What inspires you to write?

Everyday events. Things happening to me and around me. I am also inspired by the need to record incidents, in history, accurately for posterity. 

I grew up among amazing story tellers; my maternal grandmother told the most fascinating ngano, while on the other hand my paternal grandfather was so adept at narrating his travels, every time he left the village to collect his pension. He could hold fort for hours narrating the journey of just 160km. The concept of kurondedzera is a key part of our way of life, as Karanga people. If you travel, you have to come back and narrate your travels to the rest of your family and friends, in granular detail.

 Do you think there is a difference between a writer and an author?

We are all writers to start with, but when your work is published and you are credited for it, you become an author.

 What is it about the diaspora experience that made you want to contribute to this anthology?

It’s mainly the problems that people in the diaspora face, and they never talk about, especially to their families back home. The pressure to keep the façade that the grass is greener. 

The positive side is that travelling or moving can also open up opportunities you would have never had if you stayed in your village. In SeSotho they say, ‘if you do not travel, you will marry your sister’.

How do you think your works in this anthology contribute to the history and future of the Zimbabwean dispersion? 

Telling accurate experiences about life in the diaspora and helping to set the right expectation level for those moving to the diaspora and their families.

 Briefly describe your writing journey, from how you started to where you are today.

I grew up around books and newspapers. My father is a retired journalist and an avid reader. My mother forced me to join the Masvingo Library at the age of 9 and soon fell in love with Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and Secret Seven. As a teen I then discovered Achebe, Chinodya, Hove et al and these have to a great deal influenced my interest in writing African stories. In high school, my teachers noticed the talent and I was encouraged to write and possibly pursue a career in the creative arts. During my 4^th year in high school, I edited the school’s year book and also started a column in that year book, which has continued to this day. In terms of career, I, however, took a different turn and ended up studying accounting and a career in finance which started at a big 4 auditing firm. My contribution to this anthology is my first published work, although I have been a blogger on a few platforms.

  How do you want your work to be remembered?

I want to be remembered as someone who wrote stories for ordinary people to enjoy, nothing abstract. 

 Would you like to share anything about yourself to help your readers connect with you?

I am an ordinary guy, a husband, a father to two beautiful daughters. I have had the opportunity to travel, live and work in different countries, which has greatly influenced my outlook to life, other cultures, food and to value my own culture - our traditional foods and most importantly our language. I work in Finance and have never had any formal training in writing. Besides my interest in books, I am a sports-junkie. I am a social runner and crazy about Liverpool Football Club. 

Who is your favourite writer and why?

I have two. Shimmer Chinodya and Chenjerai Hove. They are both compelling story tellers. Their books are written in simple language. They also go very far in recording accurately events in history. No embellishment and no pretentiousness in their writing.

What are your future writing aspirations?

I would love to move into writing stories that record events of human interest, written in simple language for ordinary folk to read and enjoy. Most books that record events end up being too academic, too political or too philosophical. In some instances the writing style is too complicated and the jargon very technical. To encourage our people to read, the first step is to write stories that they can read once, understand and relate to. 

I am currently in the research stage of a biography of one of Zimbabwe’s most notorious criminals. His story deserves to be told accurately.

I also want to write in my mother language, Karanga. 

What is your biggest dream?

To contribute to the writing of African stories by Africans, for Africans the rest of the world.

BRILLIANCE OF HOPE

Editors’ note on Sam's 2 stories:

Journey From Without, a fantastic coming of age novelette that oozes the naivety of youth, layered with pertinent issues affecting Zimbabweans who leave for the diaspora. Three friends embark on a journey to South Africa with just the clothes on their backs and very little money, relying on the kindness of strangers on their journey to a better life. The writing style is very transportive and the scenery well captured through many lively characters and vivid descriptions of Karanga customs. The trials and tribulations of living in a foreign land are accurately illuminated, including the stern realisation that the grass is only ever greener after back breaking work. 

Mabvuku to Marylebone is a captivating story of a young man who moves to the UK to help provide for his siblings and aging grandmother. He is taken advantage of by the relatives that help him to relocate before deciding to venture on his own. He juggles studying and work, because he must send money back home in compliance with black tax. A perfect illustration that burdens often shouldered by older siblings mean they end up living for others. This story showcases true Zimbabwean resolve - resilience and grit.