Senior writer Shimmer Chinodya (centre) seen here with some of the writers who attended ZWA Saturday event at Theatre in the Park
On Saturday July 4, a group of writers invited by Zimbabwe Writers Association (ZWA) spent the afternoon at Theatre in the Park, ‘far from the maddening crowd', refreshing and engaging in book talk and exchanges.
True that nowadays the ultra-busy day-to-day life often interferes with the occupation of writing, thus the Saturday event was a significant outing for writers to call forth new positive energy.
For accomplished author Shimmer Chinodya, writers’ mixers such as this have always been significant platforms of inspiration.
“It was great to meet with old and new writers and friends over a chat and a drink. It felt like the times we used to meet as ZIWU back in the 80s,” he said.
In the 80’s (and 90’s), just as Chinodya reminisced, ZIWU or Zimbabwe Writers’ Union brought a sense of community among local writers some of whom are the legends we remember, honour and celebrate today.
Writer, veteran journalist and communications expert Ray Mawerera, who also attended the event, said it was an afternoon well spent. He expressed why such writers’ informal get-togethers are essential.
“The writers’ fellowship was awesome. It wasn’t a meeting as such, just an afternoon of informal chats and sharing. What we didn’t get in numbers was made up for by the quality of the intelligent conversations which were fun and useful. People who only knew each other by name got to put faces to names, new friendships were formed and the overall impression I got was that this was one long overdue interaction. Speaking for the venue hosts, Daves Guzha spoke of the clear connection between theatre practitioners and writers. I’m sure as word spreads of this first such fellowship, we will see more people at the next one but, all in all, it was for me an afternoon well spent!” said Mawerera.
The afternoon gathering was attended by writers and poets from Harare.
***
Don’t miss the next WIN LITERARY NEWSLETTER!
