For more than a quarter of a century, Martha Holman has quietly transformed lives in rural Zimbabwe while building lasting connections between communities in Wales and southern Africa. Now, her remarkable contribution has been recognised at the highest level with the award of an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List.
Martha received the honour for services to community development in Zimbabwe and for strengthening Wales–Zimbabwe relations, a fitting tribute to a woman whose determination and compassion have impacted hundreds of families.
Her journey to Wales began with an invitation from friend Samara Hawthorn, who lived near Carmarthen. However, Martha’s first night in the country was far from welcoming. The barn where the pair were staying caught fire, forcing her to flee with little more than her passport and a basket of handmade batiks.
Undeterred, Martha continued her mission of supporting Zimbabwean arts and crafts producers by selling their products at markets across Wales and later in London. It was there that she met her future husband, David Holman.
Keen for David to understand the realities facing people in her homeland, Martha arranged a visit to Zimbabwe. Witnessing the poverty and challenges experienced by many communities left a profound impression on him. Looking around, David asked Martha, “How did you come out of this?” The experience would prove life-changing for both of them and became the catalyst for the creation of Love Zimbabwe.
The couple married in Zimbabwe in 2007, and Martha later settled in the UK, where the charity was formally established. Since then, Love Zimbabwe has worked closely with the Welsh Government, whose support has helped fund a wide range of projects in the rural Chinamhora region.
Over the years, the charity has delivered significant improvements in healthcare, education, food production and sanitation. What was once a simple village site has evolved into a thriving community hub featuring traditional huts, a library, community buildings, toilet and shower facilities, organic gardens, chicken runs, boreholes, a solar food-drying system and a large polytunnel.
Yet Martha and David have always believed that international development should be a two-way exchange. In 2014, they launched a programme with students from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David in Lampeter, enabling young people from Wales to visit Chinamhora and experience rural life firsthand.
The learning flowed in both directions. Students gained valuable insights into organic farming, sustainability and self-sufficiency—skills that later proved particularly relevant during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Back home, Martha and David became familiar faces in schools across Wales. Through African drumming workshops, dance sessions and Fairtrade education, they introduced thousands of children to different cultures and global citizenship. Together they visited more than 300 schools and played a role in Wales becoming the world’s first Fairtrade Nation in 2008.
Martha also founded the popular March for Africa at the Abergavenny Food Festival in 2010, encouraging local schoolchildren to dress in African-inspired costumes and raise awareness of global food poverty.
Today, Love Zimbabwe is looking firmly to the future. Its latest initiative, the Mutake Mountain Escape, aims to create an ethical tourism destination that will generate sustainable income to support the charity’s community work for generations to come.
As Martha celebrates her MBE, the award serves not only as recognition of past achievements but also as a testament to the power of partnership, perseverance and community spirit. From a dramatic arrival in Wales to an honour from the King, hers is a story that continues to inspire on two continents.
The charity’s work continues, and supporters will have an opportunity to celebrate Martha’s achievement while helping fund future projects at the annual Love Zimbabwe Fundraiser on Saturday 25 July at Forest Coal Pit, near Abergavenny.
The event will feature performances from Al Lewis, Zim Voices, Menyn Sheds, Tanaka Holman, David Holman, Holly and Jessica Asante, and Wonder & Eddie. Visitors can also enjoy authentic Zimbabwean food and an evening of music, community and fundraising.
Tickets cost £15 for adults, with free admission for children under 13, and are available through the Love Zimbabwe website: lovezimbabwe.org
Donations to support the charity’s ongoing work in Chinamhora can be made through Love Zimbabwe’s donation page or via its JustGiving campaign. The charity is also seeking major donors and grant-funding partners to support the phased development of the Mutake Mountain Escape project, helping to secure a sustainable future for its community programmes in Zimbabwe.
David Holman
