Registered under the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe

24 March 2016

WIN Newsletter, Issue No 97





EDITORIAL


Some of the members of new writers club to be launched next term at a private college Sturdy Christian College in Epworth

Welcome to our 97th issue of the WIN Newsletter which we believe will add pleasure to your reading this Easter holiday. We are so thrilled that we only have three issues of our newsletter left for us to reach the landmark 100th! We are in the process of strengthening all our programmes that had become slack due to certain challenges. These programmes include the Epworth Community Outreach programme and others. In this newsletter we introduce a new column Get Inspired which we hope will motivate you in your daily life. We wish everyone a peaceful Easter holiday. Please enjoy. 



WIN MEMBERS TO MEET ON WORLD BOOK AND COPYRIGHT DAY




WIN-Zimbabwe members are expecting to meet on April 23, 2016, to join the world in celebrating the World Book and Copyright Day. The organisation is taking this day as an opportunity to educate its members about the importance of reading as an aspiring writer or poet and about the rights of the author.
Normally aspiring writers are not given an opportunity to learn about issues that affect their careers due to the diminishing number of writers’ workshops that address these issues.
WIN believes that it has a role to play in the education of its members. The event in April will also provide a chance for the office to communicate the status of the organisation to its members.
'World Book and Copyright Day (also known as International Day of the Book or World Book Day) is observed on April 23. The annually celebrated day is organized by UNESCO to promote reading, publishing and copyright. It was first celebrated in 1995' - This text has been taken from www.cute-calendar.com.


 WIN EPWORTH COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMME REVIVAL

By Supa Mafuta - above - (Chairperson, Epworth Branch)



 
From left: Performance poet Odreck Nyika, writer Supa Mafuta and EMA Writers Club Patron Mr. Dube, who is also a teacher and poet

Epworth Methodist Academy (EMA) writers club proved it has potentially talented aspiring writers when on March 18 2016 they displayed enviable confidence in poetry and a drama with the theme of child marriage.

The afternoon event, organized by WIN-Zimbabwe, took place at the college. WIN will next term start a full-fledged package of activities in Epworth community as part of its outreach which was launched in 2013.
Mr. Dube, a lecturer at the college who is also the writers’ club patron, stood in as the master of ceremony. He encouraged club members to take writing, and the arts in general, seriously.
As I was one of the WIN members accompanying the Director Mr Tapureta, I was not denied a chance to share what I had and therefore I recited my poem called ‘Ishongakamwe’.
Odreck Nyika, another Epworth-based WIN member, also grabbed the opportunity to showcase his poetry performance talent.
In his brief speech, Mr. Tapureta urged the young writers to be natural, to be themselves when writing because talents vary from writer to writer. He also made it clear that one’s educational level or low school grades should not be hindrance to expressing one’s thoughts on paper.
The WIN director, who recently won the 2016 NAMA Outstanding Arts Journalist (Print)
award, expressed concern over the shortage of books to read in writers clubs, saying reading is instrumental in an aspiring writer’s career.
The EMA Principal, Mr. Dube, in his closing remarks thanked WIN for remembering the college and said WIN programmes are interconnected with the new educational curriculum. He said the programmes, among other things, sharpen students’ linguistic skills.

On Wednesday morning, March 23, WIN visited a new private college in Epworth called Sturdy Christian College. The visit was also in preparation for the launch of the writers club at the college sometime next term.
The club at Sturdy College was founded by one of WIN members Mr. Gondoto, who is the principal. He also won a prize in the WIN Short Story Writing Competition in 2012 for his story Rwendo neBhazi.
The WIN director Beaven Tapureta was once again accompanied by Odreck Nyika, who is a poet and WIN volunteer, and me (Supa Mafuta).
The director told members of the writers club that they are very fortunate to have teachers who have a passion for writing and reading and they should take advantage of that in order to develop their skills also.
Tapureta spoke at length about writing skills, saying the club is set to be officially launched next term. Afterwards he had a quiz show with the club members where he asked literary questions and those who answered correctly he gave books as prizes. The books are Shona and English anthologies of poems and short stories written by the writers club at Glen View 2 High and were published to inspire more young authors. About four students walked away each with a book.
Odreck Nyika (in the picture with Man U jacket) did his poem Bhora Mugedhi and I did my poem called Chigagairwa Muhope. Mr. Gondoto ‘recited’ his short story Rwendo neBhazi and one of his staff, Mr Chikanga read a chapter from his novel which he is writing. The novel by Chikanga is titled Chidziva Cheropa.
It was a wonderful two-hour meeting with the new writers club and a lot of talent was displayed by the club members.
The visits to Epworth Methodist Academy and Sturdy Christian College writers clubs in Epworth were motivating and hopefully next term WIN will resume the club visits to strength the outreach programme with more different writing and reading activities. Below are some photos from the Sturdy College writers club visit:

A young poet recites his poem Let Us Arise. 


 The Writers Club is composed of both primary and secondary students


 Student listens carefully

Teachers at the college showed a great passion for writing


HARARE CITY LIBRARY COMMEMORATES BOOK WEEK

By Edwin Msipa, aka Uncle Sipet

On March 10 and 11 this year the Harare City Library commemorated Book Week with its all-weather friends - primary and secondary school children from Tariro School in Hopley and Eaglesvale School.
Over 100 children were privileged to be part of this important event which afforded them the opportunity to share experiences in writing with famous writers such as Virginia Phiri, author three books Destiny, Desperate and Highway Queen.
Mrs Phiri gave a moving presentation as she encouraged children to continue working hard, reading and yearning to learn more in life.
Mrs Phiri's lively presentation also included reading folktales and having a plenary discussion with the students. Indeed, the children were kept on the edge of their seats especially when the characters in the folktales read were performing their antics. The English book written by Dr. Pathisa Nyathi and translated from SiNdebele was up to the scratch as it seemed all the children liked it. Mrs Phiri urged children to befriend the book as reading heals especially when feeling lonely. It soothes the soul, she said.
As poet and writer, I also got the chance to share my life and writing experience with the children. My presentation was hinged upon the writing of a good composition as well as the writing of books.
This presentation was in order as most of our children are struggling to come to terms with the requirements of a good composition.
I encouraged the children not to despair when they feel they are behind because time is always there to make amends. From the discussion with the students, the following points came up: (a) Reading widely, (b) Understanding the topic chosen, (c) Planning the work by crafting/ brainstorming several ideas to become sentence topics for composition's paragraphs, (d) Writing a good captivating/interesting introduction which gives the gist or the main idea of the whole piece, (e) writing the body of the story with every paragraph highlighting an idea. I encouraged children to practice writing 5 to 8 short and long sentences spiced with good handwriting, phrases, idioms, similes, correct plurals, tenses and punctuation, (f) Conclusion-this should be the ending and may be open. It may offer explanations or solutions to identified challenges, and (f) Revising the work and making necessary corrections.
Mr Takwana Masunda, Harare City Library's Assistant Librarian, showed a lot of experience in dealing with children as well as his knowledge of the library and the importance of the book industry and developing a reading culture.
His exciting presentation included taking the children on a tour of the library. He urged children to read anywhere -on a bus or even when herding cattle. Children were urged to plan their daily activities so as to set aside a couple of hours for reading.
It was a delightful, entertaining and fascinating experience as was seen by the active participation by most of the children.




WOMEN IN THE ARTS DEMAND EQUALITY AND RESPECT


Musician Edith weUtonga (left) and theatre practitioner Elizabeth 'Zaza' Muchemwa at the launch of the book Status of Women in the Arts and Culture Sector last year

Read More Here




THE YOUTH PERSPECTIVE

With

Mimi Machakaire

Constraints and Influences of Journalists

Recently, I was given the opportunity to study journalism on an online university and one of the topics we covered was the constraints and influences of journalists in today’s society.  So I thought this would be an interesting topic to share with you all who are considering journalism as a possible career choice.  After all, it is all about writing!
In summary, the code of ethics for journalists states that journalists must seek the truth and report it. Journalists are supposed to double check all sources, to name their sources on every occasion, to promise obscurity only when justly required. They are also told to avoid racial or other stereotypes in stories and to collect the news in an authentic way but only with the exception of when a hidden investigation is needed for a key story. Journalists are also told to avoid plagiarizing other writers.
The second guideline states that one must minimize harm. It highlights points in which journalists must act in such a way that shows sensitivity to the rights of others.  The third guideline is ‘act independently’. These points inspire journalists to side-step conflicts of interest. The fourth guideline states that one is to be accountable.  It points out that journalists must publicly acknowledge and correct their mistakes when necessary.
Journalists must still honor their ethical code by keeping to the standards that not only have been set for them but that they have set for themselves. At the same time, we as journalists also seek the truth because we have an obligation to give our readers factual information that has been obtained in a legal way. However, obtaining the information in a way that is regarded as legal, ethical and socially acceptable might not be easy for journalists because people might not be willing to give away too much. Often it’s rare to find someone who will willingly talk to a journalist unless they have their own agenda because they are often worried about being misquoted.
One might therefore find themselves going to desperate measures to obtain information in order to get a good story. Despite that, however, there are other resources that one can use to gain more information for their story. Journalists can use online research, talk to more people, read various old and new books about the topic and find videos related to the story as well. 
A few other examples of how legal and social constraints affect the ways in which a journalist reports a story could be based on a situation whereby you are found quoting a police officer about a drunk driver who triggered a lethal accident. Or an error occurred were you might have connected the wrong name or home address with an illegal wrong doing, or announcing that someone involved in a business of any sorts has just contracted AIDS. Any of these situations could cause a costly lawsuit. After some further research it has been stated that the average cost of simply just defending yourself from a libel suit is at least $550,000. In most cases legal constraints like shield laws, laws against defamation, libel, infiltration of privacy are within the public’s top concern while others are not.  
Now to answer the next question, in this statement I will give an example of a situation where the media might break the ethical code of conduct. Imagine a scenario whereby a journalist somehow managed to convince a murderer to confess to killing several humans at a time, the journalist is now obliged to report that story for the safety of the citizens and therefore that said journalist would not be able to keep that information confidential. 
In conclusion holding one’s self accountable to ethical conduct as a journalist can sometimes be challenging. However, if one is to remain true to the profession and to their own authenticity, these ethical guide lines must remain the overarching principal to the work that we perform. 


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 WIN IS AGAINST BOOK PIRACY BECAUSE IT IS IMPOVERISHING OUR WRITERS IN ZIMBABWE

STOP BOOK PIRACY NOW!
    


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GET INSPIRED

With

Mercy Mutingwende

Value Love

It is by love that the world was created. By love, we're called a nation. And love is the same thing that keeps us going every day. Love makes us know who we are, it brings out the true view of ourselves and by it we can make our world a better one.
Love is the foundation of every relationship, strength to the weak, it is a stronghold to those who are falling down and love brings us together and keeps us as one. Love is not just a word or a saying but it is a feeling that comes from the heart.
Love has no fear, it has no harm but it is a kind of thing that brings joy to our hearts and happiness to those around us.
Don't despise love.
Love doesn't have anything to do with what you are but it truly does have something to do with who you are. And it is by love you are called a human being today.
Please respect, honor and value love.

(Mercy Mutingwende is an active member of WIM-Zimbabwe. She was born in 1996. She grew up staying with her mother in Muzarabani District. Writing is her passion wherever she is. Mercy says she is interested in themes that will make us know who we are; themes which will light the fire and give hope to the heartbroken and themes that make us realize the importance of humanity.)


REVIEW OF AWARD-WINNING CHAOTIC

NAMA award-winning young Samantha Chihuri, author of Chaotic

Read the book review HERE



A FEW BEAUTIFUL IMAGES FROM CHARLES MUNGOSHI (Jnr) BOOK LAUNCH



 










 Read more about the event on the following link:





THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR READING. 
WE WISH YOU AN ACCIDENT-FREE EASTER HOLIDAY












15 March 2016

WIN Newsletter, No 97 coming soon...



 Writer Memory Chirere (left) and Farayi Mungoshi at the launch of Charles Mungoshi Jnr's five motivational books last week



WIN NEWSLETTER, ISSUE NO 97 AROUND THE CORNER


Do not miss it!