Author promotes disadvantaged writers

“My life revolves around developing communities. It was sad when I left the country, but that was the beginning of a new life,” she said.

Mushonga is also the author of Stories from Africa: Meet Kapitau Junior and has established her own publishing company, Kapitau Publishing Ltd, based in Leicester which focuses on promoting disadvantaged refugee writers.

A born writer

“Even though I pursued a teaching career, I am a born writer. My interest in writing started at primary school. When I migrated to the UK, I saw an opportunity to grow as a writer and publisher and now I try to help others as well.”

The idea behind her company was to publish her own works and help upcoming writers in disadvantaged communities, particularly refugees and immigrants.

The Wedza-born writer believes her mother, who was a very good storyteller, influenced her writing skills.

“Every evening in my mother’s dung smeared round hut, we would gather round a fire, roasting fresh corn cobs whilst listening to stories, mainly folktales, legends and sometimes eerie tales. My mother loved telling stories. We loved her stories,” she said.

Mushonga, who was born just two years before the beginning of the Second Chimurenga in then-Rhodesia, also attributes her appreciation of community development to her peasant parents who lived in Mukazi village.

“Born fourth in a family of six children, life was very hard. There was so much to do in the fields, in the garden, at the pastures and in school. The war meant life was far from normal.”

New voices

After attending St Marks Goneso and Waddilove secondary school in Marondera, Mushonga graduated as a Primary school teacher at Seke Teachers’ College.

In the United Kingdom, Mushonga is flying the country’s flag high as a fellow of the Rayne Foundation. Her writing project, New Voices Wagon Project, won in the 2012 Big Idea Competitions.

“I am glad that I have managed to remain on top of the New Voices Wagon Project which promotes reading and writing among immigrant communities. This project also seeks to explore the use of writing as a therapeutic tool. The project is supported by Praxis Community Projects, English Pen and other organisations and individuals.”

In 2011, Mushonga and her siblings set up the Vision Achievers Trust, a charity aimed at helping disadvantaged children and their families in Zimbabwe and beyond.

“I think I have the passion that my late mother had to help people. She simply shared the very little she had.”

Full potential

Mushonga is also considering setting-up community resource centres in Wedza.

“These centres will be equipped with modern technological gadgets like computers and resource books for farmers, parents, teachers and students. I will also be helping aspiring writers in remote villages to realise their full potential in writing and publishing their stories.”

Mushonga believes women are have a very important role to play as leaders in society.

“It’s about grooming and supporting aspiring women leaders who have what it takes. We have to start believing in ourselves to persuade everyone else to take us seriously. I think sometimes we take issues of gender so far such that we confuse the younger generation. We do not want to create animosity between young boys and girls. We are all in it together, both men and women – boys and girls.”