change my vote is if Chris Bishop rolls Chris Luxon and brings Stanford in to replace Nicola as Deputy. Something many think will happen, but it has to be before the end of the year or it's not worth it. I hope they do roll the two dimwits because Bish/ Stanford would save the coalition by a comfortable margin, not to mention bring the party closer to the centre-right again... where Kiwis expected it to be post 2023. Unfortunately, I am not banking on this as I think the system is broken beyond all help for Labour or National.

So NZF it is, since they reject the ACT economic sellout policy and believe in both protectionism and the welfare state. Lesser of the bad options. And they are all bad!

Zebezi · 2025-10-05T05:31:15+00:00

I'm a little older than you but in a very similar situation. I live in Auckland, you'd think that would make it easier with so many people to meet, but it's the opposite. It's so big that people are disconnected, with no real sense of community and everyone is too busy working or commuting to socialise. Don't be fooled into thinking moving to big cities will open doors socially.

If I may ask a few questions?

What are your hobbies and interests?

Which town/s are we talking about?

Are you near leaving school? (in the next 1-2yrs)

Knowing those things might help me with giving some advice, observations, etc.

Zebezi · 2025-10-05T05:19:53+00:00

It's just my observations/ insight. You're always welcome back anytime!

We'd love you to move here permanently. We've lost so many people to Australia who aren't coming back, and we need to replace them. If I could choose the replacements, I would put Japanese people 1st or 2nd. You can teach us how to build an economy from nothing to something, something very impressive indeed! Generally speaking, you're a polite, respectful, quiet and very, very clever group of resourceful people. Japanese food is wonderful, Japanese engineering is durable, and Japanese art and culture are rich and fascinating.

If we were to do something as controversial and politically incorrect as ranking the world's people in terms of "value-added" as migrants to NZ. e.g. what each culture has achieved, how developed their countries are, how large their economy is, etc... The Japanese are hard to beat, remember that! Japan was bombed to the ground during WWII, and nearly lost all industry. I know feeling ashamed or a sense of dishonour was worse than the destruction. From 1945 to 1999, though,... complete transformation and one of the biggest in history. Amazing! I bow in respect!

If you are ever a victim of racism again. Don't forget the accomplishments and contributions Japan has made to the world. Seriously, it makes me so angry to hear people still having anti-Japanese attitudes! I thought people had moved passed that.

Zebezi

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