Chitungwiza Educator and Marathon Runner Inspires Through TikTok
A Chitungwiza native and Deputy Headmaster at St. Mary’s High School, Emmanuel Gocha, has garnered significant attention for his engaging TikTok reels and his inspirational participation in nationwide marathons, where he actively promotes fitness.
Gocha’s roles as an educator and a social media influencer highlights a growing trend of individuals leveraging digital platforms to inspire positive change within their communities. Known by the name Big D on TikTok content, his content often features motivational messages and fitness tips that resonates with a broad audience, demonstrating the power of short-form video in disseminating impactful information.
Gocha’s journey into the world of TikTok began innocently enough. He’d initially downloaded the app to better understand the digital landscape his students navigated daily. However, he quickly found himself captivated by the creative energy and the sheer joy it brought.
Recently, he posted a video and it went viral mainly because of the trending song ‘Ibvai’ by Zimbabwean artist Hulengende. The video obtained thousands of views and cemented his status as the “coolest” deputy headmaster.
“Sometimes I use the TikTok platform to share motivational messages, snippets of school life, and even educational content. Engagement is key to learning, even outside the classroom,” said Gocha.
Gocha’s passions extended beyond the digital realm. He is also trying to motivate his age mates by joining marathons held country wide.
”I was inspired by my brother Joshua Gocha who attends Sir Charles Fitness. That is when I thought to myself, why not try exercising and join marathons starting with walks, 5km and 10km runs. The interesting part is that I now attend marathons with my family and they all enjoy,” he said.
Gocha also attended the Victoria Falls Marathon twice, a grueling race known for its stunning scenery and challenging terrain; the NetOne Albun Honde Valley Marathon, Old Mutual Vumba Marathon, CIMAS iGo Half Marathon as well as other local marathons held.
“I have started preparing myself for the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon in South Africa which I’m planning to join next year,” he said.
Deputy Headmaster Gocha proved that passion, whether for TikTok or marathons, could be a powerful tool for connection and inspiration, transforming the traditional image of a school administrator into a dynamic and relatable figure.
Gocha’s TikTok username: big.d0988
