It has been a busy time for OpenStreetMap Zimbabwe Community forging ahead to set it’s foot within the Global OpenStreetMap Family. This year started enormously with the introduction to the Anticipatory Response Program for Muzarabani.

OpenStreetMap Zimbabwe is one of those communities that is still emerging and testing the waters in pursuit of a safe landing space. I am sure it’s all smooth surface but not so easy to be well established. Starting up a community or resuscitating one is no little work; you sweat it out, you cry it out and you scream it out. Only commitment and dedication will see you through the winning point. Over the last couple of years, OpenStreetMap Zimbabwe has been active in terms of the YouthMappers Chapters. Vivid and energetic, the young mappers have been very enthusiastic, raising their home flag high. This year, tables should turn or rather tables should balance.

OpenStreetMap Zimbabwe jump-started this year at a climatic point with the first massive Mapathon ever which also served as an introduction to the Anticipatory Response Program for Muzarabani. The community which gathered at the University of Zimbabwe on the 20th of March 2023, made tremendous efforts to put Muzarabani on the map. The tasks cleared way for the Disaster Response Deployment which then took off the next day in the Muzarabani District. The occasion was rich in attendance (80+) from various institutions and organizations like the Chinhoyi University of Technology, Midlands State University, Harare Polytechnic, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Institute of Geomatics, Surveyors Institute of Zimbabwe, independent participants and supported by the Eastern and Southern Africa Hub (ESA). Training was led by Deogratius Kiggudde while the Zimbabwe Steering Committee and ESA (Jomokela Kennedy, Wilson Munyaradzi, Michael Osunga) chipped in to attend to the floor. It was a huge success.

It will not be fair if we do not highlight the greater representation of females (Ladies In Maps) and YouthMappers at the occasion. Beginner mappers enjoyed the interactive sessions with the trainers. It was also eye-opening to learn about the various opportunities and activities around OpenStreetMap, FOSS4G and YouthMappers from Letwin Pondo. Hats off to the OpenStreetMap Zimbabwe Steering Committee for a sound outset, looking forward to what the community has in store for us this year.

Acknowledgements OpenStreetMap Zimbabwe Steering Committee The Eastern and Southern Africa Open Mapping Hub University of Zimbabwe Midlands State University Chinhoyi University of Technology Harare Polytechnic Zimbabwe Institute of Geomatics Surveyors Institute of Zimbabwe Lloyd Moyo Tapiwa Nigel Chigumbu

https://medium.com/@letwinpondo/the-genesis-an-expansive-spatial-outset-ad38a3fa31bd