Alfonso Zvenyika
by Tapfuma Machakaire
From the Ghetto to glory and back to Mbare life
When Alfonso Mosquito Zvenyika knocked out Scotland’s Paul Wier in the 11th round to win the Commonwealth Light Flyweight title on January 20, 1998, the nation was ecstatic President Robert Mugabe, now late, added to the jubilation when he remarked that Alfonso had knocked out imperialism.
No one ever imagined that Mosquito’s life would, in future, take such a deep plunge to culminate in a series of embarrassing experiences that saw him being jailed for theft, clashing with his on children and almost becoming destitute.
Alfonso was born on November 25, 1975, in Mbare high density suburb in the capital Harare.
He grew up leading a typical ghetto life selling cigarettes in the streets of Mbare and engaging in all sorts of undesirable social ills at the age of five.
At the age of seven, the young Alfonso would have started grade one, but he was only taken to school at eleven years. And for some reason, he only lasted one term in school, meaning he became a school dropout before even completing grade one.
When he was twelve years old, Alfonso was among the idle children in Mbare who was spotted by a good Samaritan and introduced to elementary boxing training.
As he progressed with his newly found career, Alfonso started training under the famous Gweru boxer, Langton School boy Tinago. He also later trained under the Zimbabwe National Army.
He turned professional at the age of 17, in 1992 and his ability to duck punches from heavier opponents soon earned him the nickname Mosquito which also reflected his 50kg fighting weight.
He rose to stardom when he won the Commonwealth Light Flyweight Championship title in 1998 after knocking out Scottish boxer Paul Weir. He also won the Zimbabwe Super Flyweight title and the African Flyweight title. His career abruptly came to a halt in year 2000 when he got injured in a fight in Zambia.
For the 15 years that he was active in boxing, the Mosquito had transformed from metaphorical “mosquito” to a “monster.” He had risen from a ghetto boy brought up in the poverty stricken Mbare township to a respected boxer contesting in flashy venues in front of esteemed spectators in England, Scotland, Australia, Zambia and Tanzania.
His life away from the ring, however, soon turned nasty. Months after hanging his gloves, he was convicted of stealing a radio receiver and had to serve one year and eight months behind bars. He insisted that he had been framed.
In August, 2019 there were reports that Alfonso’s children were accusing him as being the source of their misfortune. He has five wives and eight children.
The children were alleging that none of the eight went beyond primary school education. They did not have identity documents either. Some of the children went to the extent of accusing their father of having used juju to excel in his boxing career.
Alfonso admitted he was at loggerheads with his children but denied using Juju.
“I never used juju in my career, it was a purely God given talent,” said Alfonso who accused some people of deliberately misleading his children.
Alfonso eventually formed a boxing academy in Mbare, Mosquito Boxing School of Excellence, which has been struggling due to lack of resources. The school is short of gloves, pads, punch bags and headgear as Alfonso continues to rely on well-wishers for resources.
Alfonso says that he particularly focuses on boys and young men who struggle to remain in school while spending time on the streets.
“Some of the kids are totally poor and not even going to school. Some draw back from training as they don’t have shoes,” said Alfonso. Commenting on Alfonso’s academy, David Mutambara, a former chair of Zimbabwe’s Sports and Recreation Commission said boxing teaches discipline and positive values. It’s a low-cost, high-impact sport.”
Alfonso Zvenyika featured in the remix video of the Ishan‘s song where he appears coaching boxing.
Despite his downsides Alfonso “Mosquito” Zvenyika joined Proud “Kilimanjaro” Chinembiri and Langton School boy Tinago among boxers that flew the county’s flag high during their time in the ring.
