STUCK IN THE MIDDLE


This project was developed as part of the VII Academy course requirement for the Program for Narrative and Documentary Practice, Level 1 Workshop , facilitated by Finbarr O'Reilly.

 

MOTIVATION:

Finding Myself in Other’s Stories


ARTIST STATEMENT: 

Home: Waterlines and Worn Sofas



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In Budiriro 4, a high density suburb in the capital city, a string of houses have been built across the expanse of the Monavale Wetland in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 15, 2024.
The area is demarcated by the city's old sewer pipes, and the land is soggy and prone to flooding during the rainy season.
Photo by Charmaine Chitate for The VII Foundation
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In Budiriro 4, a high density suburb in the capital city, a string of houses have been built across the expanse of the Monavale Wetland in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 15, 2024.
The area is demarcated by the city's old sewer pipes, and the land is soggy and prone to flooding during the rainy season.
Photo by Charmaine Chitate for The VII Foundation
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It takes Shillah Zvomoyo, and her colleague, two days to complete constructing a Blair toilet in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 08, 2024.
The increasing construction activities on the wetland have led to poor urban planning as the buildings are neither sited nor supervised by the local authority.
Photo by Charmaine Chitate for The VII Foundation
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It takes Shillah Zvomoyo, and her colleague, two days to complete constructing a Blair toilet in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 08, 2024.
The increasing construction activities on the wetland have led to poor urban planning as the buildings are neither sited nor supervised by the local authority.
Photo by Charmaine Chitate for The VII Foundation
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Two school boys making their way home through one of many dump sites filled with plastics, diapers, paper, tin cans and clothing materials are strewn randomly across the wetland, providing a breeding ground for pests in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 08, 2024
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Two school boys making their way home through one of many dump sites filled with plastics, diapers, paper, tin cans, and clothing materials are strewn randomly across the wetland, providing a breeding ground for pests in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 08, 2024. Due to their status as 'unauthorised structures' the community does not have access to refuse collection services allowing the wind to blow the rubbish into the wetland's main water stream, contaminating it. Photo by Charmaine Chitate for The VII Foundation

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Two school boys making their way home through one of many dump sites filled with plastics, diapers, paper, tin cans, and clothing materials are strewn randomly across the wetland, providing a breeding ground for pests in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 08, 2024. Due to their status as 'unauthorised structures' the community does not have access to refuse collection services allowing the wind to blow the rubbish into the wetland's main water stream, contaminating it. Photo by Charmaine Chitate for The VII Foundation

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Chantelle Jonhera (22) sells hair combs, lip glos and body oils to raise money to buy items on her baby preparation list in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 15, 2024. The rising unemployment rate in Zimbabwe has created opportunities on the informal market how
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Chantelle Jonhera (22) sells hair combs, lip gloss, and body oils to raise money to buy items on her baby preparation list in Harare, Zimbabwe, on November 15, 2024. The rising unemployment rate in Zimbabwe has created opportunities in the informal market however, these are easily disrupted in the face of a disaster, crippling a much-needed source of income for the household.   Photo by Charmaine Chitate for The VII Foundation

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Chantelle Jonhera (22) sells hair combs, lip gloss, and body oils to raise money to buy items on her baby preparation list in Harare, Zimbabwe, on November 15, 2024. The rising unemployment rate in Zimbabwe has created opportunities in the informal market however, these are easily disrupted in the face of a disaster, crippling a much-needed source of income for the household.   Photo by Charmaine Chitate for The VII Foundation

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Six months pregnant, with a toddler in tow, Chantelle feels overwhelmed by her household chores in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 23, 2024. Her sister, Glavender Jonhera (28), used to walk five kilometres to visit her. Now she has moved in to help ease the w
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Six months pregnant, with a toddler in tow, Chantelle feels overwhelmed by her household chores in Harare, Zimbabwe, on November 23, 2024. Her sister, Glavender Jonhera (28), used to walk five kilometres to visit her. Now she has moved in to help ease the workload, help her sister stay healthy, and deliver a healthy baby.   Photo by Charmaine Chitate for The VII Foundation

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Six months pregnant, with a toddler in tow, Chantelle feels overwhelmed by her household chores in Harare, Zimbabwe, on November 23, 2024. Her sister, Glavender Jonhera (28), used to walk five kilometres to visit her. Now she has moved in to help ease the workload, help her sister stay healthy, and deliver a healthy baby.   Photo by Charmaine Chitate for The VII Foundation

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The shallow well makes it easy for,Chantelle Jonhera (22), to drawing water for her household chores in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 23, 2024. During the rainy season the septic tank at her household floods and overflows into the shallow well, as with many
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The shallow well makes it easy for, Chantelle Jonhera (22), to draw water for her household chores in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 23, 2024. During the rainy season the septic tank at her household floods and overflows into the shallow well, as with many other houses in the area. Photo by Charmaine Chitate for The VII Foundation

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The shallow well makes it easy for, Chantelle Jonhera (22), to draw water for her household chores in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 23, 2024. During the rainy season the septic tank at her household floods and overflows into the shallow well, as with many other houses in the area. Photo by Charmaine Chitate for The VII Foundation

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Chantelle Jonhera (22) helps her daughter, Dilara Chinyanga (32 mo) wear shoes outside their home in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 23, 2024. Chantelle hopes to live in a safe space where she can raise Dilara and her unborn child without fear - a constituti
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Chantelle Jonhera (22) helps her daughter, Dilara Chinyanga (32 mo) wear shoes outside their home in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 23, 2024. Chantelle hopes to live in a safe space to raise Dilara and her unborn child without fear - a constitutional right in Zimbabwe (Section 73). Photo by Charmaine Chitate for The VII Foundation

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Chantelle Jonhera (22) helps her daughter, Dilara Chinyanga (32 mo) wear shoes outside their home in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 23, 2024. Chantelle hopes to live in a safe space to raise Dilara and her unborn child without fear - a constitutional right in Zimbabwe (Section 73). Photo by Charmaine Chitate for The VII Foundation

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© 2025. Charmaine Chitate (Documentary Photographer & Communication Specialist).  All Rights Reserved.