What inspires you to write?

I write because I love doing so. There is an unmatched allure in painting new realities, reimagining old ones and just relating and documenting the human experience. 

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

I think a writer is anyone who enjoys writing in whatever form and has been doing so for a while. An author is someone who conceptualizes an idea, brings it to live through words, then publishes it. I don’t know if I am making sense but yeah, that’s the thrust of it. 

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

Being a millennial, I have been on both sides of the diaspora experience, or should I say, I have experienced many different sides of the multiple facets of the “diaspora experience”.

I have seen siblings, friends and relatives go overseas.  I have stayed out of the country, away from family for sustained periods myself. I have observed from near and far, the effects of the dispersion. All these experiences and observation have compelled me to contribute to the anthology. 

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

My hope is that my works will prompt people to reflect more deeply on the Zimbabwean dispersion. I think that’s the sincere hope of every contributor to this anthology, and by extension, every Zimbabwean writer who has written about the dispersion. We want readers to have access to the complete story of the diaspora experience. 

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

I started writing as a kid, ten thereabouts. My room was always strewn with scribbled paper. At 17,  I attempted to write a novel, “Sprout a bud” about a kid living with albinism who defied all odds (partly inspired by Takadini — the main character from Ben Hanson's novel, Takadini). Unfortunately, school got in the way and I abandoned the venture. Then, I virtually stopped writing fiction until 2017 when inspiration started flowing again. 

My first short story was published in 2019 by Kalahari Review and since then, a couple more have been published by Kalahari Review, Shallow Tales Review, Africa Writer Magazine and Jay Literature. Currently, I'm in the process of putting together a short story collection which I am planning to publish by the end of this year. 

 How do you want your work to be remembered?

Well, I would just want to be remembered as a writer who wrote relatable things in a beautiful way.

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

I am an ardent Football and Tennis fan. My favourite football team is Arsenal and I also have a soft spot for AC Milan and Real Madrid. I am also smitten with nature documentaries. And yeaham a hyper introvert, preferring to stay indoors 

Who is your favourite writer and why?

I am an avid reader and I happen to have a lot of “favourite” writers. So my preferences are seasonal. Currently, my favourite writer is Don Winslow. His “easy going” writing captures the imagination quite like nothing I have come across before. Every time I read his work, I experience the same surreal feeling I got when I read it the first time. It's something words cannot fully capture. 

I am also a big fan of Mario Puzo, the author of the timeless, “The Godfather”. His writing style is impeccable and his story telling, immersive. 

Chimamanda Adichie, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Buchi Emecheta, Chinua Achebe, Ngugi WaThiong'o, Khaled Hosseini, Shimmer Chinodya, Can Themba, Es’kia Mpahlele are also part of my quite comprehensive list of “favourites”.

 What are your future writing aspirations?

Well, I would love to write a couple of short story collections. I don’t see myself being a prolific novelist. Not because I don’t believe in my abilities, but I feel I more drawn to the short form. I also aspire to venture into script writing with time. 

What is your biggest dream?

Well, it is quite hard to give a definite answer to this question, mainly because I harbour a lot of dreams which I consider equally important. But If I have to come up with one, I would say my biggest dream is to be known for producing quality, authentic work and to provide a platform where marginalized writers can do the same. 

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BRILLIANCE OF HOPE

Editors’ note on Tinashe's 3 stories:

Restless Stalker tells a delightfully complex tale, layered with pertinent issues affecting immigrants. The thriller-like opening to the story is gripping and vivid descriptions are used throughout the story. The themes of black tax and its challenges, the shame of failure to provide sustenance for your family back home, inertia and depression, amongst others, are creatively weaved into this narrative. The evolution of the main character, Munacho, is explored and his epiphany at the end is something many Africans are coming to terms with slowly, as they begin to realise that they may never return home.

The Throes, a heartrending account of Kudakwashe, a young soul who seems to be paying for her parents’ mistakes. A well-presented example of what might happen when parents leave their children for better opportunities in the diaspora but fail to maintain an emotional connection with them. It is a story of abandonment – a child grows up with no one to turn to, struggles with mental health issues and ends up a victim of abuse. 

Different Shades of Brown, a well presented chronicle merging the lives of three Zimbabwean women from completely different walks of life and the struggles they are facing in South Africa. We meet Laurah whose husband left her for a local South African woman and faces a tumultuous passage to picking herself up. Musawenkosi faces losing her job if her VISA is not renewed and she suffers various forms of discrimination at work. Anesu is an overworked, underpaid hairdresser. The three women eventually meet in a church led by a pastor with a dark side. The pockets of humour make this story an easy, enjoyable read.