amaBooks to Launch "Together" by Julius Chingono and John Eppel

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Together, to be launched in Bulawayo on 23 June

'amaBooks Publishers, the University of KwaZulu-Natal Press and the University of New Orleans Press invite you to the Zimbabwe launch of Together, stories and poems by John Eppel and the late Julius Chingono, on Thursday 23 June, 5 for 5.30pm, at Christian Brothers' College, Old Esigodini Road, Bulawayo.

Brian Jones of 'amaBooks will introduce the book and John Eppel will read some of his own work and of Julius Chingono.

All are welcome.

The book has already been launched in South Africa by the University of KwaZulu-Natal Press, and the University of New Orleans Press will be making the book available across North America from the 16 June. The book is on sale elsewhere through the African Books Collective.

'amaBooks acknowledge the support of the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust for the publication of Together.

The information on the back cover reads:

The two Zimbabwean writers featured in this collection of stories and poems could not be more different. John Eppel is an English literature teacher in Bulawayo; Julius Chingono, from Norton, near Harare, was a rock-blaster in mines for many years. Eppel is a deliberate stylist, while Chingono is a deliberate anti-stylist. The western literary tradition is pervasive in Eppel’s writing; Chingono is his own tradition.

In another sense, however, they could not be more similar. Both share an aversion for those in power who exploit it to the detriment of all but their cronies and themselves; both feel a deep compassion for the poor and the marginalized of Zimbabwe. And they are both very funny.

‘A jewel-filled collection of stories and poems’ – Philo Ikonya, Kenyan writer and activist

‘A distinctive and distinguished addition to a burgeoning literature of response to human rights abuses in Zimbabwe’ – Dan Wylie, Rhodes University

‘Together, in their ‘double act’, these ‘clever clowns’ have a large arsenal of highly creative critical commentary and are a formidable pair.’– Drew Shaw, Midlands State University

FAREWELL

(For June 16- Day of the African Child)

                                           (Source: google images)
Farewell
To our destiny
Which we have again surrendered
To bitter old men
Holding hands
With rehearsed camera smiles
Promising us unity
They once shattered.

by Lawrence Hoba

MBIZO CHIRASHA AND TEAM LAUNCH GIRL CHILD CREATIVITY

By Lawrence Hoba

Renowned poet and author Mbizo Chirasha and his team brought journalists from both the public and private media, and a group of other passionate people under one roof at the New Ambassador Hotel on 9 June 2011 for the launch of Girl Child Creativity, a project that aims to “mitigate under-representation and unbalanced participation of young female writers/ poets in areas of creative writing, literacy and poetry performances development.” The project enhances the ability of the girl child to develop herself mentally.

Mbizo, who is the Producer / Coordinator of Girl Child Creativity, has always been a passionate speaker and he couldn’t have found a better platform to share the objectives of the project. I believe at the end he had convinced everyone that Girl Child Creativity is one project that is worth everyone investing their time and resources in. At least the project has already managed to rope in The US Public Affairs Section and Ambassador Hotel. Supported by Sharon Hudson-Dean (head of the US Public Affairs Section) as the guest speaker, and veteran broadcaster and journalist Agnes Gudza as the moderator, the launch programme was handled well and the free flow of beer and drinks maybe topped it all up on this cool evening. Other front table presenters were Gary Webbstock (GM New Ambassador Hotel) and Marko Ndlovu (Director, Chiedza Child Care Centre).

The question and answer segment was exciting with issues raised around the spread of the project to other areas, linking the project with other initiatives in Southern Africa and ensuring that the girl child survives from their art. The project owners seemed to have done their homework and had ready answers. The major point driven home was that Girl Child Creativity is not going to give girls fish but train them to take their own futures in their hands. The project will have provincial clusters to ensure all areas, rural and urban, are reached and linkages with external organisations will be done once there has been activity in the country. “What we want is to teach them resilience, hard work and determination,” reiterated Mbizo many a time that one hopes this same determination will cascade to the implementation level.

Some of the people who are involved in the project in their various capacities include Poets Barbara “Breezy” Anderson, Cynthia “Flowchild” Marangwanda, Black Heat deShanti, Thando Sibanda, Rutendo Chigudu and Primrose Dzenga. Girl Child Creativity also works with Girl Child Network, US Embassy, New Ambassador Hotel, the Media and various individuals who dedicate their time and resources to enable the work to move on.   

         Poet Barbara"Breezy"Anderson who will workshop young girls-    (Pic from Girl Child Creativity blog.)

Lined up on the calendar is

1.      The All Female Motivational Poetry/ Writing Workshop to be held on 15 and 16 June 2011 at Chiedza Child Care Centre.

2.       Food For Thought Seminar to be held on 21 June at the US Embassy’s Public Affairs Section, Eastgate, Harare  

For more details you can visit Girl Child Creativity on their blog http://www.girlchildcreativity.blogspot.com/

ZIMBABWE WRITERS ASSOCIATION ELECTS NEW BOARD

By Lawrence Hoba

On Saturday, 4 June 2011, a group of Zimbabwean writers met at The Zimbabwe Film and Television School of Southern Africa to elect a substantive board to lead the Zimbabwe Writers Association (ZWA). The event was an emotional one for many people who feel that Zimbabwe’s writers deserve a better standing in society and thus the elected Board has a great job ahead of it. The election results were as below

Chairperson:Musaemura Zimunya (Author, poet, UZ Lecturer)

Vice Chair: Eresina Hwede (Author)

Secretary: Tinashe Muchuri (Author, performance poet and actor)

Treasurer: Beatrice Sithole (Motivational Writer and Speaker)

Resource Mobiliser:Karukai Ratsauka (Academic Writer, Historian)  

Committee Members: Memory Chirere (Author, UZ Lecturer)

                                 Dakarai Mashava (Poet, Journalist)

                                            (The elected board members-)

Veteran writer and former Permanent secretary Dr Thompsom Tsodzo conducted the elections and some of the attendees included Ignatius Mabasa, Nqobile Malinga, Josephine Mganiwa, Jerry Zondo, and upcoming writers. The event was spiced up by performances from poets Mbizo Chirasha, Tinashe Muchuri and Jerry Zondo (who recently realised that he can perform poetry).

A lot of work awaits the new ZWA Board as they aim to uplift the life of the Zimbabwean writer and it is incumbent upon all writers to ensure the organisation fulfils its mandate by joining to become members and actively participating in all programs. Right now the main challenge is fund-raising.

STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS

They said The Premier could not deliver the traditional state of the nation address- neither on State television, nor radio nor even send a copy of the message to the newspaper people to print in their daily issue of stories on the state of things. It must have been because of his health- for he had taken to being sickly of late, or he knew it was pointless to say anything- for noone would be listening anyway. He knew far much better than his overfed ministers told him. But above all, he knew that stating how things were would be a mere admittance of failure in the eyes of his enemies, and he did not subscribe to the school of thought that admitted failure. One could always shift blame, that was better and easier than admitting failure, he was no defeatist.

Also, there was the growing opposition who wanted him gone and he had that to think about. It obviously was more important than a silly state of the nation address.

ZIMBABWE WRITERS ASSOCIATION GENERAL ELECTIONS- SAT 4 JUNE 2011- DETAILS

From Memory Chirere
I write to confirm that we are on schedule to hold the meeting and The Elections for the substantive Board to run the affairs of The Association. You are also reminded
that this is your occasion to nominate - and feel free to be nominated - competent, open-minded, dedicated and trustworthy individuals to direct the operations of The Association for the next THREE YEARS, in accordance with The Constitution:

Date: 4th June, 2011

Venue: Zimbabwe Film and Television School of Southern Africa,
(Along Mazowe Street between Parirenyatwa Hospital and S
African Embassy)

Agenda

08:30 Arrival and Registration

09:00 Welcome Note Dr R Zhuwarara

09:15 Introduction and Report Back,
Question and Answer, Announcements M.B. Zimunya & Committee

09:45 Tea Break

10:15 Elections Returning Officer DR T K Tsodzo

11:15 Vote of Thanks Executive Committee

11:25 Handover-Takeover

SPREAD THE WORD.

Musaemura B Zimunya
Chairperson, Interim Committe(ZWA)

Interim Committee of ZWA: Musaemura B Zimunya, Ms Primrose Dzenga, Ms
Beatrice Sithole, Mr Memory Chirere, Ms Karukai Ratsauka, Mr George
Mujajati, Mr Dakarai Mashava
source: http://memorychirere.blogspot.com/

Revolutionaries (unending revolution)

Somewhere along the way

You all forgot

Why you started the revolution

And fought amongst yourselves

by Lawrence Hoba                          

Teardrops

Teardrops

After the rape

Her teardrops

Covered the earth

In torrents of pain

But noone

Not even her mother

Heard her cry.