Apart from the NAMAs and the Yvonne Vera Award presented at the annual Intwasa festival, there isn’t much other recognition for Zimbabwean writers. But literature continues to flourish, despite a contracted publishing scene. The announcement of NoViolet Bulawayo as the winner of the 2011 Caine Prize shows the immense potential of Zimbabwe to conquer the world. “We want to unearth more of this talent,” say the organisers.
While the competition is aimed at encouraging Zimbabwean writers who write inside the country under severe conditions and with few resources and opportunities, it will also be open to all Zimbabweans regardless of their geography.
An anthology of new writings selected from the best submissions received for will be published in the New Year. The shortlist will be revealed at the end of December and the eventual winner at the April 2012 ZAA event. The competition will become an annual fixture on the literary calendar and hopefully become an incentive to positively encourage young and emerging writers.
Entries should be no more than 5,000 words and submissions will be by electronic mail only and must be forwarded to stories@zimachievers.com. The deadline line is 20 December 2011. For more information visit www.zimachievers.com.
Post published in: Arts