The poetry session, which featured ten poets from Harare and attended
by approximately 200 people, was held at the First Street mall and paid
tribute to late poets, Dambudzo Marechera, who during his time
performed his poetry at the same venue and the late Solomon Mutsvairo
who wrote the popular poem, Nehanda Nyakasikana, recited by the late
Vice-president, Simon Muzenda during national events.
In a commemorative message, MISA-Zimbabwe advocacy officer, Tabani
Moyo, emphasized the importance of freedom of expression in a democracy
and raised concern over the continued incarceration of freelance
journalist, Anderson Shadreck Manyere is charged for acts of
insurgence, banditry, sabotage or terrorism under Section 23 (1), (2)
of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act
The poetry performances touched on the themes of love, culture, the
daily life challenges of the ordinary Zimbabwean and the need to be
able to speak out.
63-year old poet, Julius Chingono who performed an unpublished piece,
My uniform, that described the advantage that uniformed police
officials had over ordinary Zimbabweans during the food shortages when
they skipped the queues, was briefly detained by the police who alleged
that the poem was offensive. He was released after convincing them that
the poem reflected what happened in the past.
MISA
Post published in: Politics