Lifestyle

Tsitsi Dangarembga: There is no freedom in Zimbabwe

Published

3 years ago

October 23, 2021

HARARE – Tsitsi Dangarembga, born in 1959 in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), studied psychology in her home country and later at the Film and Television Academy in Berlin.

Today she is one of the most important filmmakers in her country.

In her films, she has dealt with socially relevant topics such as Aids and violence against women.

She also actively supports young women filmmakers in her country and founded her film production company Nyerai Films in 1990.

As a writer, she gained international recognition with her trilogy of novels, Nervous Conditions (1988), The Book of Not (2006) and This Mournable Body (2018), which follow a young woman’s struggle for independence.

Tsitsi Dangarembga is also involved in the discussion surrounding looted colonial art in Berlin’s museums.

In her home country, she actively campaigns against corruption and was briefly arrested in July 2020 for protesting against the Zimbabwean government. Proceedings are currently still pending against her.

On October 24, Tsitsi Dangarembga will be honored with the 2021 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade at the Frankfurt Book Fair.

Tsitsi Dangarembga is also involved in the discussion surrounding looted colonial art in Berlin’s museums.

On October 24, Tsitsi Dangarembga will be honored with the 2021 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade at the Frankfurt Book Fair.

DW spoke to her ahead of the award ceremony.

DW: You are the first woman from sub-Saharan Africa to be awarded the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade. How does that make you and other female writers from the African continent feel?

Tsitsi Dangarembga: I am thrilled and I am delighted.

For me, it has been quite a long road to this level of recognition and appreciation, and so I’m doubly grateful.

I think that seeing somebody that one can identify with, doing their thing and doing it well and succeeding and having the good achievement recognized, is always encouraging to other people.

DW: After the fall of long-time president Robert Mugabe and the accession to power of his deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2017, your home country Zimbabwe remains mired in a deep crisis.

The population suffers from the socio-economic situation and massive human rights violations.

How difficult is the situation, especially regarding freedom of expression?

I think of freedom of expression in two ways. I think of it in the way that it is normally thought about, which is when somebody has said something, what are the consequences of that expression?

So indeed, we have repression with respect to freedom of expression.

We have a joke in Zimbabwe:

There is freedom of expression, but there is no freedom after expression.

So, people are aware that if you say certain things, there might be repercussions from the state.

Or if the state gets to know about it, which they often do, because it seems that there are people who are willing to inform the state about what people do and say.

For me there is another kind of freedom of expression: One can only express oneself if one has the means to do it, and this is increasingly difficult.

People can often not go on social media to express their views simply because data is so expensive.

Literature requires a lot of time for writing.

And because of the crisis in Zimbabwe and the fact that every day is such a grind to find just the basics for survival, people do not have the time and the leisure to sit down and reflect in peace to write what they might want to write.

To film is even more difficult because it takes a lot of financial resources now.

Financial resources in Zimbabwe are regulated by the state.

In one way or another, all businesses have to register with the state.

So, those bigger companies who might wish to maybe support creative narrative have to be careful about which narratives they support, because if there are narratives that do not support the state, then they could also get into trouble.

So, there is a level at which there is no freedom of expression because people, the resources, are withheld from certain groups of people.

Does that situation influence your work?

Yes, the situation does influence my work.

This is why, in fact, I have not produced a film of my own for many, many years.

And in terms of writing, that is why it takes so long [Editor’s note: she wrote her three books over three decades].

There is just so much else to do to manage to survive, to make sure that there’s food on the table, that I don’t have the space to sit down and write in the peace and quiet that I need.

After the independence in 1980, there were many very good and independent publishers and bookstores in Zimbabwe.

One of the best, maybe the best book fair in Africa was held in Harare.

All that came to an end. How hard is it to simply gain access to books at the moment?

Access to books in Zimbabwe is very difficult.

Books are now taxed when they come into the country.

They are exceedingly expensive and very few people have the credit cards that are necessary to buy books.

And so, in fact, people are reading less and less.

People are still interested in producing narrative, but the publishing industry has collapsed alongside the other industries in the country and certainly the creative industries.

There are very few industries in Zimbabwe that are still functioning, and so it is very difficult for any young person in Zimbabwe to think about a career in writing.

We find that the writers are tending to move to other countries, where there are industries in books and literature that they can participate in, and so really, the idea of literature and writing is not receiving support from the government or from any of the sectors that are actually still thriving.

From time to time you will find that NGOs will publish a book.

It might be fiction, it might be non-fiction but it is always within the context of the development narrative that cast Africa as a problem: “Africa is undeveloped.”

Therefore, it has this problem, which we have to tackle in this story.

It, therefore, makes the problem the protagonist, and it collapses the space between the individual in the story and the problem.

So it is actually a kind of narrative that has the effect of making African people identify with themselves as problematic, and so while I believe such narratives are produced in good faith, they do not in fact have a positive impact on the communities and societies that they are intended for.

So, it is very difficult at the moment for people to participate in the literary creation or to access books.

You stood up for more freedom, for more democracy in your country and you were arrested.

You appeared before court in September and you need to get back in December. How dangerous is the situation for you?

My situation in Zimbabwe is not particularly serious. Yes, I was arrested last year on the 31st of July after demonstrating peacefully with two posters and a friend.

I have been to court several times over 10 times now, and in September, the state was not ready to prosecute.

That simply means that they had not done the work necessary to be able to say yes, this case is now going to trial and so I will have another hearing on the 15th of December to find out what happens from there.

The award ceremony for the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade will take place on Sunday, October 24, 2021, in Frankfurt. – DW

Lifestyle

From class monitor to junior parliament: The inspiring journey of Kimberly Simukai

Published

2 months ago

September 21, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY NOTHANDO DUBE

Are leaders born or made? This question sparks debate among scholars. Meet 14-year-old Kimberly Simukai, a young female leader who embodies the answer. Despite her age, Kimberly has already achieved an impressive list of accolades, including being elected to Junior Parliament and serving as Head of SADC Council. In this interview, we delve into Kimberly’s journey and explore her passion for public speaking, leadership, and empowering women.

Our reporter Nothando with Kimberly

N.D: What sparked your interest in Public Speaking, and how did your training in grade three lay the foundation for your current success?

K.S: Well, Public Speaking is all about an audience and you can not call yourself a public speaker when you are a social introvert. So, I think I was always someone who enjoyed talking to people and sharing information with them, so I guess my love for people sparked my interest in public speaking. In the whole journey, I underwent a military public speaking training by my mentor, Miss N Dube and because of the training I grew to realize that this is what I wanted to do and she made me strong to face all obstacles and mountains. I believe all this contributed to my success today.

N.D Can you share a memorable moment or experience from your public speaking journey so far, and how it has impacted in your confidence and skills?

K.S: Well, I still remember when my coach told me to talk to the wall and use it as my audience just because I had failed to rehearse a certain paragraph and now, I have seen the results of it as I am now confident to talk to anyone or any audience.

N. D: As a Form 1 student, being elected into the Junior Parliament is a remarkable achievement. What motivated you to run for office, and what do you hope to achieve in your role as Head of SADC Council?

K. S: As a form 1 student, being elected into Junior Parliament was something that seemed impossible to many and I still remember when I used to tell my mom about Junior Parliament, she would just laugh, thinking that I am making jokes, but I never stopped believing in my dream and I want to be the change so I needed a platform and standing ground for me to do that. That is why I decided to go for it. As the Head of Student Council, an Esteemed Ambassador, I hope to achieve a goal driven nation led by not only men but women as well as a way of promoting women empowerment.

N. D: How do you balance your academic responsibilities with your extracurricular activities, particularly your public speaking engagements and Junior Parliament duties?

K. S: Ever since I was young, I was nurtured and brought up in such a way that I learnt how to manage my academics and my extra- curricular activities at the same time without lacking in any one of them due to the other activity and my journey did not start now. I started in primary school and I used to travel away from school for weeks for chess or public speaking competitions and I would still come back to my school work, so yeah, I have just continued with that and I have never failed. I am an active chess player and I also play golf.

N.D: What advice would you give to younger girls who may be hesitant to pursue public speaking or leadership roles, and how can they overcome any obstacles or self -doubt?

K.S: As girls we have always suffered from toxic masculinity of the opposite sex, always subjected to chores as our duty, but I always tell myself that women are the ones that bring the male species into the world so why allow ourselves to be oppressed by our own produce. As women we need to remember that there is no such a thing as men jobs only, girls and women can take up anything at all. Women are known to have persuasive tongues so public speaking is a smooth sail for women as we were born with this attribute. The only barrier for many women across the world is fear and being scared of doing what others are not doing as a result we tend to be subjects of oppression. Whilst men use their masculinity to show their availability, why not use our mouths as well as women to do the same.

N.D: Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals and aspirations, and how do you see your public speaking skills and Junior Parliament experience shaping your future endeavors?

K. S: I have always dreamt of becoming the first female president of Zimbabwe so with my experience in the Junior Parliament of Zimbabwe and SADC Junior Motivators Parliament and Public Speaking skills, I think that’s where I am headed to. I am also aiming at representing my country in international forums.

Lifestyle

Precious Mathuthu: The 27-year-old Iyasa member making waves in the arts scene

Published

3 months ago

September 7, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Precious Mathuthu, a 27-year-old member of the renowned IYASA (Inkululeko Yabatsha School of Arts) group, has been making waves in the arts scene with her captivating performances.

We caught up with her at the Tourism Gastronomy in Victoria Falls, where she shared her journey, passion, and aspirations.

“It’s nice to be part of this group,” Precious says with a smile.

“It’s a free space for us as youths to learn different things beyond just arts and performance that can impart our knowledge in the future.”

Precious joined IYASA in 2013, and her talent and dedication have taken her to various countries, including South Africa, Botswana, and Malawi.

She has performed in numerous productions, including the popular “Sjaiva Sibancane” video which was her first appearance in the production.

“IYASA has that unique spice that tastes good,” she says, explaining what draws her to the group. “People love our performances, big time!”

With her vast experience in dancing, singing, and acting, Precious sees herself managing artists and becoming a choreographer in the next ten years.

“I’m talented, and I grasp things easily,” she says confidently.

IYASA, has been a force to be reckoned with in the arts scene since its inception in 2001.

The group has toured several countries, including France, Spain, and Australia, and has won multiple local and international awards.

With a focus on empowering young people, IYASA works with around 30-40 youths and has partnered with 40 schools across the country to create productions that tackle issues affecting the youth, such as drugs and substance abuse, and climate change.

As Precious continues to shine in the arts scene, her story serves as an inspiration to young people everywhere, showing that with passion, dedication, and hard work, anything is possible.

Lifestyle

Miss Universe World Sheynnis Palacios visits Victoria Falls

Published

3 months ago

August 22, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY BAYANDA NKATHA

Sheynnis Palacios, the current Miss Universe World, arrived in Victoria Falls on Wednesday as part of her world tour before relinquishing her crown in November.

During her two-day visit, she experienced the best of Zimbabwe’s tourism offerings, including a sunset cruise, interaction with wildlife, and a tour of the Falls.

“I am impressed by the hospitality of the Zimbabwean people,” Palacios said. “Everyone is so welcoming, and Victoria Falls is breathtaking. I will definitely market this beautiful country.”

Palacios was accompanied by Tendai Hunda, Miss Universe Zimbabwe license holder, Brooke Bruk-Jackson, Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2023, and Zodwa Mnkandla, a Miss Universe board member.

They were hosted by Miniyothabo Baloyi-Chiwenga, wife of Vice President Constantine Chiwenga.

Baloyi-Chiwenga, chairperson of Miss Universe Zimbabwe, emphasized the significance of Palacios’ visit. “This is our way of saying, ‘Come and visit Zimbabwe; it’s safe.’ We are thrilled to have Miss Universe World as part of our strategy to market the ‘Brand Zimbabwe’ campaign.”

Palacios’ visit comes shortly after Nicaragua opened its embassy in Harare, strengthening ties between the two nations. As the first Nicaraguan to win Miss Universe, Palacios is making her maiden visit to Victoria Falls and Zimbabwe.

She had previously represented Nicaragua in the 2017 Teen Miss Universe pageant and the 2021 Miss World pageant.

“I am excited to be here and experience all that Zimbabwe has to offer,” Palacios said. “I will ensure that I market this beautiful country and encourage others to visit.