Beyond the Mountains author makes national impact

Mthokozisi Ncube, Sunday Life Reporter

UP-and-coming poet Marcus Fanuel Zimba has made his mark on the national literary scene, winning the Anthology of the Year Award at the Red Carpet Poetry Awards held in Harare last weekend.

The accolade celebrates his debut collection, Beyond the Mountains, a stirring compilation of 60 poems exploring hope, resilience, love and loss.

Young Zimba, 22 years old and passionate about being a voice for the voiceless, described the recognition as a pivotal milestone in his journey. Being nominated in four categories — Poet of the Year, Social Impact of the Year, Promising Artist of the Year and Page Poet of the Year, was proof of just how much of a force Marcus Fanuel Zimba has become in the literary scene.

“I feel like I am getting closer to achieving my mission of speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves. This award has certified me as a true writer, and today, I can boldly say that I am an award-winning poet and the world will know me by that title,” he said.

Beyond The Mountains anthology was completed in just one and a half months, inspired by the loss of his mother, Zanele Ngwenya, who died when he was seven.

“My late mother is the sole reason I turned into a poet. I wrote the book to honour her memory and heal the wound of losing her at such a young age. The title, “Beyond the Mountains,” is metaphorical, representing the many obstacles people face in life and the determination needed to overcome them. Mountains represent the challenges we come across in life and how we go beyond them,” he said.

Through his poems, Zimba, who is based in Bulawayo, captures the realities of life, touching on faith, struggle and perseverance. Standout pieces include Nkosiphile, which tells the story of a young boy born into poverty who exchanges letters with his father across mountains. Through these letters, the father encourages the boy to never lose hope and to believe in God and himself.

Another moving piece, Love Letter, celebrates the enduring power of love that transcends time and distance, while Remembrance pays tribute to his late mother and to anyone grieving the loss of a loved one.

In Falling Tree, Zimba uses nature as a metaphor for resilience.
“The tree represents human life. Even when it is eaten away by termites and battered by harsh weather, it continues to stand. That reflects the resilience that lies within all of us as we face life’s ups and downs,” he said.
Two of his poems, Sugar Daddies and Tribute, were voted best in the Albert Literature contest and later uploaded to Amazon.

Writing the anthology, he said, was a fulfilling experience, giving meaning to his life.
“Writing is my life. It’s what gives my life meaning. When the book was being published, I had many restless nights, waiting and hoping to see it come to life,” he said.

The journey, however, has not been without challenges. Financial constraints remain a major hurdle.
“I started this journey with nothing but passion, faith and belief in myself. The biggest challenge has been the financial side of publishing, but somehow, God always makes a way for me to bring my work to life,” he shared.

Zimba has also faced criticism for addressing sensitive themes in his work, including Christianity and what he sees as hypocrisy within religion. Yet, he says these critiques have never deterred him.
“I have been told that I am too emotional in my work and unprofessional, but that has never kept me down,” he said.

For Zimba, poetry is not about entertainment, it is a means to inspire, encourage and heal.
“I don’t write to entertain. I write to inspire, encourage and heal. I want people to understand that no matter what happens in life, the sun will rise again.”

He hopes his journey will also motivate young people from challenging backgrounds to believe in their dreams.
“Your background doesn’t determine your destination. If God placed that dream or talent in your heart, it means you are capable of pursuing it,” he said.

Winning the Anthology of the Year Award has renewed his motivation to share his work with a wider audience.
“It shows that my words travel to places I’ve never been and speak to the hearts of people without me uttering a word,” he reflected.

He said he plans to continue publishing and using poetry as a platform to inspire others.
“The journey continues. There are more books to come, more success and hopefully more awards.”