Registered under the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe

31 July 2020

WIN Newsletter Vol 2, Issue No 13

EDITORIAL

 

Visit our new book market blog: winzimbookmarket.blogspot.com 


 WELCOME to our bubbling newsletter.

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.

READ MORE

 


 

 Tsitsi Dangarembga

 

OPPORTUNITY FOR WRITERS

 

 

 MANYIKA ONE OF 2020 GOLDSMITHS PRIZE 

JUDGES

 

Sarah Ladipo Manyika

 Author of two books, In Dependence and Like A Mule Bringing Ice Cream To The Sun, Sarah Ladipo Manyika sits on the judging panel for this year’s Goldsmiths Prize. The Prize’s winner will be announced in November. 

 

BOOKSELLER TURNS NEW LEAF IN LOCKDOWN

By Beaven Tapureta

 (Article also appears in The Herald, July 30, 2020)

 


Justin Manja, Manager of Model Educational Suppliers

 MODEL EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIERS, established in the early 90s, is one of many leading booksellers in Zimbabwe aggressively affected by the coronavirus especially during this time of government-imposed nationwide lockdown.

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

 Below is an interview Prosper Njeke (ProNjeke) had with a visionary budding writer Stephen Mupopo (StevMupopo) aka Professor Ngugi waMkirii. Born on 26 July 1984, Mupopo has published a poetry anthology featuring various poets but is now specializing in online writing.

 

Stephen Mupopo

 ProNjeke:    When did you start writing and who inspired you?

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

 

Studying made easy with Akello E-library! 

Subscribe today and access hundreds of Zimsec e-books

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Akello Books at the 2019 ZIBF

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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

 CLICK HERE


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.

 Enjoy Nzira’s stories on her Facebook page Stories By Lovely Rutendo Nzira

 

 CHILDREN’S LITERATURE IN ZIMBABWE

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


Chapter 1

    Kuku Feels Sad

 Kuku felt sad as she passed by heaps and heaps of rubbish or garbage dumped outside shops and in the open spaces at Katanga Shopping Centre.

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. 

    

For a moment she stopped there, observing the rubbish

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

 In the evening when Kuku was at home, she was delighted when she watched the news and heard the President talk about National Environment Clean up Day to be held during the morning of every first Friday of the month.  The President encouraged everyone to clean up their environment on that   day every month and also at all other times as well.

 “Please let us not dump rubbish or litter all over the place,” the President said, “Let us put litter in the bins. Let us all be united in cleaning up our homes, our neighborhoods, our villages, our towns and cities every first Friday of the month.”

 As the President spoke, the television showed a video of him and some government ministers cleaning up dirty streets in Mbare in Harare, the capital city of the country. 

 Immediately Kuku had an idea.  She started thinking about a plan to clean up the rubbish she had seen at Katanga Shopping Centre. She would tell her friends at Norton Education Centre, her school, about it and ask them to join her in cleaning up the rubbish. She would also tell her teacher, Mrs Shalla Sibanda, the school Head, Mr Munemo, as well as other community leaders like the town councillors, church leaders, the Member of Parliament and business owners to support her to carry out the clean up campaign at Katanga. After all it is everyone’s responsibility to make the environment clean, like the President said.

 Kuku watches the President speak on TV about cleaning the environment

 

WINZIM 5th ONLINE LECTURE

 

Zvinoda Kungwarirwa Kana Tichinyora Novhero, 

Nyaya Pfupi

 

 Kunyora ChiShona chinhu chinonetsa vanyori vakawanda. Chikamu chinonetsa zvakanyanya ndechekuziva kupatsanura mazwi. Iyi ndima haina kunyoreka. Inoita kunge murimi anosakura mumunda une tsangadzi. Nekuda kwechinetso ichi WinZim yakaona zvakakodzera kuita dzidziso yepadandemutande. Naizvozvo vakakoka munyori wechidiki, Prosper Njeke kuti atungamire zvidzidzo izvi.

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.

 Prosper Njeke

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

 

How COVID-19 Has Affected Youth Employment

                                                                             

 I have heard so many different stories about how COVID-19 has affected the youth of today, the 15 – 30 year olds. There are some youth who have finished University but sadly cannot attend their own graduation. Some will remain jobless for a while unless maybe if they studied something in health. They might just get lucky because hospitals and clinics are looking for more workers that are essential.

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. 


  ZIMBABWE'S ARTS INDUSTRY

Sustenance In The Face Of COVID-19 and Future Unforeseen Pandemics

 

Edwin Msipa aka Black Mampara

 Have you ever heard of the 1300's Black Death plague? It killed almost a quarter of Europe's population.

 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

  In his great foreword in The National Arts, Culture and Heritage Policy of Zimbabwe (July 2018), His Excellency Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, affirmed the Government's position and commitment to safeguarding the humanity and dignity of its people and others who dwell in it.

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.

 

***

  The WIN Literary Newsletter is edited by the WIN Editorial Team and published on the blog monthly by the Writers International Network Zimbabwe (WIN, distributed to our members. All material for publication in our forthcoming newsletters should be sent to

 

 

 THANK YOU, SIYABONGA,

TINOTENDA










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