 Title: The Trek and Other Stories Author: Lawrence Hoba Publisher: Weaver Press (2009) ISBN: 978 1 77922 100 1 It is heartening that young writers are being accorded the space to tell their stories while showcasing their writing skills in the cut-throat world of literature. One such writer, Lawrence Hoba, had just had his collection of short stories – The Trek and Other Stories published. Hoba is no stranger to the contemporary Zimbabwe literary canon, with some of his stories having appeared in publications such as the now-defunct Mirror and various short story anthologies, both in print and online. However, it is the recent publication of his slim volume of short stories that is poised to consolidate his voice as a writer in his own right. Perhaps the collection’s major strength is that it sits right on the pulse of a nation battling to correct historical wrongs in land ownership patterns, in a way that has drawn contradictory perceptions, while trying to be understood as a justice seeker rather than a sadistic punisher. A number of the stories here give multiple perspectives on this contentious issue, although they tend to easily lend themselves to the anti–land reform debate. In a highly polarised nation where there is no middle ground; Hoba has chosen a viewpoint that poses many questions and gives us an opportunity to reflect on the pressing need for land reforms and the manner of implementation. When all the propaganda and romanticism about reclaiming rich, productive ancestral lands have died down, there is always need for a candid, honest review of the programme. And The Trek and Other Stories does just that – it could well be one of the missing links in the body of literature in Zimbabwe that looks at the aftermath of the land reform programme. Over the past years, there have been countless land reform audits that however have remained locked up in some government offices, and their contents have remained shrouded in a veil of secrecy. Most of the stories in this collection – such as The Trek, Maria’s Independence and Having My Way – all explore the land resettlement saga in Zimbabwe, which has over the past 10 years dominated local and international media. A close reading of the land resettlement discourse in Zimbabwe reveals the glaring absence of women, whose voices have been significantly annihilated. This is one anomaly that the first story, The First Trek – The Pioneers, somewhat addresses. In this story, the young narrator says, “mhamha’s hoe is worn from use, baba’s is still new and clean” (pp.2) Ironically, at the gate of the farm there is a signpost that reads, “Mr B J Magugu, Black Commercial Farmer.” In addition, the story Maria’s Independence gives us an insight into the diversity of characters washed onto the farms by the political waves. I think this is a very important story in as far as it rightly locates women within the issue of land reform. The land reclamations were not only about men, but some women have stood the test and managed to turn themselves into successful farmers, regardless of societal perception of the woman as the “weaker vessel”, particularly within political discourse. In The Second Trek – Going Home, Hoba’s focus is on the black farm worker who is caught between the feuding white commercial farmer and the belligerent black peasant farmer fighting to occupy the commercial farm. The story further highlights that the commercial farm — previously occupied by the peasant farmers — is not necessarily a humanised space that is easily habitable. There are no social utilities such as schools and hospitals. Furthermore, those farm workers that originated from countries such as Malawi remain trapped within the farm under new ownership because they can’t go back home. This is the dilemma that many farmer workers who originated from other regional countries face. Two stories, A Dream & A Guitar and Tonde’s Return explore the ravages of the HIV and Aids pandemic which has wreaked havoc in many families and communities, especially in Africa. Hoba has to be commended for coming up with a competent collection of stories that are a true reflection of contemporary Zimbabwe. — Critical Literature Review Women Writing Zimbabwe, Edited by Irene Staunton |
0 comments| Literature - New Books | ||||
| Tuesday, 06 January 2009 05:46 | ||||
 The fifteen stories in Women Writing Zimbabwe offer a kaleidoscope of fresh, moving, and comic perspectives on the way in which events of the last decade have impacted on individuals, women in particular.Several stories (Tagwira, Ndlovu and Charsley) look at the impact that AIDS has on women who become the care-givers, often without emotional or physical support. It is often assumed that women will provide support and naturally make the necessary sacrifices. Brickhill and Munsengezi focus on the hidden costs and unexpected rewards of this nurturing role. Many families have been separated over the last decade. Ndlovu, Mutangadura, Katedza, Mhute and Rheam all explore exile’s long, often painful, reach and the consequences of deciding to remain at home. In lighter vein, but with equal sharpness of perception, Gappah, Manyika, Sandi, and Holmes poke gentle fun at the demands of new-found wealth, status and manners. Finally, Musariri reminds us that the hidden costs of undisclosed trauma can continue to affect our lives for years afterwards. All of the writers share a sensitivity of perception and acuity of vision. Reading their stories will enlarge and stimulate our own understanding. Reviews: "It’s all women, passion and skill in Weaver Press’s latest anthology."The Zimbabwean Review by Lawrence Hoba "There are stories in this new collection that one will read over and over again, some will make one cry or laugh, and others will leave one haunted and wondering how the author could have conceived such a story and remain sane. Yet what distinguishes the stories is their humanity, a characteristic which, though I hesitate to say it, is one that distinguishes women from their male counterparts. The fifteen individual stories in Women Writing Zimbabwe are linked by the common attachment that each has with their country Zimbabwe, which has seen many changes and upheavals from colonialism to independence, to the current crisis and the apparent death of democracy. Some of the writers have been included in previous Weaver Press anthologies: Chiedza Musengezi, Pat Brickhill, Annie Holmes, Gugu Ndlovu and Vivienne Ndlovu, but all the writers have other careers. Their biographies speak of a group of determined women: lawyers, teachers, professors or doctors …whose writing has won them additional distinction. Gugu Ndlovu’s “Everything is Nice, Zimbulele” successfully dramatises the ordeals of many Zimbabwean border-jumpers escaping from the economic and political crises, which have characterised ZANU PF’s latter-day rule. Vivienne Ndlovu does well to draw our attention to people in the rural areas who simply cannot afford any form of medical assistance: she was “Bare bones. Hardly more than a girl, seeking assistance from health services that are no longer functioning and health workers who have lost all hope that they might be able to change anything. …” But in this disintegration of Zimbabwean society as a result of HIV/ AIDS, and economic and political exile, it is inevitable that women are left with the greatest role to play in families. In “The Carer” and “The Big Trip” Musengezi and Bryony Rheam show the emotional and physical trials that women sometimes endure at the hands of their in-laws and families. Despite its many more recent casualties, post-independent Zimbabwe has brought with it a new kind of life for some of its people. Some have suddenly found riches, living the lives they previously admired. But, as is often the case, many of these nouveau riche act in a way that’s not only funny but ridiculous: Zvisinei Sandi, Petina Gappah and Sarah Ladipo Manyika take turns to intelligently mock this new class in, respectively: “In Memory of the Nose Brigade,” “In The Heart of The Golden Triangle” and “Mr Wonder”. But one must not forget that our now declining country was born after the demise of Rhodesia. To many young writers, it now seems such a long time ago that there are some who feel there is nothing more left to say about the liberation struggle in which they did not take part. But Blessing Musariri thinks otherwise and her story, “Tichafatanoana Sleeps” vividly reminds us of the spirits that still haunt some of the people who took part in that war. As with Alexander Kanengoni’s “Things We Would Rather Not Talk About” [Effortless Tears (1993)], Musariri raises ghosts which draw in in all those who meet Tichafataona, including the reader. And if you survive Musariri’s haunting story, there is no harm in finding new hope in “Chemusana” by Sabina Mutangadura. In this story, one family’s happiness is not pinned on the return of the mother who has abandoned them in order to earn money for her family in England, but on a housemaid, Estelle, a.k.a Esteli. In fact the family almost breaks up when she decides to follow her boyfriend to South Africa. But her return brings new hope, which we pray is not as fragile as that on which our current political hopes are pinned. Lastly, and just in case you are like me and decide to leave the last to the last, please find it in your heart to forgive Sarai for acting the way she did in Valerie Tagwira’s “Mainini Grace’s Promise”. I know with all the frustrations of a failing economy, a defunct health delivery system and rampaging HIV/AIDS, we can all crack under the strain. What Tagwira achieves in her deeply felt story is to raise our level of awareness and compassion. Having read these stories, I really felt that I had got a full and rounded glimpse of Zimbabwe today. Whether the setting is in Britain, South Africa, or Zimbabwe itself, each of the stories subtly tells our story. Maybe the depth of portrayal lies in the detail, or perhaps it is embedded in the conviction is conveyed by the authors. Is one moved because these are stories by women, or because you can feel their wish for honesty, the truth about the living for the ordinary Zimbabwean. Women Writing Zimbabwe is Weaver Press’s first short story anthology by women writers only, though it comes after three other highly successful anthologies by the same publisher. These are Writing Still (2003), Writing Now (2005) andLaughing Now (2005). PS – Expect award-winners in this one as well." - Lawrence Hoba is a short-story writer whose stories were included in Writing Now and Laughing Now. Source: The Zimbojam |
