Andrew
Nicole Chiimba
BUDDING author Brighton Taruberekera has released a book he hopes will inspire local community leaders and other people to make a positive impact in society.
Taruberekera is a member of a non-partisan election observation group, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, which is based in Belgravia, Harare.
He said his aim is to share crucial information on community development strategies, through his first book “Ideas that Work: A Community Leader’s Handbook”.
The ideas are based on his experience in the network.
“This is a must-have book for councillors, Members of Parliament, traditional and Christian leaders, school officials, environmental and climate change activists, sexual and reproductive health practitioners and youth leaders.
“This is a book that will encourage people to make a difference in the community. It will guide one on what needs to be done in a particular situation,” said Taruberekera.
The writer said he felt it was his duty to help promote development in various communities.
Since he has travelled extensively and rubbed shoulders with some of the great minds in the country, he feels he is in a position to offer sound advice to different age groups.
“There are several people doing amazing things for their communities. Every day, I feel challenged and motivated to contribute to community development.
“Community leadership comes in many ways – be it through election, appointment, inheritance or voluntarism. Everyone can be a community leader. We have faith leaders, activists (climate activists, sexual and reproductive health activists and so on), senior citizens, MPs, councillors and educators, who are leaders in their fields,” he said.
In the book, the writer shares ideas on possible projects to carry out, the type of funding needed and how best to market the ideas, among other things.
According to the author, the book has so far received positive feedback.
“The feedback has been objective and insightful. There are suggestions that I translate the book into African languages, mainly local ones, so that the content can appeal to a much wider audience,” he said.
Taruberekera is a political and development consultant, researcher and writer.
He is a University of Zimbabwe graduate and holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He also possesses an executive certificate in Tour Guiding and Guest Relationship Management, and a certificate in HIV/AIDS Management and Counselling (UZ HAPS Centre).
He does consultancy work on governance, politics, conflict management and heritage studies.
Taruberekera won the 2018 Youth Empowerment and Transformation Trust essay competition and was a runner-up in the Student Academic Freedom Regional Advocacy Programme policy brief competition.
He has published several academic and newspaper articles on youth, politics and development.
Online Reporter