By Tendai Chisiri
Zimbabwe senior men’s football team captain, Marvellous Nakamba, recently opened up about his struggles with depression, emphasizing that mental health affects everyone, even celebrities.
After Zimbabwe’s exit from the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, Nakamba revealed he was facing mental health challenges.
Nakamba told The Herald he was having sleepless nights after conceding a late penalty that led to Zimbabwe’s elimination.
Mental health advocate Vickie Mlilo -Maponga spoke about mental health awareness and breaking the stigma, saying people are suffering in silence due to fear of being stigmatized.
“I personally talk about mental health because I’ve realized many people are suffering. They are silent because they don’t have anyone to talk to,” Mlilo – Maponga said.
She shared her own struggles with clinical depression and suicidal thoughts, emphasizing the need for trusted support systems.
Mlilo – Maponga, who runs an organization called Another Chance, stressed that mental health affects everyone – pastors, CEOs, and ordinary people alike. “Mental health is just a problem you’re facing right now. If you don’t deal with it, you’ll get into depression and potentially suicidal thoughts,” she warned.
Noreen Kudzanai Wini-Dari, a mental health Community Psychologist, said mental health is often misunderstood, affecting people from all walks of life. “It’s the people we see every day in workplaces – people with depression, anxiety. Everyone is susceptible to mental illness.”
To promote awareness, Wini-Dari urges people to talk about mental health openly, whether in media, church, or family. “Let’s normalize saying ‘I’m struggling with my mental health’ or ‘I’m going to see a therapist’.”
In Zimbabwe, initiatives like the Psychological First Aid Program and Friendship Bench are working to make mental health support more accessible.
Wini-Dari advises individuals to prioritize their mental health: “When you feel things aren’t right, seek help. Go to the local clinic or reach out to psychological associations.”
Some people have overcome mental health challenges and are living fulfilling lives with the right support and treatment.
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