Many have pondered the enigma of my creativity, yet few have delved into the essence of my time. To achieve excellence in life, steer clear of idle gossip and exercise caution in selecting your companions. The ‘ndakahwa, kwahi, and mambonzwa here exude toxicity.’ Distance yourself from those who scrutinize others’ lives and seek out individuals who engage in intellectual discourse, fostering your intellectual growth. This is a crucial element for attaining success and living a peaceful life.
One Sunday afternoon, accompanied by Panashe Makope, whom I fondly refer to as Panashe 007, I embarked on an errand to the council offices in the comfort of the Constituency Nissan Navarra vehicle. Panashe, a companion in form 3 and a cherished friend, I find solace in the company of both the young and the old, as they are reservoirs of wisdom. The youthful exude energy and optimism for the future. Panashe expressed his passion for architectural endeavours, recounting the joy of constructing stairs for a toilet at his school and inscribing his name upon them. Witnessing a young spirit revel in his craft is witnessing passion, the essence of life.
Upon arrival, we parked the Nissan Navarra beneath the shelter of a tree within the council premises and engaged in conversation with Mafusire and Hlungwani, the council guards. Regrettably, many fail to accord due respect to these custodians of the premises, harbouring unwarranted negativity towards them. The misplaced sense of superiority that festers in the minds of those who deem themselves affluent is a lesson that warrants universal acknowledgment. Allow me to attest that the guards were amiable and graciously paused their task of repairing a bicycle tube to lend ear to my narrative. Mr. Hlungwani inquired, ‘Ko, ndonzwa kuti unonyora mabhuku?’ prompting me to expound on my artistic journey. Panashe 007 attentively joined the discourse as I delineated my odyssey in the realm of arts. Despite being pegged as a government loyalist and a ‘foolish adherent’ of the Johanne Masowe EChishanu sect, I have been steadfast in my resolve to evade generalization, particularly on matters of faith, where counsel is unwarranted. My allegiance to this sect remains unshakable, fortified by personal experiences that validate my commitment. Elucidating my artistic voyage, I recounted commencing songwriting in Grade 6 at Gampu Primary School in Bulawayo, transitioning to Rata Primary School, composing over 100 poems, featuring in more than 15 anthologies, and contributing to three poetry anthologies now integrated into the new curriculum as setbooks, in addition to being published in three academic texts. Collectively, my published works tally over 60 publications, encompassing newspaper columns.
Mr. Hlungwani regarded me with incredulity, seemingly unable to reconcile my narrative with reality. Dismissing his skepticism, I urged him to peruse my film works on Youtube under ‘Gure Rafumuka’ and ‘Gehena harina moto.’ However, the focus is not on me but on the two council guards. Our interaction not only fostered camaraderie but also dispelled prevalent accusations of toilet access denial by the council. Out of fifteen requests, sixteen individuals were granted access to the facilities. Sixteen? Indeed, in a remarkably affable manner. Their inclusivity was unparalleled in my experience.
This encounter evoked a memory from my days at Midlands State University, where my classmates and I, including Irvine Gwete, Nyaradzo Chikwira, and Nelson Mungwini, were engrossed in exam preparation near the Gweru Military Museum. Amidst our studies, an elderly, poorly attired man approached us, peddling umbrellas. Initially disregarded due to our academic stress, he persisted in his queries, eventually inquiring about our academic pursuit. Judging him based on appearances, we attempted to distance ourselves, jesting at his inquiry. In a stern tone, Gwete retorted, ‘We are exploring methods to ascertain age and gender from a skeletal framework,’ adding humorously, ‘Mungazviziya here mudhara?’ To our astonishment, he chuckled and proceeded to elucidate the identification of age and gender from skeletal remains more comprehensively than our lecturers. Hastily jotting down his insights, we absorbed every morsel of information shared. After half an hour of imparting knowledge, he bid us farewell, clutching his bundle of umbrellas. Despite our entreaties for further interaction, he declined, citing his bustling schedule as a vendor. The subsequent day, the exam question mirrored our impromptu lesson, resulting in my distinction in the module and an enduring lesson: never underestimate nor judge individuals based on appearances. Never. Kudos to Hlungwani and Mafusire, a remarkable duo. Gracias!
Turning to literature, I am set to release a Shona action-packed novel titled ‘Wakadya Dhumbare’ and an English novel named ‘If God was one of us.’ The latter is a collaborative effort with Prudence Tiriboyi Kleeinbooi, popularly known as ‘Mai Tee.’ It is a novel based on a true story as a family struggles to calm the storms in the face of cancer which had hit one of theirs. Among fellow authors unveiling their literary works this year are Oscar Gwiriri with his novel,Kurovera zamu pasi, Lynette Simango with ‘Grave Secrets,’ and Evidence Makuni with ‘Kuredza Muchirongo.’ The titles and covers of these literary gems exude allure. While one should not judge a book by its cover, the distinguished history and reputation of these authors undeniably render their works worthy of perusal. It’s just a view from the mango tree!
Chana CheMasvingo0775125488
johannesmikemupisa11@gmail.com
