Mujaji’s damascene moment

ELLIOT MUJAJI does not hold a grudge against the person responsible for the workplace accident that resulted in the two-time Paralympic gold medallist losing his right hand 24 years ago.

On that fateful day on January 3, 1998, a workmate switched on the power when the electrician, who was on a routine fault-finding mission, was still attending to a power line that transmits 6 000 volts.

“I was working for Shabanie Mine and on the day in question we were attending to one of the mine suburbs power lines which transmits about 6 000 volts of power,” recalls Mujaji.

“We were using a mega tester for the cable, so when I climbed up the ladder, someone switched on the power whilst I was attending the line … l got burnt all over the body.”

As a result of the accident, he missed the 1998 Commonwealth Games as he spent four months in a coma, and it took him almost a year to recover from the injuries.

“The accident happened when I had qualified for the Commonwealth Games, but unfortunately, I missed out as I spent four months in a coma and recovered after almost 10 months.”

As tragic as the accident was, it completely turned around the 50-year-old’s life, as he was introduced to Paralympics by friends.

“I started my athletics career in 1988 and represented Zimbabwe at different competitions.

“I was involved in an accident on January 3, 1998 and missed the opportunity to be part of the Commonwealth Games.

“Being an able-bodied athlete, I felt I did not do much that I could have done during that time. Qualifying for Commonwealth Games was the highest I had achieved and the only thing that was left for me was to go to the Olympics.

“After I recovered from the accident, I restarted my career, and that is when I started doing very well and winning medals, something that I had failed as an able-bodied athlete.

“I would say the accident proved to be a blessing in disguise for me.”

Mujaji stands as one of the country’s most distinguished Olympians, with two gold medals to his name from the 2000 and 2004 Sydney and Athens Games.

The athlete, who started his own athletics academy in the mining town of Zvishavane in 2019, now uses his success to inspire other disabled athletes.

“I have since formed an athletics academy, with my main priority being a focus on disabled athletes.

“With my story, I inspire a lot of people, telling them that challenges cannot deter one from achieving his or her goals in life.

“You can achieve better things in life if you don’t give up; that is usually what I tell the athletes …”

He now plans to produce athletes for the 2028 Olympics.

“Having been exposed to the best training facilities leading to me bagging my gold medals, my dream is to produce athletes that will compete at the highest level, with our main target being the 2028 Olympics,” said Mujaji, who holds a Level Three coaching certificate with World Athletics.

He also juggles his time being a coach at the academy and a radio personality for a Zvishavane-based radio station.

“Having spent the better part of my life being interviewed, it is really exciting to be the one asking questions.”