Round Table Zimbabwe

Status Active, Full Member
Formation 1952
Alias Round Table Zim
RTI Acronym RTZW
RTI Region AMI
Mother Association RTEA
Website Official Page

Zimbabwe, a country known for its stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and resilient communities, is home to a thriving Round Table association that continues to make a significant impact. Round Table Zimbabwe (RT Zim) carries forward a long-standing tradition of fellowship and service, having existed in some form long before the official formation of its national association. Previously, its clubs were part of the Association of Round Tables in Central Africa (ARTCA) before becoming an independent entity, aligning with the evolving regional structure of Round Table International.

In recent years, RT Zimbabwe has gained regional and international recognition for its outstanding community service projects, including the “Rainbow Children Village”, which provides support to vulnerable children, and the “Jail ‘n’ Bail” initiative, a creative fundraising effort that brings the community together for a good cause. With a strong commitment to making a difference, RT Zimbabwe continues to grow, inspiring its members to adopt, adapt, and improve while strengthening its role in both local and international Round Table networks.

Tables

 

International Roles

Regional Chairmen

 (Tablers from Zimbabwe when it formed part of ARTCA)

    • AFRICA 1997–1998: Rob Franklin

 

Repeated Activities

    • National Annual General Meeting; typically in May
    • Club Annual General Meetings; typically in February / March
    • National Half Yearly Meeting; typically in September

Community Service Projects

Community service is foundational to the Tabling Spirit of RT Zimbabwe. While the Association itself does not run national projects directly, it proudly supports and empowers its Tables to execute meaningful and impactful initiatives that serve their local communities. These projects have gained recognition both locally and internationally.

Below are some of the key ongoing and recurring community service projects run by the Tables:

Rainbow Childrens Village

Rainbow Children’s Village is a landmark legacy project developed through a partnership between Round Table Zimbabwe and the Meikles Foundation. It was created to serve as a transitional home—a safe, supportive halfway house—for children recovering from cancer treatment. The facility provides a nurturing environment where young patients and their caregivers can stay during the critical recovery period between hospital discharge and returning home, particularly for families who live far from treatment centers.

What makes this project especially meaningful to the Tabling community is the personal investment made by Round Table Zimbabwe. In support of this initiative, Round Table gave up its national clubhouse, allowing the site to be cleared for the construction of the Rainbow Children’s Village. This powerful act of service and legacy underscores the Table’s deep commitment to creating long-term impact for vulnerable children in Zimbabwe.

International Recognition

RTI

2024–2025: RTI Club of the Year — Victoria Falls 7
2022–2023: RTI Service Project of the Year — Jail and Bail
2019–2020: RTI Service Project of the Year — Jail and Bail

AMI Region

2024–2025: AMI Club of the Year — Harare 23
2022–2023: AMI Service Project of the Year — Rainbow Childrens Village
2019–2020: AMI Most Promising Association

Honor Medals

2023–2024: Grant Weare — Harare 23
2022–2023: Leejay Tavares — Harare 23
2021–2022: Richard Pio — Harare 23
2020–2021: Mark Wilson — Harare 23

Past International Events

Rondel

The current RT Zimbabwe Rondel, updated to the current RTI standard, features the Zimbabwe Bird as the charge. The outer border features segments in green, yellow, and red, which, together with the black and white of the rondel, make up all of the five colours of the National Flag of Zimbabwe.

The stone-carved Zimbabwe Bird is the national emblem of Zimbabwe. It appears on the national flags and coats of arms of both Zimbabwe and the former Rhodesia, as well as on banknotes and coins—first on the Rhodesian pound, and later on the Rhodesian dollar. The bird likely represents either the bateleur eagle or the African fish eagle. Its design is based on a series of soapstone sculptures (shown here) discovered in the ruins of the medieval city of Great Zimbabwe.

The RT Zimbabwe rondel is an example of a national flag faithfully being translated to a Round Table rondel, making the most of the national identity while creating a unique RT identity.

Previous Versions

RT Central Africa era

When the Zimbabwe Round Tables formed part of Round Table Central Africa, the clubs were represented by its rondel. This Association rondel features a Djembe, a type of drum, originally from West Africa.

RT Zimbabwe era

Once Zimbabwe became its own Association, it replaced the djembe in the centre of the rondel with a Zimbabwe Bird. Records show that the bird was infrequently used instead of the Djembe in the rondel of RT Central Africa, at the time referred to as a “Rhodesian Bird”. The rondel for RT Zimbabwe features the national colours, which still exist today.

History