Shepherd Mpofu’s research on the Zimbabwean diaspora highlighted

Isaac Themba Mnguni interviews Shepherd Mpofu about the ins and outs of his research on the Zimbabwean diaspora, nationalism and online media.

ITM: What are you currently studying?

SM: I am doing my PhD in Media Studies

ITM: What is your research topic?

SM: It has not been cast in stone yet but for now it is: “Moments of the Nation and Alternative Diaspora Online Media: National Identity Construction in New Zimbabwe.com”.

ITM: What have been the challenges that you have so far faced in your research?

SM: Sleepless nights. Otherwise I have a fantastic supervisor and supportive academics in the Department of Media Studies. I can invade Dr Last Moyo’s book cabinet as and when I please. Dr Wendy Willems always sends me stuff that relates to my research. So the major challenge is the burden of owing so much to these great people.

ITM: You are tutoring, working and studying: what is your survival guide?

SM: I also do freelance filmmaking and watch out for the documentary I worked on “Tapestries of Hope”. Back to your question, three things help me a great deal. First, I was partly raised by my great grandmother and she taught me to do things in an orderly, disciplined fashion. She is alive and prays for me a great deal. Second, my uncle was a high ranking military man in the Zimbabwe National Army. He taught me self-discipline; setting goals and targets that has been permanently imprinted into my DNA. As a Christian, I take a lot of inspiration from Jesus Christ.

ITM: What advice do you have for emerging researchers?

SM: I have not done it all, but I suspect dedication and hard work are the key ingredients.

ITM Do you have any tips about managing your relationship with your supervisor?

SM: I do not manage her; she manages me. She calls the shots on deadlines. Always deliver on time and communicate with your supervisor. Negotiate on deadlines if you feel you cannot make it. They have dictatorial tendencies though. I have a very good supervisor and our relationship is good.

ITM: What are your views on the proposed media bill?

SM: I have always argued that in South Africa you have wrong people saying right things. It is easy for anyone to conclude that the ANC’s intention is to keep as much information as possible from public scrutiny. This will – in the long run – affect the much revered democracy in this country. The bill – as it stands – is so vague and some sections so wide and all-catching in terms of defining what privileged information is, to an extent that it may be possible to have media barred from publishing certain information, even though in public interest.

ITM: What are your future plans?

SM: To get married and have a lovely family.

ITM: What is your favorite quote?

SM: There’s so much bad in the best of us. And so much good in the worst of us. That it ill behooves any of us. To talk about the rest of us.

ITM: Any final words of advice?

SM: The most beautiful flowers you see, once pushed through dirt to be where they are.

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