EDITORIAL
Visit our new book market blog: winzimbookmarket.blogspot.com
All over the world, the struggle is against COVID-19. We have felt the impact at close quarters.
We would like to pay tribute to one of us whom we lost about two months ago. Crymio Kutyauripo, an author, died in May in Beitbridge and we say rest in eternal peace good brother, you fought your fight and we leave the rest to Almighty.
We reserve our comment on the recent arrest of our sister Tsitsi Dangarembga. It is our hope that Tsitsi, recently honoured to be long-listed for the Man Booker Prize, will be safe, together with everyone in the same dilemma. 'There is more than one kind of love', so we know.
The Win 5th Online lecture was held in the evening of May 31 with young Shona novelist Prosper Njeke taking the reins. It ran under the topic ‘Zvinoda Kungwarirwa Kana Tichinyora Novhero, Nyaya Pfupi’. Njeke is indeed determined to master the Shona language and share his knowledge with others.
Good news is that we have launched the WIN Book Market blog which we hope to turn into an online book center for everyone to traverse and find the stuff they are looking for. It is not exhaustive, just a book corner.
Lastly, we encourage everyone to adhere to all WHO-endorsed hygienic measures to stop the spread of the COVID-19. Enjoy the newsletter!
CONGRATULATIONS TSITSI DANGAREMBGA
Dangarembga’s This Mournable Body has been longlisted for the Booker Prize 2020! You have made us proud our sister.
OPPORTUNITY FOR WRITERS
JUDGES
Sarah Ladipo Manyika
BOOKSELLER TURNS NEW LEAF IN LOCKDOWN
By Beaven Tapureta
With its niche in the education sector, the bookshop has suffered
depressed business as schools have been closed in order to curb the spread of
the virus.
Some
of the disciplines which the bookshop covers include civil and mechanical
engineering, electronics and electrical engineering, computer education,
commerce, agriculture, medicine as well as humanities. What’s more, it stocks
different kinds of stationery and children's reading materials.
In an interview, Justin Sidic Manja, a manager at Model Educational
Suppliers said their objective as a bookshop is to avail affordable educational
books to some learning institutions around the country but this objective
cannot be met now due to the lockdown.
“The lockdown has had some negative effects almost on all business
entities around the country and we have not been spared from such impact.
Remember we had a total shutdown from late March to mid-April thus we could not
manage to offer any service whatsoever to our customers,” he said.
The customers, on the other hand, had to immediately suspend any
business with the bookshops as they shifted attention to the other necessities
when government first introduced the lockdown. And Manja, being part of the
society he serves, could watch people busy hunting for some much needed basic
commodities and spending most of their time locked at home except on a few
occasions where they would go out looking for food again.
“Definitely
during such a difficult period you cannot expect someone to spend a lot of
money buying stationery or some textbooks although education is fairly
important,” he said.
Apart from supplying academic books to
different educational institutions in Zimbabwe, Model Educational Suppliers
also sells some engineering drawing equipment as well as fashion, art and design
items to some learning institutions.
They sell
sporting equipment especially this time of the year, and this again, Manja
said, is a damaged business opportunity.
“We
usually enjoy selling sporting-related equipment during this time of the year,
unfortunately this time around the pandemic has done the damage,” said Manja.
In
times of hardships like these, business all over the world has gone virtual
including the book community. The internet has become the global ‘office mall’
where every kind of business is now taking place.
Manja,
a holder of BA Islamic Law, Medina University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said the
idea to resort to digitalization for their bookshop was hatched late last year
but they hope to turn the idea into action in the near future.
“We considered digitalizing our bookshop late last year so as to reach
out to our customers using internet though we are yet to kick start that
project. Hopefully, we will do so in the near future. Definitely making use of
technology especially in such times of pandemic hardships is the way forward.
We can pluck a leaf from Amazon who have exceptionally done very well in terms
of business during the COVID-19 era. Their success has been mainly attributed
to the way they operate, which is technologically driven,” he said.
To fellow booksellers in Zimbabwe who have been affected by the closure
of educational institutions, he offered words of encouragement and said they
should be united, share some ideas and help the less-established booksellers
around the country so that they can keep on going.
He said that can be done through giving them some special discounts
whenever they make some purchases.
“Again, let's support each other during this trying period and let's
make use of technology in running our businesses,’ said Manja.
Indeed, the time for planning for a successful future of bookselling
business and the whole book sector in Zimbabwe is now, not tomorrow!
MABHUKU EDU, OUR BOOKS
With
Prosper Njeke
Stephen Mupopo
StevMupopo: I was an
avid reader before I decided to write in 2003. I was inspired to write by
Charles Mungoshi, Aaron Chiundura Moyo, Giles Kuimba, Patrick Chakaipa, not
forgetting Ngugi waThiongo.
ProNjeke: Why most of today’s writers prefer online
writing rather than publishing their works with some publishing houses?
StevMupopo: Online
writing affords one an opportunity to have his or her book reach a wider
audience or readership within the shortest period of time. Secondly, publishing
houses take longer, manuscript are also reviewed after a long time and after a long wait the
manuscript is rejected, that is if one is lucky to have it reviewed. It is also
costly especially when one has no stable financial in flows.
ProNjeke: So this is to say that, there are no
challenges to be encountered in online writing?
StevMupopo: Online writing has its fair share of
challenges especially when one writes for commercial purposes. The rate at
which books on sale are leaking is worrying. It is a cancer that online writers
have to contend with.
ProNjeke: Why online writers mix different languages in
the same manuscript?
StevMupopo: Many online
readers are youngsters who can identify better with a fusion of languages than
Shona in its purest form. The modern trend in language dynamism is the tide we
also follow. The essence is to reach as many readers as possible.
ProNjeke: So you mix languages as well?
StevMupopo: The bulk of
my content is Shona. All my dialogue is in English. I have seen that English
paints vivid images than Shona.
ProNjeke: Great! How can we get your books and how much
per copy?
StevMupopo: Currently
most of my books were free reads except for Diaries
Of The Apostate and Mission Blade, which are obtainable from
my Whatsapp number +263 717039573.
ProNjeke: Is online writing profitable? If so, tell us
in what ways?
StevMupopo: Yes it is
profitable in that it has less expense. What one simply needs is a cellphone
and data then get going as opposed to printing which is quite costly. Also in
online writing I do not have to pay an editor because we do peer editing and
reviews which I have found helpful.
ProNjeke: `How do you market your books?
StevMupopo: I have created a bookshelf with all my book
covers and excerpts which I send on Facebook, Whatsapp and Twitter. I also do
writer-audience interface in school in my area, storytelling and encouraging
young readers to grab a copy.
ProNjeke: May you name any 3 young writers you admire.
StevMupopo: Morgan T.
Zvenyika, Junior Wachi and Alois Mhangami inspired me through their writings.
ProNjeke: Thank you.
(Njeke hails from Murota village, Chadereka, Muzarabani in Zimbabwe. He was born on 15 December 1996. He published three books titled Munongonzwa Imi, The Writer’s birthday (Bhavhadhe reMunyori) Essential Books Publishing Co, 2019 and Dura his recently published book with Pearl Press Media, 2020.)
AKELLO BOOKS’ E-LIBRARY
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Subscribe today and access hundreds of Zimsec e-books
on any smart device.
Akello Books at the 2019 ZIBF
KUVERENGWA KWEMABHUKU
INVITATION TO JOIN AN AUDIOBOOKS COMMUNITY
AUDIO
BOOKS INTERNATIONAL would like to extend an invitation to join a community of
Audiobooks lovers, to share and experience good listening on various fiction
and non-fiction books, articles, general information with a focus on
African writers and African events
Please use link below
Thank you
HURUKURO NALOVELY RUTENDO NZIRA
Johannes Mike Mupisa (J.M.M) unoita hurukuro naLovely Rutendo Nzira (LRN) pamusoro pekuva munyori ane mukurumbira paSosho Midhiya (Social Media). Lovely Rutendo Nzira une vateveri vepasocial media vanodarika zvuru makumi mashanu.
Lovely Rutendo Nzira
J.M.M: Rutendo, ungandiudzewo
here muchidimbu kuti nepapfupi ungati Lovely Rutendo Nzira ndiani?
L.RN: Munyori, muparidzi uye
mudzidzisi kuburikidza nekunyora nganonyorwa.
J.M.M: Vanhu vangawana sei zvinyorwa zvaLovely Rutendo Nzira?
L.R.N: Zvinyorwa zvangu zvinowanikwa paWhatsapp uye ndinoisa
zvidimbu zvezvinyorwa zvitsva pamasaisai eFacebook papeji rakanzi, Stories by Lovely Rutendo Nzira.
J.M.M : Chii chaungati ichi ndicho chinokusunda kuti unyore, uye une zvaunoti izvi ndinonyora nezvazvo izvi handinyori here?
L.RN: Ndinowana madingindira
angu ese kubva muShoko raMwari. Zvakaita sezvibereko zvaMweya Mutsvene,
kunyaradzwa nekutungamirwa naMweya Mutsvene, kuwana mumwe mukana nezita raJesu.
Ndinonyora Shoko ndichibatanidza nemararamiro anoita vanhu zuva nezuva.
Handinyori nyaya dzisingatsigirwi neShoko raMwari uyezve handinyori nyaya
dzandisangazive kana dzandisinganzwisisi, kunyangwe zviri zvemuShoko raMwari.
Nedzimwe nguva vaverengi vanondiudza kuti dai watinyorerawo nyaya dzinotaura
nezvekuti kana zvekuti, kana ndisati ndanzwisisa nyaya yacho zvakajeka,
handikwanise kunyora.
J.M.M: Kuva munyori ane mukurumbira paSosho Midhiya unozvigona sei? Vanyori vamwe vanomhanyira kutsikisa mabhuku avo, ko iwe unozvigona sei?
L.R.N: Kuva muedzesiri, kana kuva
muiti wemitambo nekuva mutandadzi wevanhu
zvipo zvinobva kuna Mwari. Kunyangwe kuti Mufundisi chaiye akwanise
kutaura Shoko raMwari risina anopikisa, achitererwa,
it’s an Art, chipo chinobva kuna Mwari. Unenge wangowana nyasha dzekugoneswa
kunyora zvinofarira kuverengwa nevanhu. Panyaya yekutsikisa, ndichatsikisa
mabhuku angu ese asi parizvino ndinotarisa vaverengi vanofarira zvinyorwa
zvangu, vanoda zvakatsikiswa here kana kuti tongosangana hedu pasocial media. Apa handisi kuti kutsikisa
kwakaipa, kana kuti hakuna basa, kana kuti handisi kuzotsikisa. Aiwa. Asi ndiri
kutarisa zvikonzero nezvinangwa zvekutsikisa nekuve munyori ane zvinyorwa
zvakatsikiswa. Munyaya dzeedutainment idzi
pane zvinopa mbiri asi pasina kubudirira kwangu semunyori.
J.M.M: Zvekunyora zvakavamba sei? Ndivanaani vaunoti vakakupa shungu dzekuva munyori?
L.R.N: Sezvandambotaura, kunyora
chipo chinobva kuna Mwari, saka ndakazvarwa ndakadaro. Ndakatanga kunyora
mutambo ndiri Grade 7. Baba vangu
vasati vashaya gore racho rakazotevera vakafarira mutambo uyu vakandikururdzira.Vanondipa shungu dzekunyora,
vandinoverenga mabhuku avo ndi baba Charles Mungoshi, baba Patrick Chakaipa,
baba Giles Kuimba, baba Aaron Chiunduramoyo, naDanielle Steel. Vese ava ndine
mabhuku avo, ndingati ese avakanyora.
J.M.M: Ndezvipi zvimhingamupinyi zvaungadonongodza maringe nekuva munyori uye unozvikunda sei?
L.R.N: Piracy ndicho chinongo
chikuru mukunyora. Dai nyika yedu ichitsigira nekukoshesa zvipo yaiona
zvaingaite nehoromori idzi.
J.M.M: Mashoko aungada kusiira vanyori ndeapi?
L.R.N: Nakirwa nezvaunonyora
iwewe usati wapa vanhu kuti vaverenge. Kana zvaunonyora zvisingakunakidze kuti
uverenge ruviri kana rutatu uchingonakidzwa, saka unoda kuti ani atenge
agochengeta bhuku rako? Handina kutanga
kunyorera kutengesa aiwa, ndaida kutanga ndaziva kuti vaverengi vanogamuchira
zvinyorwa zvangu sei. Zvino vanyori vatsva vanhasi, bhuku rake rekutanga,
anotoda kuti vanhu vatenge. Zvinogona kunetsa kuti uwane vakawanda vanoverenga.
With
Aleck Kaposa
HALLO CHILDREN, I hope you are all well out there, wearing masks in public, washing your hands, sanitizing and keeping your environment clean to prevent Covid-19 and other diseases. I am going to present to you part of my 2020 NAMA AWARD nominated Outstanding Children’s Book, Kuku wins the President’s Clean Environment Award. Read and answer questions which follow.
Excerpt from
KUKU WINS THE PRESIDENT’S CLEAN ENVIRONMENT AWARD
The wet rubbish heaps of rotting
vegetables, tomatoes, yellow mangoes, mazhanje
fruit mixed with plastic bottles, papers, tins, tangled clumps of shaved hair,
braids and diapers filled the air with a very bad smell.
There were swarms of flies buzzing
all over the place.
“This can cause diseases like
cholera and typhoid.” Kuku thought, as she pushed herself in her wheelchair on
her way home.
For a moment she stopped there, observing the
rubbish.
“Something must be done urgently to
remove this rubbish from this place.” Kuku continued thinking silently.
“Why do people do this? It’s a danger to our health. People must not dump
garbage on the streets like this. It pollutes the land.”
After a little while, Kuku pushed
her wheelchair and made her way home.
Chapter 1 Comprehension Questions
1. Kuku felt
sad because of ____ . A insects B
diseases C heaps and heaps of rubbish dumped by the roadsides D the rains
2. Another
word for rubbish in the first sentence is ___A heaps B garbage C flies D swarms
3. The
rubbish had a very bad _____ A colour B sound C heap D smell
4. There were
______of flies all over the place.
5. Rubbish
can cause _________.
6. Who do you
think dumped the rubbish on the sides of the road near Katanga Shopping
Centre? What do you think should be done
to such people?
7. Give five
reasons why it is not good to dump rubbish by the roadside
8. Find out
from the Internet diseases that can be caused by rubbish dumped in wrong
places. Draw and colour your house in a
clean environment.
Chapter 2
Kuku Watches The President Speak On TV About Cleaning The Environment
WINZIM 5th ONLINE LECTURE
Zvinoda Kungwarirwa Kana Tichinyora Novhero,
Nyaya Pfupi
Prosper Njeke murume wechidiki akanyora mabhuku anoti Munongonzwa Imi, naDura uye muunganidzwa wenduri dzekupemberera zuva rekuzvarwa kwake kubva kuvanduri venduri vazhinji vachipembera chipo ichi chakapiwa nyika ino nepasi rino.
Pano tichasiya iye Prosper achirudunura chidimbu chedzidziso yake. Nongawo zviviri zvitatu kubva muchidzidzo chino urerutsire vasesi nevapepeti vezvinyogwa zvako.
Semunyori wechidiki
ndaonawo zvakakodzera kuti timbogova zivo maringe nezvinoda kungwarirwa kana tichinyora
manovhero, nyaya pfupi kana nduro nerurimi rweChiShona. Pakunyora mabhuku
hapana mukuru kana mudiki chingasiyana makore pakuzvarwa kana makore pakutanga
kunyora asi takafanira kugoverana ruzivo tisingatarise zvese izvi donzvo riri
rimwe chete rekuti mabhuku atinobika ave timbwimutimbwi.
Ndine mhosho dzakati
o-o, dzandinoona mumabhuku akatsikiswa
nemamwe asati. Vanhu vanozoverenga vanogona kuzotora manyorero edu iwaya
vachifunga kuti pamwe ndiwo akanaka sezvo bhuku rakatsikiswa izvo kwete dzinotori
mhosho dzisingadiwi. Naizvozvo ndati tiratidzane mhosho dzisingadiwi tichipana
zvinodiwa zvacho. Muchidzidzo chino tichabata zvinotevera:
1. Manyorerwo akafanira
emazita.
2. Mazwi anoda kungwarirwa
papatsanuro nebatanidzo
3. Manyorerwo ehwevavara.
4. Mashandisirwo akakodzera
ezvizvi { . , ' : ; ! ( ) }
5. Mavambirwo nemagumisirwo enyaya munovhero
kana nyaya pfupi.
6. Kuiswa kwezvitsauko munovhero.
Regai nditange nemamwe MAZITA
atinowanzoshandisa mungava mukunyora nyaya refu, nyaya pfupi kana detembo. Dambudziko
randakaonawo nderekusaziva mazwi angatangwa nemavara makuru kana kuti nemadiki.
Mazita anongoita mavara makuru ndeemakomo somuenzaniso, Mavhuradonha. Hazvigoni kuti titange kunyora zita regomo nevara
diki.
Mazita emazuva esvondo kana
vhiki anonyorwa kutanga nevara guru kwete diki. Izvi ndakazviona mumabhuku
andiinawo andiri kuverengawo. Tinoti *Muvhuro*
kwete ~muvhuro~ kunyangwe pari pakati
pemutsara kana kumavambo
Nenzizi nemigwagwa
zvinonyorwa kutanga nevara guru.
Asi miti neshiri hazvinei
nekutanga nevara uru pakunyora izvi. Kutanga nevara guru pakunyora mazita
eshiri nemiti kuresva zvikuru
Papatsanuro nebatanidzo
yemazwi ndipo pamwe pane nyaya huru. Izwi kana richidzokororwa rinonyorwa
rakapatsanurwa pasina kunyangwe kasungaizwi (-). Somuenzaniso, mazwi anoti:
*Kare kare* kwete ~kare-kare~ kana ~karekare~ kudai
kuresva zvikuru.
*Vaviri vaviri* kwete ~vavirivaviri~ kana
~vaviri-vaviri~ kudai kuresva zvikuru
*Vese vese*
*Ega ega*
Zita rinenge
richidzokorodzwa dzitsi chete rinonyorwa seizwi rimwe chete, ndokunge rine
nyaudzirwa dzisingadariki mbiri somuenzaniso:
*manyukunyuku* kwete ~manyuku-nyuku~
*Rungwanangwana* kwete ~rungwana-ngwana~
*Usikusiku* kwete ~usiku-siku~
THE YOUTH PERSPECTIVE
With
Mimi Machakaire
So what does this mean for all the young people of the world? Does this mean we have to wait for the COVID-19 pandemic to ease, before we can find stable employment at our age? For example, many times when we look for jobs, people say we need experience in a specific area.
Therefore, majority of us end up doing internships, freelance work or volunteering as a form of training, in order to gain the experience that we need to progress and move forward in our careers. However, if we are sent home due to the pandemic, this affects the level or value of hard work that we have been trying so desperately to achieve.
Some youth who were already working for big organizations before the pandemic hit the world, get lucky because they are told to work from home but what about others who were still waiting to be hired? Does this mean they have to wait and do nothing, until they hear of some good news?
There are ways young people can still demonstrate their willingness to work hard such as using social media but it is difficult to do so when there is hardly anyone who can acknowledge their efforts. While some artists can use the COVID-19 pandemic as inspiration for their work, others may struggle to use this same method of motivation.
Entertainment business have shut down or cut their services down a notch. The creative industry is falling and the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the aviation industry due to the resulting travel restrictions, as well as a slump in demand among travelers. Young people everywhere could have benefited from all these different types of sectors but only essential workers are promised long-term employment. So what happens to the life, as we know it after COVID-19? Will everything go back to normal or will the impact of the pandemic remain with us until the very end?
There is no guarantee that young people everywhere will still be promised employment or even decent education after the virus has been contained. However, I predict that it will only be those individuals with enough drive, determination and passion who will survive.
To quote a paragraph taken from the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, (UNESCO) website that reads as follows: COVID-19 has created an unprecedented health crisis, disrupting the lives of thousands of individuals, as well as their societies. As this pandemic expands, young people have been amongst those mobilizing to shape new forms of solidarity, demonstrating humanism and creativity. Young people are amongst those impacted by the current crisis in terms of mental and physical health, learning and professional development, civic engagement and respect for their rights – on all these fronts young people are also facing important disruptions and changes.
Sustenance In The Face Of COVID-19 and Future
Unforeseen Pandemics
Edwin Msipa aka Black Mampara
India suffered from an outbreak of
pneumonic plague that began in September 1994 in Surat, a city of 1.6 million
in western India. The plague, an airborne infection originally harboured in
rats, spread panic, causing hundreds of thousands of people to flee the city.
The epidemic subsided after several weeks, but not before it was carried to
other parts of India. Almost 6 000 people were infected. The official death
toll was 56, mainly in Surat.
The recent worldwide COVID-19 pandemic
which has wreaked havoc in Wuhan, a city in China, and in countries like Italy,
USA and other parts of the world, has not spared Zimbabwe. A strong aftershock
of the novel Coronavirus pandemic is being felt as it has held the whole world
to ransom. Almost everything is at a standstill.
How things have changed! Around this same
time last year, schools were in full swing.
Book launch programmes were awash in the
capital city and elsewhere.
Libraries were open to the public and
readers were borrowing books time and again.
The publishing industry's machines were
churning out various fiction and non-fictional books.
Researchers of various issues were on toes:
moving from point A to B studying their subjects.
Even the English Premier League (EPL) and
almost all international Football leagues had ended properly with winners
getting crowned officially. The case is different today as the pandemic gobbled
much of the leagues' game time.
Social gatherings were now restricted to
small groups.
Today, Harare's streets are empty with no
photocopied books in sight. Writers pray that book pirates and buccaneers who
are reaping what they did not sow must never feel the comfort of Harare's
backyard offices and streets.
Today, no one is certain whether the virus
is ending sooner or later. His Excellency, The President of Zimbabwe, Cde
Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa rightly declared a Lockdown on 30 March 2020 as a
way of flattening the infection curve. The true sense was that the economy can
die but is easy to resuscitate yet a human being who dies will be gone forever.
Writing Today
The year 2020, though not yet concluded, is noteworthy for much that is good from mature masters of the Zimbabwean book writers. These established pen-pushers are holding their own against an outpouring of exciting and excellent fiction from younger writers.
Fine rich poems are getting space on
Social Media. Online newsletters like the Writers International Network
Zimbabwe’s (The WIN Newsletter) and several literary blogs are publishing
interesting pieces mostly on COVID 19 awareness. Other themes such as domestic
violence, child abuse, HIV/AIDS though seem to have been overshadowed as almost
all artists zeroed in their thoughts on the novel Coronavirus pandemic. From
the lockdown's onset which restricted everyone from going outdoors, writers
have resorted to keeping the pen busy vomiting ink on the paper.
According to Dr Blandina
Manditereza, speaking from her base in RSA where she lectures, "From a
personal view point COVID-19 has offered me peace and tranquility and some kind
of solitude that a writer badly needs in order to write. To the arts industry
COVID-19 has proven to be both a blessing and a curse. It is a blessing in the
sense that artists like writers have been given the opportunity to marinate
their writings as well as choose well marinated cuts to braai in the arts oven,
on the other hand it is a curse in the sense that most artists live from hand
to mouth and from earnings gained through physical appearances and
performances, so cancellation of events has resulted in the artists plunging
into economic darkness .This may signal the end of most art-related
careers."
Former 2012 Glen View 2 High School
Writers Club prodigy and performing poet Tilda Benadaty concurs with
Manditereza. ''It's very difficult; we can't even move or perform. We are stuck
indoors. All we do is writing our poems at home and keep them to
ourselves," she says.
Arts consultant, film actor and writer Naison
Tfwala acknowledged that even though the lockdown is beneficial health-wise,
"it has disabled avenues of writing. One cannot get access to internet
cafes among other sources of information."
Writer Emmanuel Chimombe, better known as
EngineerOperah, sees the Lockdown period as two-sided, "It afforded us the
opportunity to write freely without thinking about our every day's work
hassles. Contrarily, as I write I need
food and so does the family. I have shelved writing and have recoiled back to
my rural areas where stocks are available."
Also feeling the lockdown's heat is one of
the earliest Chishona writers in Zimbabwe, John Gambanga, whose poems were
featured in a poetry anthology entitled Gwenyambira.
Gambanga argues that the lockdown closes financial opportunities and as a
pensioner it is difficult for him to make ends meet. His freelance jobs of
editing and media consultancy got locked ever since the pandemic's lockdown
halted all moves.
"I wanted to launch my
book but failed as I could not raise the money during the lockdown," he
says.
On another note, Gambanga however said it
gave him a chance to write five poems and one short story. He is still editing
his upcoming English book.
Although acknowledging the importance of
the lockdown health-wise, Nyadire Teachers College (NTC) Social Studies
Lecturer Murayirwa Tapfumaneyi lamented that his writing project backpedalled
due to circumstances beyond his control.
“I wanted my printer,
smartphone and PC repaired but they couldn't. Writers thrive by moving,
observing and interacting with others and this was limited. Collaboration
through theater and public performances was also limited," said
Tapfumaneyi.
Johannes Mike Mupisa, better known as
'Chana cheMasvingo', says the lockdown paid off, “positively off course in the
sense that it gave me time to reflect on the importance of the writer in
society. With the economic turmoil and majority of the people not affording any
other way to get entertained they have been turned to bookworms. People are
reading soft copies of books and other reading materials. Moreso, with the
lockdown period, I have seen the power of the pen in disseminating information
about COVID-19. Poems have been written, stories have been told to create
awareness on the pandemic. On a personal note, I have had ample time to work on
my writing which is in fact a blessing in disguise considering that writing in
Zimbabwe cannot sustain the livelihood of writers."
Writing Tomorrow
Honourable Doctor Kirsty Coventry (MP),
the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, cognizant of the important
role played by the national arts, culture and heritage in the nourishment of
the education system remarked, "The need to translate our cultural and
creative industries into tangible capital for the country's Gross Domestic
Product(GDP) need not be emphasized." Her ministry, said Coventry, commits
itself to co-ordinate, facilitate, fund, create and develop programs that
enhance the safeguarding of our tangible and intangible cultural and natural
heritage."
At some point, offering suggestions for
the National Arts, Culture and Heritage of Zimbabwe's Policy crafters, writers
and editors made clarion calls for the Government through the Ministry of
Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation to be proactive in their approach to prepare
and alleviate unforeseen disasters which may hamper arts activities as this in
turn boomerangs and affect not only the lives of artists and their families but
the country's GDP.
In separate interviews,
writers had many views and recommendations for the future.
Chishona and English novelist,
Biggie Chiranga weighed in, “Writers should be given insurance policies in
which publishers contribute heavily."
There must be, says Biggie,
lines of credit facilities for writers in the wake of such dilemma so that they
can eke out a living.
"Artists like the rest of other
disciplines will have to adjust to the changing tide and explore other ways of
doing things,'' said Tfwala, the writer of Ukuqaqa
Lazizwa Ukunuka, an exciting IsiNdebele novel. Tfwala is a true arts guru
who in the 1990s also got an opportunity to partner with the late great father
of Ndebele literature Ndabezinhle Sigogo and renowned historian and Zimbabwe
Academic and Non-fiction Authors Association (ZANA) member Dr Pathisa Nyathi in
various writing and arts fora.
Two
young female writers have one thing in common: writing, writing and writing!
They have taken their writing to another level. Just like what Tfwala urged
writers to do, they are using the social media wisely by posting works on
Facebook and on blogs. They are Michie Nakie and Tabeth Ruvarashe Manyonga of
the Penda my Panda famed writing
project.
The former has over 1 000
followers most of whom are following her page and buying novels via ecocash.
"I write a chapter a day," said Michie on social media's WINZIM
Classics Whatsapp Group.
Ruvarashe says she is now keeping her blog
and writings alive during this period.
Young poet Benadaty lobbies all
stakeholders to emulate the exploits of NASH TV which is affording artists
space to showcase their arts talents online. This, she says, will provide food
not only on their families' tables but will also prove to be a stepping stone
in raising the country's GDP as international markets may be realized.
Emmanuel Chimombe implored the Government
and stakeholders in the telecommunications industry to review data bundles
downwards so that writers may send their books to readers who in turn will buy
them at reasonable prices.
Young writer Tawanda Imbayarwo also
believes that writers and planners should shift focus from sticking to the
production of hardcopies and go the digital way. He calls upon the would-be
e-book publishers to put safety measures so that the online books cannot be
shared or pirated.
As the effects of this worldwide pandemic are
being felt, using new technologies must become a top item on writers' agendas.
This goes along with the Zimbabwe International Book Fair’s (ZIBF)
deliberations at the 2018 ZIBF INDABA discussions. Writers Associations too
have been calling for the publication, marketing and selling of e-books. The
now defunct ZIMCOPY has been in the trenches for years trying to curb piracy.
With the coming in of a new organization to replace ZIMCOPY, it's now game on!
What remains is food for
thought to all stakeholders on how to make the writer happy. The reader must
also get a well marinated cut from a happy writer. The country must also
benefit economic-wise from the rich educational product done by a happy writer.
The writing industry will make Zimbabwe grow!
Edwin Msipa aka Black Mampara is a freelance writer cum poet and is the author of the novel Broken Chalk. He writes in his own capacity and has poems in several anthologies. He can be contacted on his cell +263 773 206 455. He also works with SIMUKAI ARTS FAMILY (SAFA)
NGATINYOREYI
Na
Tinashe Muchuri
TASANGANA ZVAKARE vadiwa hama muchikamu chino cheNgatinyoreyi. Tichimo mukati medinhira rechirwere cheCOVID-19. Iye zvino chave kumanya zvinofemesa vanhu. Vanamazvikokota munhau dzehutano vanoti tirambe tichicherechedza kutaraukire kure nemumwe nemita imwe, tipfeke zveseketo zvinovhara muromo nemhino kana kuti masiki (mask). Tisakanganwa kugesa nemvura nesipo nguva dzose kwemasekonzi makumi maviri. Tisangofambanya semombe dzemashanga asi tifambire zvakakosha badzi. Tinotanga nezvehutano hwedu nokuti zvakatikoshera savanyori.
Tinourombo
takarasikirwa neumwe wedu, munyori aive atanga ndima yekunyora mabhuku emusambo
wenyaya dzechikare chemutengure chisati chauya kuzotakura tsika, hunhu, vanhu
nehupfumi kuenda kure nesu. Crymio Kuryauripo, zorora murugare uchiziva kuti
wakasiya vana vachasara vachisangana nekuyeuchidza varavi kuti hauna kudzama.
Vakuru vedu vanoti, shato kufa inosiya nzvenzvana ichitsvaka hwishu. Nayewo
Kutyauripo akasiya mabhuku ake achange achitsvaka varavi kuti vawedzere zivo
yavo.
Tinobva
tapinda munyaya yedu iya yatakavimbisana muchikamu chadarika iya yekusafa.
Vazhinji vanovhunza kuti pane asingafi here! Ini ndoti hongu. Kufa kurovaka.
Kusataurwa nezvako. Kukanganikwa. Kana izwi rako kusareva chinhu kuvupenyu
bwavanhu.
Ko vamwe
vanozvigona sei? Seiko vasina kufa? Marechera tinaye nanhasi anotokonya fungwa
dzedu uye tinopota tichimushanyira kuWarren Hills tichikurukura naye. Vazhinji
chose vanomushanyira pamusha wake. Chivavarirwa kuenda kundoona parere munhu
akaramba kurova. Tinavo vamwe vatinotaura nezvavo nanhasi uno. Ndinofunga
vakomana nevasikana vandaitamba navo musangano revanyori reBudding Writers
Association of Zimbabwe. Vazhinji tavakanganwa. Asi variyo vanotaura nesu
nekuti vakasiya izwi risidzimi. Tinaye Stephen Alumenda. Akaona mukana
wekushomeka kwenyaya dzevapwere ndokubva amira nesimba kuvhara buri irero.
Haana kutya. Nhasi uno tinoti akazadzisa chirevo chevanjeri chiya chokuti,
rwakafa rukasiya rumwe. Sharai Mukonoweshuro, anoitiyeuchidza zvekufuratidzwa
moyo. Charles Lovemore Mungoshi unovhunza kuti munjakenjake yekupindana
kwamazuva iyi kuti Kunyarara Hakusi Kutaura here!
Muzongozongo
wenyaya yechikamu chino ndeyekuti tisiye
matsimba anozotsikwa navamwe vachidzidzira kumira nekutsauka mumatsimba edu
vakuvandudza rwendo rwekutandara pano panyika. Uri kusiya tsimba ripi? Vana
vauchasiya, vana vachada kutandarwa navo here? Vachange vachitaura dzipi?
Zvinotaurika here? Zvirodzo zvepfungwa here? Mibvunzo yazvinovhunza inopa shungu
nehavi kuvaravi here yekuda kuenderera mberi nenhaurwa pamusoro pemaonero
emunyori? Vandudza ndima yeudavadi hwako zvakadii zvekuti varavi nevadzidzi
vanzwe kuti havagoni kusabatawo nyaya dzaunovanongedzera.
Tikataura
vose vapenyu nhasi uno asi vachinzi vakafa, vakasiya vandudzo uye vanoratidza
kuti varavi havasi vokungobondera-bondera.
Vatsvakurudzi vomene. Uye vaisatya kuunza zvitsva mukunyora kwavo. Iwevo
hunza zvitsva urarame nekusingaperi.
Zvakadaro
tsetsa paudavadi hwako kuti usiye nzvenzvana seshato dzichange dzichibata
tsvana.
Musakanganwa
kucherechedza zvinotarisirwa neCOVID-19. Gara mumba ubude pazvakakodzera.
Hutano hwakakosha. Hutano ipfuma yakakosha.
TINOTENDA
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