Zimbabwe's Ultimate Fighting Championship ( UFC) fighter Themba Gorimbo is in the country to complete the building of a library in his rural home, Bikita.
Gorimbo, who recently won his third fight after beating American Ramiz Brahimaj in the richest combat sport franchise made a pledge to set up a 24-hour solar-powered library back in February.
This was after he had knocked out Mexican opponent Pete Rodriguez in 32 seconds to record his second successive victory in UFC.
But the project has not been without hiccups and the 33-year-old fighter revealed ahead of his fight against Brahimaj last month that he had been scammed of US$5 000 after auctioning his fighting gear.
“Someone scammed me, man, So, I didn’t end up doing that. I lost $5 000 from the person that said they were going to buy the shorts. They sent me a proof of payment that was fake, a guy from England. "They wanted me to send the kit to them...They sent money to someone in Zimbabwe, hypothetically, they just said they sent the money. That guy gave me the money then we already bought the bricks and some stuff to start the building of the library," he told mixed martial arts journalist Aaron Bronsteter
"Then a few days later, the guy told me the money had not cleared in the bank account and that it was a scam. So, the guy wanted me to send the stuff to him — I don’t know. I ended up losing money. I’m going to do it after this fight with my own money. It is what it is. It’s life. You learn, sometimes, expensive lessons.”
And soon after his victory over Brahimaj, Gorimbo took to social media to announce that he was coming home to finish the library project.
He also said he would not be returning to the US in June, but July or early August to start preparing for his next fight.
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Last week, Gorimbo gave an update that the building of the library in his rural was underway and posted some pictures on his social media platforms.
"Phase 1 of my village library project here in Zimbabwe complete. Foundation done and first brickwork has started.
"This is something I have been wanting to do since my fight in February but got scammed trying to sell my kit online," he said.
"I promised myself never to do the online auction anymore and win my fight in May and use my own sweat money to build this library in my village.
"This library is going to help all young kids who live in the village to study at night because it is solar-powered and 24-hour access to anyone and everyone who wishes to study and be something in life.
"This project will help provide free internet access too to the villagers and more importantly create the future for my village, district, province and hopefully leaders of tomorrow.
"Lastly, this project makes me happy as a person and when I am happy I am unstoppable in the octagon. It is always more than me when I step in that octagon."
Gorimbo has committed to several charity projects for the less fortunate in the country after earning his first UFC paycheque.
It is his dream to win the UFC welterweight championship while he considers himself the ideal candidate to headline the proposed first UFC event in Africa.
UFC CEO Dana White has repeatedly expressed interest in an event in Africa but there are no timelines yet.
In December last year, White revealed the promotion expects the first UFC event in Africa to take place in either South Africa, Rwanda, or Nigeria.
