Tinotenda Hove- Entrepreneur Kundai Kwenda has spoken publicly about his long fight with depression, revealing how faith and persistence helped him walk away from alcohol abuse, homelessness and years of emotional struggle to start over.

His difficulties began in Zimbabwe. At the age of 12, Kwenda survived a suicide attempt that saw him admitted to intensive care at St Anne’s Hospital in Harare. He says that experience marked the beginning of a prolonged battle with depression that carried on through his teens and into adulthood.

After relocating with his family to the UK and settling in Wolverhampton, Kwenda struggled to process the trauma he carried with him. To cope, he started drinking heavily while still in high school, often spending time with friends in an effort to block out his feelings.

The addiction began to derail his life. He left school without achieving the grades he wanted, then tried to make a name for himself in music, working in recording studios across Brixton and South London. Despite keeping busy, his personal life continued to unravel. The situation eventually led him to homelessness in Birmingham, where he stayed at the Aston Hotel shelter on Witton Road.

Kwenda entered rehabilitation on seven separate occasions as he tried to break free from alcohol. Each attempt ended in relapse, but he says he refused to stop trying.

The real change came when he embraced Christianity. Leaning on Scripture and Gospel music, Kwenda says he found the strength to confront his addiction and begin healing from depression.

After a near-fatal incident, he decided to turn his life around completely. He returned to education and completed a qualification in Accountancy at the London School of Business, which set him on a new path.

He is now sober and runs Kwenda Diamonds Limited. According to Kwenda, the business was built on the values of resilience, integrity and giving people another chance.

Speaking about his journey, Kwenda urged others going through similar struggles not to give up.

“Life can be hard sometimes, however there is always hope. Our destination can only be determined by God, therefore we must continue to try against the odds,” he said.

Kwenda now shares his story to encourage others, saying that even in the darkest periods, recovery is possible and that with faith and determination, anyone can rebuild their life.

About Kundai Kwenda…

Kundai Kwenda
Founder, Kwenda Diamonds Limited
heritage@kwendadiamonds.com
🌐 www.kwendadiamonds.com