Vhukimvi Touring Club embark on excursions to keep men content

In 2004, a group of men from Vhurivhuri and surrounding villages in the Makuya area, outside Thohoyandou, pooled their resources to establish their own club, named Vhukimvi Touring Club. The concept was to create a gathering space for rural men to convene quarterly at venues across Vhembe, socialise, foster relationships, and occasionally embark on group excursions to explore different parts of the country. Today, the club remains vibrant and continues to grow steadily.

“Vhukimvi” is a Tshivenda term that translates to “a place for relaxation” in English. This past Saturday (3 February), Limpopo Mirror caught up with the club at Mangondi village, where members were indeed unwinding, mingling, and enjoying pap (maize meal) and goat’s meat.

Speaking to our reporter, Mr Kanakana Sumbana, spokesperson for Vhukimvi Touring Club, said that the club had originated from a desire among men in the Makuya communities to engage in constructive activities on weekends, rather than simply indulging in alcohol consumption.

“We decided to pool funds for cooking meat and pap, ensuring that we don’t become the kind of men who drink without eating,” recalled Sumbana. “We started small. I remember when we began in 2004, we were just 13 members.”

Sumbana reminisced about the club’s inaugural trip to Cape Town the same year, travelling by bus. “It was a memorable outing. We explored Table Mountain, Fish Hoek, and even visited the South African Parliament building,” he recounted.

Since then, the club has ventured to destinations such as Botswana, Lesotho, Zambia, Namibia, and Katima Mulilo. Currently, boasting more than 50 members from Thohoyandou, Mutale, Mangondi, and beyond, the club serves as a platform for men to bond, discuss challenges they face, and ultimately reduce instances of domestic violence.

“The club is exclusively for men because we believe that including women may lead to conflicts. With a men-only club, such issues are rare,” explained Sumbana, encouraging other men to either join existing clubs like theirs or establish new ones for mutual benefit.

Nkhangweleni Mulaudzi, the chairperson of Vhukimvi Touring Club, disclosed plans for their next excursion to the Northern Cape, slated for the near future.

Membership entails a one-time joining fee of R500, followed by a quarterly fee of R350.

Date:10 February 2024

By: Silas Nduvheni

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