what do these three images have in common?

There is a profound, almost poetic irony in the way history chooses its keepers.

In 1975, Benjamin “Benny” Leon stood before a building in what was then Gatooma, capturing a moment in time on a strip of film. Decades later, Benny stood behind the lens again, this time to capture a young Carl Joshua Ncube for the poster of his very first comedy show—an image that would help launch one of Zimbabwe’s biggest comedy exports.

Today, those two worlds have collided in a way neither could have predicted.

The Man Who Captured the Past

Born in Gatooma on February 21, 1936, Benny Leon is the visual historian of our city. From his early days at Jameson Primary to his decades as the lead photographer for the Gatooma Mail (1958–1978), Benny saw the city through a viewfinder.

While the Gatooma Mail eventually succumbed to time, closing in 2006 without ever making the leap from letterpress to the digital age, Benny’s work survived. In his home darkroom, he processed the soul of a city. Now, at 90 years old, his donation of memorabilia and scanned digital negatives to the Kadoma Library serves as the foundation of our collective memory.

The Irony of the Present

The irony here is unmistakable. Benny Leon spent his career capturing the Past of Kadoma using the physical, chemical processes of the 20th century. Now, the very subject of one of his portraits—Carl Joshua Ncube—is the one leading the charge to bring that history into the Future.

Through the Visit Kadoma initiative, the transition that the Gatooma Mail failed to make is finally happening. We are taking the analog memories Benny preserved in his darkroom and broadcasting them to the world via the digital platforms of tomorrow.

A Future Built on History

Visit Kadoma isn’t just about what is happening now; it’s about ensuring the city’s identity is never “defunct.” By inspiration from Benny’s archives and combining them with modern gastronomy, tourism, and media, we are creating a seamless timeline:

• The Past: Preserved through Benny’s lens and Rob Burrett’s historical research.

• The Present: Showcased through the vibrant culture and commerce of today’s Kadoma.

• The Future: Secured through digital platforms that ensure Kadoma is “searchable,” “shareable,” and “sustainable” for generations to come.