Zim writers must promote Zim ideologies

Lazarus Sauti

Zimbabwean authors must confront issues of Zimbabwean identity in their works and their works must also cater to everyone in the African continent. They should strive to tell the real Zimbabwean story not the one that is spread by western writers and their peers.

This is so because writing is the primary basis upon which their works and intellect will be judged in educational institutions in the country.

Mashingaidze Gomo, author of ‘A Fine Madness’ believes that Zimbabwean writers must promote Zimbabwean ideologies instead of promoting western ideologies.

Gomo also asserts that writers form this great country must confront issues that are ravaging the continent on a daily basis.

“It is the responsibility of Zimbabwean writers to write in such a way that correct problems that are bedeviling the country. This means Zimbabwean authors should be patriotic and original; they should embrace who they are; and they must cater for everyone in the country and the African continent at large,” says Gomo.

Gomo also believes that for Zimbabwean writers to effectively tell the Zimbabwean story, the country should work hard to change a great deal of things. For instance, the type of education in the country is not producing writers who are proudly Zimbabweans.

Gomo says, “Leaders in this country need to change the education system. After winning the struggle, we ignored the Zimbabwean ideology that informed the struggle.

He adds: “We are forgetting that education is an attitude and that the education system we adopted from our colonial masters is now affecting the country.

“We seem to have an identity crisis. Most writers in the country are Zimbabweans writing in English and this is putting our country to the periphery.”

Accordingly, there is a need to encourage authors to write in indigenous languages so that they can successfully promote positive Zimbabwean values.

This means that the government should come up with programmes that conscientise and motivate writers to be proud of their Zimbabwean identity.

“Being proud of our Zimbabwean origin does not mean that one has to dress like a bushman and beat drums to prove it but it means that writers must be honest of their true selves without copying everything,” Gomo says.

He goes on to say: “Zimbabwean writers should be empowered to work for the country; they should not be influenced by political factors but they should write from the heart. Thus, the involvement of writers in discussions on all aspects of developmental issues in the country should be encouraged.”

To live a legacy, political leaders in the country should also give confidence to writers to manufacture ideas that promote the growth of Zimbabwe.

Borrowing from Rachel Zadok, author of Gem Squash Tokoloshe and Sister-Sister, “A continent without writers is a continent that leaves nothing of themselves to future generations.”

Consequently, it is wise for authors to facilitate writing workshops and mentoring young and upcoming writers.

More so, budding writers should be encouraged to be writers and they should be empowered to be carriers of African stories.

Training institutions have a bigger role to play too. Gomo notes: “They must teach children to read books as a pleasurable experience in itself without thinking of exams. They should also carry out literacy campaigns to promote a culture of writing in the country.”

Gomo goes on to say, “Primary, secondary and tertiary institutions must train Zimbabweans to be researchers who are proud to quote Zimbabweans or Africans not the case of quoting heavily from outside the continent.”

The affable writer urged Zimbabwean writers to take a leaf from Iranian writers.

He says: “Iran is benefiting from the self confidence exuded by authors from that country. The writers are motivated to serve their country and importantly, their works are published in that country.”

This means Zimbabwean writers should publish their work in the country but for this to be effective, local publishers should not be greed. They should pay writers well.

Gomo says: “Government should support indigenous publishing houses. If local publishers are supported, they pay their writers well.”

He adds, “There is also a need to strengthen indigenous textbook production so that it can subsidise creative writing.”

It is critical for the country to come up with effective book development policies. The policies should answer to the Zimbabwean call and they should make reading a habit in the heart and soul of every Zimbabwean.

Signing off, Gomo says, “The duty to build Zimbabwe is not only for political leaders but for every Zimbabwean.”

Accordingly, writers must perform their task; they should write for the growth of the country and their works must change the attitude of Zimbabweans.