Rutendo Chidawanyika 

MEN like to assume they can get away with any type of clothing item as long as it fits. This assumption is wrong. The male body shape is as complex as women’s, but knowing your body shape is key, this is when you can experiment with shape and colour to determine what suits you and what doesn’t. It sounds like a lot of work, but by following this simple guide on how men should dress for their body shape it’ll all make sense, trust me.

Heavier build

Men with this body type usually struggle to find the right clothes, so you want to create a series of looks where you appear to be slimmer than you are. When it comes to shopping heavily built men have a difficult time; most clothes don’t fit or certain styles don’t suit them. They are forced to create an illusion of a slimmer frame.

When buying t-shirts or tops you’ll want to avoid slim fitted pieces. These are designed to hug your body rather than hang loosely and they will highlight problems areas you want to be kept hidden. Colour is another game player when buying clothes as you’ll want to opt for darker shades as they create a slimmer shape to your body. It’s important to know your size as you may be left feeling disappointed when a smaller size doesn’t fit. Also, when buying t-shirts you want to avoid large patterns or prints on your torso, as this draws the eye towards your body and many of you don’t want that.

Thinner build

If you’re a naturally thin person you may find it difficult to find clothes that fit you in the waist and in the chest. Making yourself appear bulkier than you are can be quite difficult as it can be plainly obvious that you’re wearing more layers than humanly possible. But, with the right tricks and tips you can make people think you’ve been hitting the gym more than you actually have. Being naturally thin isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, you’ll struggle to find tops that are fitted and jackets and suits simply drown you. But again, Get yourself measured, it really does benefit you in the long run.

When you are naturally thin you want tops and jackets to fit you a little tighter, rather than having a lot of excess fabric. Try buying tops and jackets that are slim fitted when they’re made rather than a regular fit, this tightens the fit, giving off the illusion that you’re bigger than you are. Layering  will also help you out a lot, no matter what the season is you can always have a layered look that will make you look bulkier. Try wearing a shirt with a thicker jumper over the top, giving you a smart look while creating the illusion of a bigger frame.  

Short

Some men aren’t vertically blessed, so you have to make yourself seem taller even if you aren’t. There are a few tricks of the trade to avoid looking even shorter and tricking people into thinking you’re slightly taller. I’ve seen guys who buy a pair of jeans in the shortest leg length for them to be far too long and then having to roll up the bottoms until they’re two inches thick. This is what we want to avoid, so, the first step is, again, to get measured. This is a massive indicator for yourself so you know what size you are, both for trousers and tops, so you aren’t wasting money on clothes that don’t fit. When buying t-shirts and jackets you’ll want to avoid the long line trend as these pieces are designed to look oversized  and longer in the body. These can make you look even shorter, and many of you don’t want that, so instead opt for a fitted t-shirt  or jacket so that they finish just above your hips, making your torso in proportion to your legs.

Tall

If you’re on the taller side of life then you know only too well the struggles of finding clothes that will be long enough in the arms and in the legs. I know the demoralising feeling of finding the perfect jacket only to realise that the sleeves finish at your elbows or is a three quarter. The difficulty with dressing when you’re quite tall is that you don’t want to look like you’re shorter, nor do you want to look even taller. So where does that leave you? Somewhere in the middle! When looking for jackets and blazers it’s important to buy them in a fitted shape. This may sound tricky, but it can be done. Take a suit blazer for instance, avoid buying a blazer that isn’t your size, I know that most of us can’t afford a well-tailored suit, but that doesn’t stop you from getting measured properly in a shop or by a tailor. That way you know exactly what size you are when choosing a suit blazer.

Round

Keep it simple and dark. Solid colours are always good. The trouser waist should always be comfortably loose, never belted so tight that it pinches and wrinkles. For your shirt find a good fit, this is crucial in avoiding either pinching and wrinkles (too small a shirt) or gathers that add even more bulk (too loose a shirt). Find a brand that works for you or else have your shirts tailored. A wider collar spread works well for broad men, especially when the neck and face are broad as well. 

Dark, single-breasted, and only slightly tapered are the keys to a good jacket for big men. A sharp taper at the waist is going to be hard to button and will stretch over the stomach. Just a hint of an inward bend right around the buttons is all that’s needed. The jacket gives the torso a frame, essentially putting it between two narrow lines, making it a worthwhile addition to almost any outfit.

Rules for dressing for your body type

Dress for the body you have right now. Any attempts at body structure correction through exercise is admirable. However, for the present moment, you need to dress for your current shape.

Your body shape determines what you should wear. Shop for clothes and alter the fit for the perfect fit that flatters your body type. Avoid shopping for the latest trend and looking to copy outfits out of social media.

Seek the norm. A heavy built body shape is generally considered most attractive. Use clothing to create an illusion of wide shoulders and narrow waistline.-Additional information from online sources. 

Email: rutendochidawanyika3@gmail.com

Nigel Siziba, Sunday Life Reporter

One of the greatest titles in the world is parent, and one of the biggest blessings in the world is to have parents to call mum and dad.

Most times when parents separate it become a big problem for the child when growing up. It’s the tale of award winning comedian Carl Joshua Ncube who spent most of his childhood with relatives and he learnt in six different schools.

Sunday Life had a chat with him where he narrated his long winding journey filled with ups and downs.

“I was born in Bulawayo and my parents separated when I was still a kid, as a result I spent most of my childhood with relatives,” he said.

He spent most of his teenage years with his mother.

“In my teens I lived mostly with my mum and visited my father regularly in Bulawayo during the school holidays and spend some time with him,” said Carl.

When it came to education he was always on the transfer list as he learnt in six different schools all over Zimbabwe.

“I started my primary education at Barham Green Primary in Bulawayo where I learnt one term, Grade One second term I went to Borrowdale Primary School in Harare. In Grade Three I retraced my roots to Bulawayo where I enrolled at Greenfield Junior School, I stayed for two years before moving to Waddilove Central Primary School in Marondera where I did Grade Six and finally I went to Mutare for my Grade Seven at Mutare Junior School. I then went to Prince Edward School in Harare from Form One to Six,

“I skipped Grade Five because when I arrived at Waddilove I joined the wrong class and I found myself in Grade Six classes instead of Grade Five and when the teacher realised it was too late as I was also in the top ten,” he said.

The rib cracker said he loved every moment of changing schools and places as it made him make many friends and see different parts of the country.

“I loved making friends and always seeing parts of the country, I loved identifying myself with being Zimbabwean as opposed to being Shona or Ndebele only,” he said.

When he was growing up his mother was a home economics teacher, while his father was a wood, metal and technical graphics teacher and part time comedian in weddings and little did he know that when he grows up he will follow in their footsteps as he is a comedian and also a cook.

His fruitful career has not gone unrecognised as he has won a few awards.

“I won the first ever comedy award for NAMA, the following year I walked away with the Arts personality award and I was nominated two years in a row in the Savanna Comics Choice Awards Pan African Comic of the year,” said Carl.

Asked on what keeps him going and what he does to stay relevant in the arts industry he said:

“I have always loved to solve problems. I love to show and teach people how to follow the examples I teach because I am a testimony of the things I would have achieved from scratch,” he said.

Hi Sis Noe

My wife does not show me love. She never kisses me, hugs or puts her arms around me. I feel worthless,  unloved and not attractive. I know she had a loveless childhood and I think it is the cause of her coldness. 

Reply

This must be sad for you. However, it is important to try to overcome the dysfunctional behaviour that we experienced in our childhood so that we don’t perpetuate things by being cold and critical to our loved ones. Because of your loving upbringing, you notice even more how closed down your wife is in showing affection. Sadly, it also sounds as though you no longer make love, which is one of the most important parts of a relationship. Sometimes women who have lost interest in sex or don’t want it as often as their husband avoids kissing and cuddling because they think that it will lead to sex. You need to take her for counselling so she gets professional help. She can overcome this but she has to first admit she has a problem and be willing to solve it.

Hi Sis Noe

My husband and I have a good marriage except in one respect. He says that he can’t stand my mother and won’t have anything to do with her. When my parents come over, he goes out and when I go to visit my parents, who live nearby, he refuses to come. I know that my mother is not easy; she is outspoken and opinionated and I find her difficult, too. She keeps asking why they hardly ever see my husband and I am running out of excuses.

Reply

She may not be the easiest of mothers-in-law, but out of love and respect for you, your husband should make an effort to put up with her occasionally. Marriage is meant to be about being together for the good and the bad times, after all. Acknowledge that you also find her difficult, but explain that it makes it increasingly hard for you if he runs for the hills every time a visit is planned. He does not have to be there every time, but just enough to be polite. Explain that you don’t always like your mother’s views either, but that it would mean so much to you if he could learn to tolerate her. You can both moan about her to each other afterwards. Problems with in-laws often contribute to couples falling out so tell him how much you love him and that the last thing you want is for that to happen to you.

Hi Sis Noe

I am divorced and have been good friends with a couple for two years. We went out a lot and had a good time together. The husband recently died and I have been spending time with his wife. Now I have feelings for her, but I know that I must take my time and wait for at least six months. When do friends become lovers?

Reply

Her husband has only just died so you need to tread carefully. For the moment, you should be a good friend. It sounds as though he was a nice man so she will probably be very sad. Listen to her, let her talk about him and ask her about the times that they had together. You could also help her with practical stuff that she might need. If someone has lost a loved one, it is usually better if a year or so passes before they embark on a new relationship — especially if she has children, even adult ones, as they can resent a new relationship. Give her time to grieve, a minimum of six months. If it’s obvious that she enjoys being with you, then you can talk about starting a relationship. The best thing to do is to tell her that you like her and ask her what she thinks about being a couple. I hope that, in time, she returns your feelings as it would be lovely for both of you.

Hi Sis Noe

Is it true that you can get pregnant while on the pill and what are the chances of that happening? 

Reply

Yes, you can get pregnant while on the pill. There are a number of reasons why a woman on birth control pills could become pregnant. The most common is that she neglects to take the pill on one or more days. Depending on how busy your lifestyle is or how frequently you renew your birth control pill prescription, it can be easy to forget to go to the drug store and then delay starting a new packet — while still being sexually active. Another mistake that women sometimes make is taking the pill at different times on different days. Birth control pills should be taken at the same time every day. It is admittedly inconvenient to have to take a pill every single day, always at about the same time — but this is essential to ensure that birth control pills work successfully to prevent pregnancy. Also, birth control pills are sometimes affected by other medications. Certain antibiotics, anti-seizure and anti-fungal medications have been linked to reduced effectiveness in birth control pills, along with some herbs and vitamins. Before your physician prescribes any new medication, make sure to let her or him know that you are on the pill, to avoid any potential problems.

Amanda Ncube

WHEN your day is gloomy, the silent and relaxing atmosphere in your bedroom should always soothe you . . . it should be a place where you are able to go and recoup. 

Most homeowners said the bedroom is like a relaxing retreat and they love the fact that they can decorate it the way they want.

Here are some easy, inexpensive tips that some homeowners use to turn their homes into a relaxing retreat that will make you happy. 

Ms Nokuthaba Ndlovu, one of the homeowners said woolly rugs are one of the things that make her bedroom look beautiful.

“You do not need slippers or morning shoes when there is an extra-soft carpet underfoot. Also make your bed more cosy in texture by keeping an extra throw placed on any type of basket,” she said.

She also said the coloured rugs bring some sort of freshness into a space (for example a green carpet.)

Mrs Yvonne Sikhosana, a homeowner said the way a bed looks is important to her because it sets the mood.

“The way the bedding looks is essential to me because it determines how other items looks and where they should be placed. These days I am more into stripped bedding, fresh linens, throw pillows and a blanket upgrade in the room.

She said: “I love trying out new things and imagine painting timbers on the floor green or blue paired with white walls! Exquisite.”  

Ms Viola Ncube said she is a huge fan of flowers hence flower pots are crucial to her,

“Cement plant stands are perfect, some may be painted and some may not and the look is just beautiful. Add some more green to your space that are easy to grow such as pothos and aloe. They bring freshness and welcoming atmosphere in your bedroom,” she said.

Ms Ncube added that instead of a typical night stand next to a bed, place a dresser.

“The unique look will also help with storage space . . . use the top drawers for necessities and bottom ones for extra clothing storage. Drawer dividers will help you stay organised.”

Thabiso Sibanda said: “a clutter free set-up is important to me. Give the items on your bedside table a trim down to the essential, like a lamp ring dish, basket for bedtime reading and a sentimental piece, whether it is a favourite snapshot or passed down ornament.”

“Mirrors always bring some kind of light into dark corners, mirrors are a perfect way of bouncing more light around a windowless bedroom,” she said.

Ms Sibanda also said there is no better way to get natural light that waking up next to a window. 

“If you have got big windows take full advantage by positioning your bed directly underneath,” she said.

Bruce Ndlovu, Sunday Life Correspondent

ON Tuesday last week Oliver Mtukudzi spoke from the grave. In a new video that would convince a conspiracy theorist that Tuku had not breathed his last at the Avenues Clinic on the night of 23 January. 

In the video, an upbeat Tuku can be seen moving and gesticulating as he invites fans to come and join him at the Cape Town Jazz Festival on 29 March. 

For those that have found it hard to let go of the legend, the video would have been a pleasant watch. It was as if the man, moving with rhythmic confidence, had come back for a second dance with life. It was just a 28-second video but so much of what defined Tuku over the 66 years of his life was all there — the energetic movements, trademark husky voice that seemed to crack as if burdened by the wisdom it had to constantly give to the world.

“Hey, let’s make a date on the 29th of March 2019,” said the man who died on 23 January 23. Dead man do not make promises but here was Tuku promising a date he could not deliver on. It is a touching video that tugs at one’s heart strings and judging from the reaction on social media, many were also moved by this surprise reappearance of Tuku on their phone and computer screens. 

For that brief half a minute he was alive again and hundreds of likes and comments poured from the living who were only too eager to welcome him back. On the surface, the video of Tuku was innocent enough. The last man to manage his affairs when he was still alive Walter Wanyanya pointed out this was a gig that Tuku had signed up for before his passing. 

“The show was planned last year before the passing of Dr Mtukudzi so we’re just fulfilling an already set plan. The Black Spirits will be travelling there alongside the likes of Mbeu who’ll be part of the band,” said Wanyanya.   

However, the video still has to be viewed in the context of what seems to be a running civil war in the Mtukudzi household. For music industry insiders, the video is merely a cheap sucker punch aimed at Mtukudzi’s daughter Selmor who has been promoting a Tuku tribute show at the Andy Miller Hall. 

Selmor’s gig is running under the theme “Tuku’s music lives on” and will feature former Black Spirits members like Eric “Piki” Kasamba.

Selmor also managed to recruit a cast of heavyweight local artistes with Sulumani Chimbetu, Andy Muridzo, Jah Signal, Steve Makoni, Sasha and South Africa-based chanter Jah Seed expected to join her on stage.  

Meanwhile in Cape Town on the very same day, Soweto Gospel Choir, Shekinah, Tuku Music and Sho Madjozi, Mahube, Steve Kekana, Moris Goldberg, The Mill, Don Vino and BCUC among many more will perform at a gig held in celebration of Tuku’s life and music. 

This clash seems to be giving weight to assertions by some that they have been cracks in the Mtukudzi family after his death. Over the last few weeks, it has become clear that Wanyanya, now seemingly the custodian of Tuku Musik, has aligned himself with Tuku’s widow, Daisy while Selmor and her sister and manager Sandra are also running their own show. 

However, a closer look might show that the divisions following the death of Tuku were somewhat inevitable. On the sidelines of the great musician funeral, Selmor’s mother and Tuku’s first wife Memory revealed that she had never forgiven Daisy for snatching Tuku away from her. She also doubled down on her belief that when dust was piled on Tuku’s grave in Madziva, he still had his love for her in his heart. 

“I will never forgive Daisy for that and maybe one day God will intervene, I don’t want to lie that I have forgiven her, I have not. I gave birth to Selmor when she had come, I tried to hold on thinking she would let go of my husband but she could not and I decided to leave,” she said. 

She also went on to suggest that some people had tried to drive a wedge between Tuku and his daughters. 

“Some people tried to sow seeds of division and a lot of things were said. However, Tuku realised that it was trivial and the relations were mended and from there they would meet,” she said.    

The bitterness expressed, even at a solemn occasion, suggests that there is no love lost between the two women. Ironically, while Tuku’s death brought together millions of Zimbabwe, it seems to have failed to mend the relationship between the two people who are crucial for his music legacy going forward. 

With the civil war ongoing, it seems there is now more than music at stake. Tuku’s rich musical legacy was always going to provide a battle ground in the aftermath of his death but things appear to be personal when some of the concerned parties speak. 

If the women who once commanded his heart lash out harshly in public one can only speculate what they tell their children in private.  

Meanwhile, Selmor as the most accomplished musician in the family appears determined to continue her father’s legacy. In one poster, she can be seen emerging from her departed father’s shadow, as if notify the world that through her he will live again. 

The other camp does not appear to be ready to relent as well, setting music lovers for more battles to come in future. As the civil war rages on, it might become obvious to Zimbabweans that the loss Tuku’s family suffered is greater than their own. While music lovers will continue to dance and sing, rejoicing at his infinite wisdom and music mastery, his family might have lost a voice of reason, a voice that could heal a house seriously divided, it would appear. 

Bruce Ndlovu, Sunday Life Correspondent

JOANNA Sibanda’s life has been one long series of firsts and she is not shy to tell anyone who cares to listen. 

When one visits her warm home, she speedily unearths a stash of certificates and accolades that she has won over the years as if to shut the mouth of any naysayer that might doubt her story. 

She spreads them over a table, like precious possessions put on display at an auction. The certificates and awards are proof of a glittering career, one studded with awe inspiring achievements in education.   

Sibanda is a woman of firsts. She was first the first teacher to introduce the “new approach”, a groundbreaking educational strategy that revolutionised Zimbabwe’s education system in 1962. She was the first woman to head Longman Zimbabwe’s sales division, commandeering the support of learned men all over the country who looked at her for guidance. 

Sibanda, the author of Inyathelo textbooks that were once a staple in primary schools across the country, was also the first black woman to possess a driver’s licence. 

“I got my licence in 1968 but it came after a struggle,” she says of the square card that still remains one of her most prized possessions. I had a car but I needed a licence and when I tried to get one they refused to allow me as they said they did not know any black woman who drove a car. They simply refused. They said black women used scotch carts and sleighs so why couldn’t I also do the same? I then realised that I was failing my driving tests because the people in charge did not want me to pass because I was a woman. But in the end, with the help of a few people, I managed to get my licence,” she recalls. 

Time has not been kind on one of her most prized possessions — that historic licence grudgingly given to her 51 years go. Having suffered the wear and tear that was bound to come with five decades of existence, it has lost some of its colour. The country that issued that particular document, Rhodesia, no longer exists and so does the spectacled woman whose picture sits on the left side of the licence. 

That young woman has been replaced by an 86-year-old woman with a photographic memory, a woman who still remembers even her earliest days growing up in a settlement secluded at the corner of a farm belonging to a man she still calls Mr Robinson. 

“I grew up at a place called Ntabende. It was a farm owned by Mr Robinson. That’s where I grew up and I was raised by my mother because my father had passed away. My father passed away in 1938 but I was born in 1934 so you can see I was very young. My father had wanted us to be people who can read and write and not be illiterate people. So my mother took me to a local school which went as far as Standard Three. From then on I went to a boarding school in Ngwenya Mission where I went as far as Standard Six. I then went to Hope Fountain,” Sibanda says. 

At a time when the teaching profession was still at the peak of its glamour, it did not take long for Sibanda to find her calling in that profession. At Hope Fountain she caught the eye of her superiors and soon she was recognised as the cream of the crop. 

“I then trained to be a teacher and then in 1952 I completed my studies. I thought I would go on and find a job as a teacher but the principal that was in charge of the teacher training school said she wanted me to be a teacher at the practising school. There I was responsible for the entire school. I used to ask for books from him so I was reading up on a lot of things about education,” Sibanda recalls.   

There are things that millions of schoolchildren that have come through the education system might take for granted. For example, many among those that got their education after 1962 might not know why they sit in groups when they are in school. Grouping children together might seem a simple enough thing to do, but this was not always the case. In fact, it might not have happened were it not for Sibanda and her new approach to education. 

“Basically the new approach said that children should not sit in a row on a bench. Rather they should sit in a circle of not more than five. In that environment students could interact and as a teacher you should just move around and check on them. Those that came after 1962 don’t know what we used to call straight benches. On these students would sit in a row of as many as 10,” she says. 

While they are now widely accepted as the norm, the principles of this new approach were not always welcomed at the time when they were introduced. 

“I had trouble because it was introducing something new to teachers who felt it was a burden. Sometimes when I was on the way on the bus I would hear teachers, who didn’t know me, talking about me. Some would say who is this Joanna who is giving us so much work, our work used to be simple. One time I had to rise and tell them that I was the Joanna they were talking about and they had to apologise,” Sibanda recalls in amusement. 

After studying infant teaching at Bristol University, and a stint at Mzilikazi High School, Sibanda was to break new ground when she was hired by educational books publisher Longman Zimbabwe. It was at Longman that her writing blossomed. 

“The Principal at the school at Hope Fountain said he was opening up a school in Bulawayo and wanted to know if I was interested in teaching there and I said yes, so I can to teach for a while at Mzilikazi High. I was then offered another job by Longman Zimbabwe. That’s when I started writing seriously. That’s when I wrote my book, Beginning to Learn, a manual for teachers. By then schools were using the New Approach which is what was used until the introduction of the new curriculum. It was during that time that I wrote many books including a book called The twins at the Matobo Hills, which was an imaginary story,” she says. 

Sibanda prides herself for never having applied for a job until the end of her illustrious career in 1997. 

“In my life I’ve never applied for a job. I don’t know how one applies for a job. All the jobs I had were offered by people that wanted to employ me. What I enjoyed and what I treasure is teaching young children. I was managing the whole of Matabeleland and people that I was in charge of were men. In 1993 I got a chance to be the sales representative of Longman,” she reveals.  Despite an illustrious career, Sibanda’s work has diminished somewhat with the introduction of a new curriculum a few years ago. After her husband passed away in 1994 and her only child chose South Africa as his adopted country, Sibanda is familiar enough with loss. The decline of her work’s significance however, has other consequences. 

“We used to get royalties but with the coming of the new curriculum things have changed. Royalties helped me a lot in my life but since last year things have been different,” she says ruefully. 

Amanda Ncube

“MOST people hate the idea of using a design rule book, however, there are some guidelines that make the task of decorating a space more fun and easier,” said Ms Mwazvita Moyo,  a homeowner.

She said these decorating tricks helped her transform an empty space into a flawless and unique home.

Here are some rules that she plucked out of the design rule book that she felt could be useful to other homeowners.

“I know the idea of using a design rule book sounds outdated because I shared the same sentiments until I went through it and realised that I have been missing out,” said Ms Moyo.

She said after reading the book, she realised that there are simple ways of sprucing up space without paying anyone to do it for.

“Sometimes you may feel like your space is lacking something but you do not know what it is. Try combining different textures via accents like rugs, throws or accent pillows. Also mixing materials can have perfect results, for example, metal mixed with wood or rattan or natural woven fabrics with lacquered furniture of walls,” she mused.

Ms Moyo said homeowners should not be afraid to trust and follow their guts when it comes to decorating their homes.

“Do not be afraid to take risks . . . take chances to make a bold statements, updating classic, timeless elements to make them unique. Start small with accessories like a quirky bowl or statement vase.

“Before you make any changes start by using what you have, for example if you have got brownish-red brick walls and they have tonnes of character leave them so that they will help you achieve some kind of industrial look,” she added.

“If they are preventing you from using the colour scheme you really want to kick them to the curb by painting the brick with any colour that you desire.”

She said each and every item in the house should be functional especially if you have limited space.

“Be selective when buying, some items may have visual impacts but those with small spaces should always opt for items that offer form and function. Use every space in a creative way by including pieces that are as functional as they are interesting,” she added.

Ms Moyo added that people should always invest in pieces that they love.

“Personality is very important to me hence I urge people not to purchase pieces for the sake of it but buy things that they love. Before you buy anything ask yourself if the item really resonates with your sense of style. The thing with buying things that you love is that you will always have a place for them regardless of trends,” she said.

Charles Dube

IN last week’s article we summarised challenges faced by guerrillas in training camps. Many comrades of the struggle lost their lives due to diseases and enemy attacks. Thousands lost their lives proving beyond doubt that it was tough out there. We would not have done justice if we pass over this without showing how Benjamin was emotionally affected.

 We saw him receive a “tortured” reception at the war front . . .” and suffers his first emotional blow when his new love-to-be, refugee camp school  teacher Ropa, dies, alongside thousands of others in the bombings by the Rhodesians.” The moving part which haunts Benjamin is when he discovers the dead Ropa clutching a child in each arm and the grisly incident in which he is later called on to execute punishment on an alleged traitor, Mai Tawanda at a pungwe.

Benjamin is distraught when he finds Ropa dead, after all he is human. He yells hysterically: “Bastards! Bastards! Blari Bastards!” In the thickness of problems in the training camp, Benjamin thinks of his mother back home. No matter the circumstances of how he left home he writes an imaginary letter to his mother. In the reflective soliloquy reveals his feelings about his departure from home. He thinks his mother could be worrying about him.

He does not feel he belongs to anything other than the soil on which he sleeps. He is aware that the Rhodesian forces could have given his mother trouble after they found he had gone to join the guerrillas. He thinks his mother is fine and worries about him, but, he advises her not to. He assures his mother that he is not afraid and gives her the real picture of the true realities of war. He makes it graphically clear in the following words:

“If you saw those little children dead under the trees with their arms eaten away and those naked mothers running through the bush you’d know. If you saw those fires and the gaping graves maybe you’d stop chiding. If you saw her lying with her eyes open like glass, clutching a child in each arm, you’d know there’s no other way but this.” 

Although all this is contained in an imaginary letter, it shows the resolve Benjamin has made — to pursue the struggle to its end no matter the circumstances. To him there is no going back. He believes his mother remained chiding him for leaving her and coming to join the liberation war fighters, but he is of the view that he did the correct thing especially when faced with such massacres of women and children.

Benjamin is determined to fight and avenge all these killings by the enemy. The next time we meet Benjamin, together with his colleagues are in the battle front. They have entered the country (Rhodesia) now Zimbabwe from the training camps in Mozambique. They have come to fight Ian Smith’s racist forces. It was risk in the war front hence they had to plan before executing their mission. They are readying themselves to have a third contact with the enemy.

They have already suffered a setback as they lost three comrades crossing the river in the last week. For three nights they have had two pungwes in the village to conscientise them about the war. Among their first targets Benjamin and his group was to terminate the racist farmer, J M P Mellecker, who has been harassing the villagers and confiscating their beasts, at his farmhouse. We see one of his workers, Msindo, pleading with him to return the confiscated cattle to the villagers.

Farmer Mellecker refuses saying their skinny infested beasts strayed into his farm to graze on his grass, and the villagers should pay a fine to have them back declaring that it is his land.

True to the comrades’ word, farmer Mellecker is terminated. His worker Msindo who told one of the guerrillas, Mabunu, of his whereabouts, proving that he is human too, cries out admitting that he has sold out his boss Mellecker. He regrets why he has done that and looks for a bough from which to hang himself. Human life is sacred and cannot just be terminated, that is the reason Msindo regrets having sold out Mellecker to be killed and cries out to his God.

The same applies to Benjamin who was instructed by his commander Baas Die to teach the so called traitor Mai Tawanda, a lesson she will never forget. Benjamin (Pasi NemaSellout) was to bear the agony of killing Mai Tawanda whether truly guilty or not. Baas Die ominously told the villagers that there was a traitor in that village. A sell-out. That was the reason why they all got beaten up and tortured by the Rhodies.

He added that the sell-out had been passing information to the mupuruveya about their plans and movements. On that day she had fed poisonous mushrooms to one of their comrades who nearly died. They searched her bedroom and found a walkie-talkie. Mai Tawanda stepped in front of Baas Die. To cut the long story short she was not forgiven despite her pleas and those of the headman. Benjamin was ordered to teach her an unforgettable lesson.

This was not an easy task for Benjamin as he was bewildered, hesitant and nervously brandished a thick stick. At the end we are told that he hesitated again, stepped forward and struck three quick blows at the woman’s head. The woman twitched and died. But, this was not over with Benjamin as we find Benjamin taking Baas Die to task for making him slaughter that woman, Mai Tawanda, like a beast! He committed the act but his humanitarian nature did not abandon him.

Book review: Harvest of Thorns Classic: A play by Shimmer Chinodya. For views link with charlesdube14058@gmail.com  or sms to 0772113207.

Bruce Ndlovu 

ZIMBABWEAN actress Chiedza “Chi” Mhende has joined the chorus of those in South African showbiz calling for that country’s president Cyril Ramaphosa to sign into law a bill that seeks to protect the intellectual property of content creators. 

Although it has been subject to many battles with some claiming that it is a serious threat to online freedom, the latest draft of South Africa’s Copyright Amendment Bill is before Parliament. While others have welcomed it, not everyone is happy with it, especially regarding permission for the reuse of content.

“So this current bill is a users bill disguised as a bill that is for educational purposes. I think there is a somewhat more cynical aspect through how the bill is promulgated around international tech companies who will gain the most from having free use of content,” said Khethiwe Ngcobo, a member of the Independent Black Filmmakers Collective. 

However, in a letter shared on social media, Mhende urged the South African president to sign the bill. 

“This #ThoughtfulThursday, allow me to offer to you and the universe what I’m PRAYING for TODAY. (Coz where two or more are gathered . . . right???) What would YOUR life be, without the T.V., theatre, CINEMA, NETFLIX or DVD? Without the stories that inspire us, on the radio, stage or in the movies? Well, I for one . . . would be unemployed! I’d have no purpose really. Uninspired I would be . . . AND YOU, my friend, would have nothing to balance your reality. NO stories of which to speak, to teach, encourage and therefore relate to THAT very human thing,” she wrote before urging the South African president to sign the bill when it comes before him. 

Nhlalwenhle Ncube

YOU cannot teach an old dog new tricks! This is one of the popular adages which make it clear that changing someone is mission impossible. Those who try to ‘‘re-create’’ a person always find themselves disappointed and heartbroken.

Of course each and every person has got an image and expectations of the kind of person she would love to spend her life with. Unfortunately it’s not a walk in the park to meet that ideal person and some people will then consider option B where they tell themselves they will change the other person to be what they want.

At first it will be easy to tolerate his habits and all because you will be hoping that one day he will change and do as you want so that he keeps you happy. Months will turn into years, but still that person will be sticking to his “unacceptable” behaviour. This will then lead to fights and tension in the relationship taking away your happiness.

You may want them to change but remember that encouraging someone to be their best self is an admirable quality of a supportive partner, but forcibly trying to change your spouse can do more damage than good — for both of you.

Changing old habits is something which must happen naturally and out of choice, not something you exhaustively pursue. For example, we have seen some men stopping or let me say putting their drinking habits at halt just to please their partners. It will be “out of choice” after being threatened with red cards. It happens for some time or whenever they take beer, they will be doing it behind their partner’s back. After years when you are married and with children, the man will start showing his true colours because he will be knowing that he has put you in a corner where moving out is not an easy thing.

You then begin to live with regrets as your mission of changing him would not have yielded any results, but instead made it worse with him trying to prove a point. It is just as good as changing his belief, most have failed and at the end it brings confusion in the family. 

Putting yourself on a mission to change your spouse is highly disrespectful to them and to your relationship. There are many habits that are healthy to break such as smoking or overeating but trying to change your partner’s personality isn’t one of them. Respect indicates that your feeling will always be considered, that your happiness and welfare are important to your partner and promotes a feeling of trust, appreciation and empathy. When you disrespect your spouse, you break down their self-esteem, hurt their feelings, and demean their sense of self.

Personal growth is fantastic. Everyone has things, be it bad habits, goals, or foibles that they could work on. You should not always preach your partner the gospel that he must change and be like so and so. It will be like telling them that they not good enough for you and you wish that other person you admire was your wife or husband. This can push them away and cause distance in the relationship.

Trying to change your partner will leave them feeling unworthy and leave you emotionally exhausted. Your partner is not your special project and you are not responsible for any changes they make in their lives. While your love and encouragement may help them reach their potential faster than they would on their own, their journey to a better self is ultimately their own. Don’t change your partner. If you are in a relationship with the idea that you’ll only be happy when your partner fits the mould you have designed for them, you should not be in this relationship because you are just waiting for a bomb to explode, leaving you hurt. Either you like the person you are with or you don’t, not the business of “recreating” your own creature.

Always know that there is a vast difference between encouraging someone to be their best self and trying to change who they are completely. A complete make-over is not easy to do and each and every human being is different. Remember that you and your partner have got different backgrounds. Better treat them with love and respect enjoying them for who they are now, not who they could be someday.

WhatsApp your comments to 0712978471.

Sunday Life Reporter

WHILE there is no doubt that Zim Dancehall has become the musical genre of choice among both urban and rural youths in the country, it’s emergence and sprouting has remained a capital (Harare) artistes thing with artistes from Bulawayo seemingly struggling to lift the genre’s flag.

This however, is not to say there are no artistes who have tried their luck with the genre in Bulawayo, they are a finger count but their market penetration has proved difficult if not painful.

Bulawayo has therefore, remained a musical tributary of South African genres, much so because of the history of common culture. 

The genre has remained flexible, catchy and vibrant when sung in Shona and it looks unthinkable that an artiste can do the lyrical rhymes in iSiNdebele or English and those that have tried packaging it in iSiNdebele do not have a success story to tell.

But that Zim Dancehall has traversed the country’s tribal divide speaks volumes of its power and any serious youthful artiste thinking of getting in the cut-throat music industry would want to try it.

The genre has quickly substituted the once popular urban grooves genre that was a little cool and in most cases a fusion of R n B and local beats with meaningful lyrics while its (urban grooves) artistes went into hibernation.

The local youthful musical revolution saw the coming in of names such as Winky D, Killer T, Soldier Love, Jah Signal, Hwindi president and a lot of other artistes suffice to say all the popular ones are from Harare.

In Bulawayo Wyper Real whose real name is Allen Maunze has been trying to match pound for pound with the Harare artistes with his single Rudo catching the attention of many listeners who have been comparing it to Winky D’s Mugarden on local radio Star FM’s Zim Dancehall Drive.

His other tracks are Babie Zvinei, Pandobatanidza and Nzira dzangu.

It is however, the single Babie Zvinei that is putting his name on the musical charts locally and regionally — a song that talks of the dangers of cheating such as diseases, murders and the importance of faithfulness in a love affair.

Sunday Life talked to the young artiste who said although his single has been making waves, he remains little known much so because he has not yet gained the ‘‘big name’’ status.

He has 15 singles so far and has done collaborations with Hwindi president on a track called Panorira, another collaboration on Rudo with Celcious and another with Uncle Epperton on Rugare.

He said he is inspired by the dancehall gurus such as Winky D, Killer T and many others.

On why dancehall artistes have been failing to penetrate the Bulawayo market the young artiste Wyper Real said it was because there were no promoters who were working with them and marketing the Bulawayo talent.

“I have been doing music for a while now but Bulawayo is a little difficult ground for the sprouting of Zim Dancehall. Not that people do not like the genre, they do as evidenced by the numbers that come for shows when Harare guys are here. Here in Bulawayo there are no promoters for the genre and marketing yourself as a budding artist is just difficult. I have often been called to curtain raise for the big names. I curtain raised for Winky D, Shinsoman, Soldier Love and many more and I am working hard to make my work get the recognition that it deserves,” said Wyper Real.

He added that the industry was cut-throat and not for the weak. “If you are weak you will find yourself out. It needs a lot of determination and hard work as it demands quality and quality cannot be rushed. I therefore take my time so that I do not produce bubblegum music,” he said.

Wyper Real said he was happy that his music was getting airplay on Star FM and Skyz Metro FM saying his other single Kunevakainda resonates very well with the Cyclone Idai disaster that ravaged the country. 

The song, he said, talks about those that are departed, those who were victims of natural disasters and accidents and has a video portraying the natural disasters.

He said he was aware that Zim Dancehall was not very popular when sung in IsiNdebele but was going to try it in collaborations with artistes such as Sandra Ndebele. He is going to share the stage with Jah Signal, Seh Calaz, Hwindi president, POY and Mzoe 7 in Bulawayo on the first week of April.

Nigel Siziba, Sunday Life Reporter

AWARD-WINNING Hip-hop star Asaph real name Tafadzwa Tarukwana who recently landed a job at Skyz-Metro is having a time of his life behind the microphone.

“My experience at Skyz Metro FM has been good so far. Radio is a world full of endless possibilities so I’m interested to see where I’ll be in a year or two, especially if I work hard and people learn to love my show,” he said.

He feels that being on radio will grow him and it will also be a learning curve for him on what is really required in music.

“Yes, I think being at Skyz Metro will grow me as an artiste to a certain extent because I’ll get to understand a lot of behind the scene workings of a radio station and what they look for in music but the move is more beneficial to Asaph the brand. I’m now more than a rapper or musician,” said Asaph.

All his music lovers and listeners should not worry as he said he will be able to juggle both his music career and his job at the radio station.

“I’m going to divide my time professionally and equally between the spaces. Plus my show is only on Friday nights so I’ve got enough time to be on radio and in studio and on stage, being needed elsewhere means that bookings would have to be worth it and a lot more professional. When all you do is music promoters treat you like you’re desperate,” he said.

He also vowed that he will burn the midnight oil to put local artistes in the limelight as he has set sights on turning up-and-coming artistes into recognisable names and acts.

Nigel Siziba, Sunday Life Reporter

AWARD-WINNING Njabulo “Tytan” Nkomo, who got married to Olinda Chapel in 2017 has been trying by all means to push his career to another level despite his humble beginnings.

In an interview, he said he grew up in Prospect Waterfalls with his two siblings.

“Tytan is a father, husband, musician and entrepreneur. I grew up in Prospect, Waterfalls in a family of two siblings and my mum. My dad passed on when I was nine years old,” he said.

He discovered his love for art when he was just 13 and started it professionally when he was 19. 

“My marriage has influenced my life pretty well. The pressure I have got from it has forced me to grow fast and well through my businesses and career as a musician. My life experiences have made me understand people more. Experience is the best teacher,” said Tytan.

His fans should expect a star studded album this year.

“My fans should expect an album this year with most songs from my in-house producer under Skhokho Empire called Gabz Morgan with songs like Pamha, Make It Better, Love You More (with Sani Makhalima) and some more I won’t reveal yet. Other songs coming up are from producers like Jusa Dementor, Nashe, Mr Kamera and Nyasha Made It,” he explained.

His hard work has not gone unrecognised as he has bagged some awards.

“I have a Coca-Cola video of the Year Award, Zimbabwe Youth Achievers Award Video of the Year, ZIMA Award Nomination, Radio Zimbabwe Song of The Year Runner Up, Nama Award Nomination and more nominations,” said Tytan.

Peter Matika, Senior Life Reporter

FROM humble beginnings, the church has always found ways and means to communicate the gospel of God.

From Moses writing the 10 commandments on tablets of stone, to saints writing scriptures on paper, today the modern day man of God has adapted to the next level of spreading the word through social media.

We have seen social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, among many others being used to make viral videos, but now man and women of God have found the platforms to be easier modes to reach out to the world.

“The underlying power of social media is not the technology or platforms but the power comes from people connecting with each other. Like how many saints the church has an unimaginable opportunity in social media to extend the borders of God’s Kingdom online,” said Apostle Patrick Boanerge.

Boanerge, a former pastor with Prophet Shepherd Bushiri’s Enlightened Christian Gathering church (ECG) said he had seized the opportunity and found it was easier to connect with those that were unable to attend church services on Sundays. 

Boanerge, who has since established his own ministry in the city — Flag Carriers Assembly, said he received his calling in 2006, with his main calling being that of preaching.

“My vision is to have a church that will work with the society and respect the rule of law. In 2006 God spoke to me and said he would start using me as his mouth piece. He said to me he would use me as an agent of change to repair and rebuild the broken hedge. “After my resignation in 2018 from ECG a lot started to happen. On 5 May 2018 I established FCA, which is based in Thorngrove suburb. “We started off with just 7 people but now we have a gathering of more than 200 people,” said Boanerge.

On the use of social media, he among a few men of God, has seized the opportunity to use social media as a platform to spread the word of God.

“But not everyone will seize the opportunity. Some churches will choose to stick to their conventional methods. It will however, deal a great blow but none-the-less they will adapt. I envision that great things will happen through the grace of the Lord,” said Boanerge.

He said he has hopes to build a 25 000-seater church in Bulawayo that will have technological advancements.

“It shall come to pass, as the Lord has spoken. This year we will be celebrating our one-year anniversary and it will be a celebration not to miss. It is open to all and anybody,” said Boanerge.

He said it was his vision to weave social media into the church’s cultural fabric.

“Whether it is volunteering on the church’s digital team or real time we will make it a priority to have sermons on social media,” said Boanerge, who holds early morning sermons on Facebook everyday at 8am.

“One cannot control the online conversation surrounding the church but it can be influenced. For the church to thrive it requires a new way of thinking,” said Boanerge.

He noted that he would soon merge his social media pages so that he is able to spread the gospel across all platforms.

Bruce Ndlovu, Sunday Life Correspondent

WHERE are they now? 

This is the question most ask of the group of child stars who lit up the country’s screens as part of Kidznet, ZBC’s flagship children’s unit. 

At the height of their fame, Kidznet’s best presenters were rightfully regarded as the princes and princesses of Zimbabwean Television. They were Zimbabwe’s answer to the Disney stars that Hollywood was producing at the turn of the century.

The path to superstardom seemed wide open for the likes of Makanaka Wakatama and Tinevimbo Chimbetete and, at that time, if any naysayer suggested that their careers had reached their peaks in those years of puberty they would have been laughed off.

They were young and gifted and moved with the grace of the lucky few that the television gods had smiled on them at such a tender age. But good things rarely last. While they were still hot property on the small screen, rumours of bad behaviour soon turned into loud pub talk. When Makanaka Wakatama allegedly got hitched while she was in Form Three at Dominican Convent High School in Harare, the lid on the troubled lives of the Star Kidz presenters was blown open. It has not been closed since.       

In this regard Kidznet’s crop of young stars showed that talent was not the only thing they had in common with their distant cousins, the Disney stars that are darlings across the world. It seemed they had inherited the notoriously wayward behaviour of those child stars from Hollywood? 

Years later, the glory days of some of Kidznet’s finest seem to be far behind them, with almost all of them having seemingly settled for a life away from the camera. While some will continue asking, where are they now? Others will ask what exactly went wrong. One of the people who might be able to answer some questions on how the teenagers that seemed to have such a bright future ahead of them lost the plot is former ZBC Television Services CEO Susan Makore. Now the CEO of AB Communications, Makore has had a steady rise from her days as the founder of Kidznet. Life has not been as kind to the young stars that she helped propel to the top. In an interview with online podcast 2 Broke Twimbos, Makore said it was a pity that the likes of Makanaka had seemingly failed to realised their full potential on the small screen. 

“There’s a worry by parents that we live in a very abusive environment. Yes, you’re right, if you look at history. Makanaka Wakatama was a star. She was a role model. But then when she disappears from the radar in terms of she’s no longer on Television and the reason for that has to do with whatever happened to her then as a parent you become apprehensive. You say OK, some person who was listening to her and who was way older got to like her and took advantage of a young person then yes, that’s a worry,” she said. 

Makore said despite the fact that Makanaka’s case had seen some lose faith in the media industry it was in fact evidence of a larger problem in society. 

“But I think it’s about having a structure that tries to protect. You can never protect children from predators wherever they choose to land at, whether it’s within a media house or a bank or a hospital. What you need are mechanisms to ensure that you do the best that you can to protect vulnerable groups. 

“It’s always a struggle for corporates in whichever industry and media can’t be singled out as the one that’s abusive. The reason why you end up knowing in the media is because of it’s open structure because we’re the ones that push the information,” she said. 

Makore said the failure of child stars to flower into full bloom was also down to lack of opportunities on TV as they grew older. 

“I think it’s a growth thing. I think it’s a process. Also look at where we were starting. I think from the time we got independent in 1980, (we only started Kidznet in) 2001-2002, which was years later, we now start having local presenters being role models. So I think it’s a process, as we grow as a nation we will have more child stars. Also the other aspect that you need to look at is the lack of competition in terms of spaces to put these young stars. 

“You’ve only got ZBC which is one channel. In other countries you’ve got a children’s channel and you’ve got ten, fifteen channels that are broadcasting. So it means that in terms of having more children growing up and seeing themselves as role models and promoting the broadcast institution as a place to work, a place to grow and a place to make a living. That will come in time. I’m sure now as we’re talking about this whole digitisation era we will also look at,” she said. 

While the cream of the talent that came up during the Kidznet era had disappeared into the wilderness, there was hope that the current crop would go on to do bigger things. 

“This (Kidznet) was the first time we ever did it. But if you look at ZBC you’ve got a lot of young stars that are growing within ZBC itself. People that have started with the youth programme are moving into being mainstream presenters of their own shows. Perhaps what we’re not doing enough as media is exposing these young stars that are actually moving,” she said. 

While some might bemoan their failure to run successful careers on TV as adults, Makore said she was happy that the former Kidznet stars had moved on with their lives. 

“It would actually be good to trace them. You know it wasn’t just those ones. We also had operations in Bulawayo, from Montrose Studios. So we had your Osley Muringais, there we also presenters. Some of them are around and they’re doing stuff for themselves. I know Tinevimbo is still in the media business. I know that Makanaka had an organisation that was assisting young people and young adults to understand what happens when things go wrong when you’re young,” she said.

Bruce Ndlovu, Sunday Life Correspondent

FOR three years Cont Mhlanga stood on the sidelines as he passed on the button to younger arts administrators who, in his absence, would have the responsibility to run the legendary centre. 

For those three years, and maybe some years before the retirement of Mhlanga, nothing worthwhile seemed to come out of Amakhosi.

Instead of hundreds of feet shuffling into Amakhosi to watch top talent, the centre got visitors of a different kind as travellers streamed in to board buses that rank at the illustrious arts institution. 

The centre seemed to have lost its spark, with empty stages and walls that looked thirsty for a fresh lick of paint. Skyz Metro was supposed to breathe fresh life into the centre but Amakhosi seemed to suffocate after the station’s relocation to the more centrally located Pioneer House. 

With all this going on, many were left asking the wisdom of Mhlanga’s retirement. Where was he, some quizzed, and had he done a good enough job of preparing those that were to steer the Amakhosi ship after its captain had decided he had had enough of life in the arts.

While obituaries were being written about the death of an institution that had given birth to some of Bulawayo’s greatest talents in the arts, Mhlanga has been plotting its resurrection. 

Mhlanga chose the World Theatre Day Celebrations last week to announce and share with the world how the revival would take place. Those that made the pilgrimage to the Mecca of Bulawayo arts would have seen how a revitalised Mhlanga is eager to get the centre up and running again. 

The centre is now home to young artistes again, with young writers now charged with coming up with productions that can bring back audiences to the famed Cultural Centre. In fact, while Mhlanga earned his reputation for producing compelling stage acts, he now insists that he wants to produce equally great writers.     

 “The challenge that we face right now is that the angle of the industry that we’re launching is hinged on writing. It’s not hinged on acting. In that way it’s different from the old Amakhosi. It is a completely different thing,” he told Sunday Life. 

Mhlanga’s vision includes a blockbuster historical musical featuring some of the city’s most renowned arts practitioners. While he will be the director of the play set to star Sandra Ndebele and other prominent city artistes, Mhlanga said writers will have to take centre stage. 

“The writers are all new. Everyone is new. We’re doing a musical in September starring the likes of Sandra Ndebele, Thembi Ngwabi and the young talent that we’ve got on showcase right now. It is purely for export. It will in the Middle East, South East Asia and other parts of the globe. 

The writers are what’s lacking. So we’re training writers. When you’re training writers you’re giving them little plots and each one of them is working on a plot of their own. And those plots will be performed here. It’s a big musical but when they’re performed individually at Amakhosi you won’t know,” he said. 

Mhlanga revealed that training was already in progress even before last week’s launch, with those the centre had taken under its wing working on repertory theatre. Repertory theatre is a system of play production in which a resident acting company keeps a repertory of plays that are always ready for performance, often presenting a different one each night of the week, supplemented by the preparation and rehearsal of new plays. 

“What this means is that at Amakhosi every Friday there has to be a theatre rep, meaning theatre repertory. This means we will be performing a new play every Friday. Every week we will have a new play by a new writer. 

“You remember Plays on Sunday? We’re launching it again on 1 July in ten different hubs in the western suburbs. So we will choose ten community halls where every Monday to Friday they will be performing a play at 4PM. When you’re a theatre rep your job is to perform and that is what they will be doing,” he said. 

According to Mhlanga after their training the new Amakhosi recruits would have to learn on the job.

“We’re training them between now and 1 July but from then onwards they will learn as they go. They’ll learn on stage. But not only that, when writers write they’re making stars so if you write your play we will assess it and decide who to cast and so your CV grows,” he said. 

While some have been bemoaning the death of community halls as spaces where raw art used to thrive, Mhlanga has instead seen them as opportunities to get bums on benches again as Amakhosi will spearhead their utilisation again. 

“They will go all over Bulawayo but on Fridays they will be here. However, on Fridays they will also be joined by other writers so from 2pm to 7pm we will have plays. All these will be one-act plays. If a writer is wow, we will then give them one hour. If they’re more wow we will then give them a series. If they get even better then we give them a heavy series like a historic play,” he said. 

Mhlanga also revealed that Amakhosi would be utilising its partnership with Skyz Metro, with the station set to dedicate an hour to Amakhosi radio plays every day. 

“These kids have already started working on a radio short (play). It was written by Nhlalo Dube and produced by Luke Mkandla. It will be playing on Skyz Metro. So that is also the new strategy at Amakhosi. From 1 July, Amakhosi will have one hour at Skyz Metro every day. It will be used to showcase the work of writers who have projects, writers who’re doing things,” he said.

Despite his optimism however, Mhlanga cautioned that the lack of writers could potentially throw a spanner in the works. 

“We don’t have writers for the historical series that people want. We have an oversupply of actors but no writers. So our strategy is that we’ll be importing directors. So it you write your script and its good then you progress to a one-hour play then we bring in a director from Harare, Mutare or wherever to direct the play. You won’t do it yourself,” he said.

Raisedon Baya

I STARTED writing mainly because I was excited about seeing my name in print or on a poster. I remember the first days seeing my name in the newspaper under this paper’s short story column and some people in my neighbourhood passing by my place and shouting that they had seen my name in the newspaper. I remember the look on my mother’s face when people started telling her your son writes for the paper and how it has always been difficult to tell people that I really don’t work for the newspaper but that I’m just a regular contributor.

 My passion for writing dates long back. My love for stories started at primary school, first as a form of escapism and later as some form of positive entertainment. I lived in a neighbourhood that had too many distractions. Poverty. Sex. Drugs. Crime. Sometimes I look back and wonder how I survived all that. I grew up watching many young people throw their lives away by making small, stupid decisions. Our choices were very limited. I’m glad I discovered the library and it was so generous to me it ended up saving my life.

 Later when I realised that all I wanted to do was write I started asking myself serious questions about why I write and for whom. The answers to these questions started shaping my writing. I write to provoke, to probe, and sometimes to shock. I write because my writing helps me understand the people and what’s happening around me better. I write because if I don’t I will go mad, insane. Writing keeps me grounded. I write to keep records and later remind people what happened years back. I write to give direction or at least point towards the right direction. Most of my writing, especially for the stage, can be termed political and I have no problem with that tag. Ngugi Wa Thiongo says every writer is a political writer, the only difference is whose politics. I write to give a voice to the voiceless, people around me, people whose stories and life inspires my work. Most importantly I write because I have something strong to say. If you have nothing to say don’t bring people together. Only bring people together when you know you have something to say. I believe every writer must say what they want to say with conviction and passion.

Some years back I consciously and deliberately wrote The Taking, a play about the land struggle and its politicisation. For the first time I struggled with the question “why am writing this story?” I really had to be sure what I wanted to say first. And it was not easy. The issue was too sensitive. But writers have no taboo subjects or sacred animals. Writers say what must be said, even though there are risks of stepping on people’s toes. With The Taking my major focus was to show how violence had suddenly become part and parcel of the country’s land distribution and also how the opposition was then pandering to white farmers and trying to portray itself as a pro-white and pro- democracy party. The beauty of writing this play was in being able to stay in the middle, say what had to said but without the obvious biases.

For a writer there is always the excitement of meeting an appreciative audience, especially those who would have been touched and inspired by your work or just the horror of being misinterpreted and wrongly labelled. Years back I wrote a play on lesbianism called Shadows. It was more about corrective rape as a violent and brutal form of homophobia. Last year I followed up on the same issues with Fragile. Again the critical issues was corrective rape. On both occasions I had people asking me whether I was gay and if not why was I sympathetic to their cause. A writer does not have to be gay to write about LGBT issues. Similarly a writer does not have to be a drug addict or dealer to write about drugs. In my creative life I have lived with LGBT people, worked with them and done lots of creative stuff together. They are amazing. Colourful and very creative. They are human beings with rights like all of us.

Inspired by the life of former president Robert Mugabe (I must say his rule was very dramatic and he inspired quite a lot of writing) I penned The Witch-hunters. With this one I knew from the beginning that I didn’t want to write an obvious straight forward play. There are many plays in Zimbabwe that journalists have labelled satires when in fact they are not satires. I believe a satire should take time to be connected to the real subject. To the students of theatre I work with I have always said Animal Farm is the best example of a satire. Remember the real subjects of George Orwell’s stinging attack was not those pigs in that farm. It was something else more serious. So I wanted to write a satire about the  removal of Mugabe from power. I didn’t want to locate my story in any political environment and so I chose a village and the subject of witchcraft to tell my story. We all have someone to blame for our failures. That’s a fact. In the last 20 or so years many Zimbabweans have, rightly or wrongly, blamed Mugabe for their misfortunes. So in the village of Mbonqane an old woman is accused of witchcraft and bringing misfortune to the village. They want her dead or out of the village. Several people that have seen this play have come out with different interpretations of the play, something I found very exciting.

So now I write to provoke, to celebrate, to question, and to stay sane.

Amanda Ncube

CONTRAST is an essential principle as far as home décor is concerned. It refers to the difference in the colour of objects that distinguishes them from one another. 

When correctly done, contrasting elements can make your home look beautiful and live. Here are some tips on how to achieve contrast in your home.

In interior design, contrast can be achieved by three elements namely colour, form and space. Colour can make or destroy your home . . .  each and every colour depicts something from atmosphere to mood to personalities of homeowners. Hence, it is important to select colours wisely and make sure that they complement each other, creating a flow and unity in the room.

Make an object stand out by using two opposite colours to achieve contrast. For example, in your living room you can have a black leather couch and white pillows. Imagine white pillows draped with cushions in contrasting shades of navy blue! Exquisite.

Make sure you use colours that you love in order to make your home a beautiful and relaxing sanctuary that your guests will envy. 

Contrast can also be achieved by combining two or more forms. Form can be created by combining two or more shapes and can be accentuated with the assistance of other elements such as texture or colour. For example one can combine a circular mirror and a rectangular sofa to balance and distribute the attention between both the items. A round coffee table with a rectangular sofa in the sitting room can make a huge difference as it helps achieve contrast.

You can have a bathroom that features visual texture through the use of contrasting countertop and cabinet. In addition, the accent decor and plants add a natural element creating a sense of harmony.  Every feature of the space should transition together complementing each other as a pleasing and consistent whole.

One can also achieve contrast in a living space by dividing the available space efficiently into usable positive (used space) and negative spaces (unused space).

Space is one of the most essential elements of interior design. It acts as a foundation on which the entire interior design plan is built. Hence, it is important that homeowners are well aware of the space available, its dimensions and its utilities.

Space also determines where to place different furniture in your room. For example, if you have a big space you can purchase furniture that is best suited for that space.

Nigel Siziba, Sunday Life Reporter

CREATIVITY is a precious energy and it’s something to be protected. It is putting your imagination to work, and it has produced the most extraordinary results in human culture.

Talking of creativity, one can be tempted to say that Kevin Makhosi did one of the most creative albums titled Nyimbo Za Ku Africa where he uses seven languages.  

“I feel like I did achieve the vision I had from the beginning, that is fusing traditional and modern sounds. It all came out the way I wanted  and the guys behind its production gave it justice so I’m happy,” he said.

He incorporated many languages, local and foreign. “I incorporated many cultures in my projects and used languages like Chichewa, Sesotho, Isizulu, IsiXhosa, IsiNdebele, Zulu, English and many more, that has become my identity,” said Makhosi.

In this Afro-House project he featured one of the best artistes in Zimbabwe who brought different dimension in the album.

“I featured Novuyo Seagirl, Qeqeshiwe Mntambo, HiRev Rockstar, Miss D, Afroe Sounds and Shackx. They all do different kinds of stuff and I featured them according to the kind of feel the tracks needed for example with HiRev Rockstar, I wanted to try and fuse my African sound with Rock Music and it came out well,” he explained.

He believes that this project will catapult him to another level.

“This album accommodates everyone, it has no sophisticated crowd. Plus incorporating different artistes from different genres helped broaden my market. People are way interested in my new sound and that’s the support I need,” said Makhosi.

Rumbidzai Mhlanga, Sunday Life Reporter

AWARD-WINNING songstress Novuyo Seagirl is set to share the stage with Zim dancehall musician Enzo in Bulawayo next week.

Seagirl said she was humbled to share the stage with the man of the moment.

“I feel honoured and very happy about sharing a stage with one of the best Zim dance hall artistes that I adore. I’m Ishall’s number one fan, I’m really looking forward to singing along the 50 magate song with him in person,” she said.

The show will see revellers partying into Independence Day as it will be held on the eve of the holiday.

Seagirl, who ironically will be the only female artiste to perform at the event promised nothing but fireworks.

The AEIOU hit maker said she loves listening to Zim dancehall particularly Enzo’s music which will make it easy for her to blend easily with him. She hinted that she would be dropping her latest album soon and would be soon undertaking a tour.

“What I can say is that my fans should brace for my upcoming album titled Love, Bitter and Sweet. I also featured in Kevin Makhosi’s latest album Nyimbo Zaku Africa, people should take time and listen to it and recently I dropped a single with my twin sister Lwandle Nomvula,” she said.