Online Reporter
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
In a deeply moving ceremony at the tombstone unveiling of his late mother, Eddinah Muzoriwa Mushinga, journalist and author Charles Mushinga launched his latest work, I Still Dream of My Mother — a heartfelt collection of poems chronicling grief, love, and the enduring legacy of a remarkable woman.
Eschewing the glitz of a city book launch for an intimate gathering steeped in memory, Mushinga chose to present his book on Saturday in Murewa, before family, friends, and members of the village who knew and loved his mother.
“This was the only launch that made sense,” Mushinga said.
“My mother’s story belongs first to the people whose lives she touched most. Her teachings were treasure, and through this book I have made them — and her memory — eternal.”
The unveiling was punctuated by an unexpected yet symbolic gesture: Mushinga’s brother-in-law, Joe Mubvumba, purchased the first copy for US$100, followed by his sister, Caroline Munetsi, who paid US$50 for hers.
The moment drew applause and emotional nods from attendees, underlining the significance of the occasion.
I Still Dream of My Mother spans 31 poems divided into four sections — Grief, Lessons and Legacy, The Woman, The Mother, and Gratitude and Grace. Each piece offers a vivid, intimate portrait of Amai Eddinah as a resilient matriarch, a moral compass, and a wellspring of unconditional love. The collection is as much a personal journey of mourning as it is a universal reflection on family, faith, and the unbreakable bond between mother and child.
Mushinga, a former journalist now based in Nottingham, England, said the writing process was a “big part” of his healing after his mother’s passing. “Grief arrived not as a guest, but as a language I needed to learn to survive,” he writes in the preface. “These poems are my way of holding on to her voice, her wisdom, and her love.”
He added that the book is not only for those who knew his mother, but for anyone who is grieving.
“I wrote this for everyone who is grieving, so they can see that their initial feelings of heartbreak and hopelessness will evolve into appreciation and hope — just as the poems in each section do. It’s also for those who still have parents, so they can see what to appreciate in their parents every single day.”
The book is now available for purchase directly from the author, with plans for wider distribution in the coming months.
For Mushinga, however, the greatest reward is knowing that his mother’s life and lessons will continue to inspire long after the final page is turned.
“She gave us more than we ever knew,” he said quietly. “Now, through these words, she can keep giving.”
