Boy author puts Macheke on the map

Victor Maphosa
Mashonaland East Bureau
His dream is to be a successful author, just as his father and source of inspiration has become, and he is on his way by winning the trophy and money award during National Arts Merit Awards ceremony for the Outstanding Children Book and probably becoming the youngest to win such an award.

“The Cursing Tortoise” was published by Essential Books Publishing Company and that was the first step for author Onald Gwiriri, an 11-year-old Grade 5 pupil at Macheke Government Primary School.

He made his school proud and put smiles on his parents’ faces after winning earlier this year.

In the book, Onald expressed how bad bullying is.

“I was inspired by my father who is also an author and I envied him on one account when he was nominated for NAMA,” he said. “That day I went up to him and asked him whether I would also be nominated if I write a book and he said yes.

“I asked him also if I would sleep in a nice hotel once I am nominated and won, he said yes. From that day, I worked hard and wrote this book. Actually, I have two books now where I expressed my opinion on how bad bullying is. Bullying is not right and should never be tolerated by society, be it at school.”

Onald said if he could get a chance to hand a copy of his book to President Mnangagwa, he would be happy since it was also his dream to meet the President.

“I wish to have my books be read for the President and I would like to give him a copy,” he said. “That is my wish and I do not know how to do that. My other wish is to get more funds so that I write and publish a lot of books.

“I used the money I won from NAMA to buy myself a laptop so that I can write and save my work easily. I am also in need of a solar system which I can use when electricity is gone.”

He said though he loves writing, he would love to study medicine and become a doctor.

Onald’s teacher Ms Grace Mapiki could not hide her joy, adding that on the night when her student won the prize, she could not sleep, but remained glued to her television set.

She said Onald was now inspiring other students to work hard and she was supportive of nurturing such talent.

“I was so happy when I heard him shouting with joy saying ‘I love you Zimbabwe, I love you NAMA’”, she said. “Onald is very creative, even if he writes a poem or composition, you would enjoy his creativeness and the way he narrates events.

“In class, he managed to inspire other learners to work hard and realise that one can achieve great things at a tender age. He is a disciplined learner and I am proud to be his teacher. I am happy that as a school we have an author who has put our school on the district, provincial and national map.”

Macheke Government Primary School headmaster Mr Peter Kadzviti said the whole school was proud to have produced a prize winning author.

“I am happy I am heading a very popular school which managed to scoop a NAMA prize in terms of writing books,” he said. “We have a learner who managed to achieve that and we are highly impressed by his standards.

“It is quite a noble idea to find learners of today coming up with these skilful ideas. We take cognisance of the new competence-based curriculum where we need learners to avoid bullying, we need Ubuntu on our children and we discourage bullying.

“The book helps in discouraging bullying in schools, and it boost the morale upright of learners and motivate them in terms of critical thinking and self-imagination.”

Schools inspector for Murewa district Mr Dougmore Makumbe said: “We are glad to hear that one of our young learners managed to produce a book which is based on bullying. We would like to thank Zimpapers for cultivating the culture of reading and writing in both rural and urban schools.

“Our plea is to have this reading and writing culture to cascade in all schools in Murewa district, Mashonaland East and in Zimbabwe at large. We are encouraging writing and reading clubs as well as identification of talent in schools which is the backbone of the competence-based curriculum.

“We thank Zimpapers a lot for visiting our schools to encourage the reading culture as it teaches functional vocabulary which is actually a centre stage in examination setting. We say well done to our author, and to Macheke Primary School; we urge you to continue nurturing talent, including other talents in drama and all arts.”

Onald’s mother Mrs Feni Gwiriri said her son is very creative.

“He is very shy, but he is so creative such that it amazes us as parents,” she said. “The day he was nominated I remained hopeful and when he finally won, I was filled with joy. He was the youngest among other contestants.

“Ever since he showed traits of writing, we supported him and encouraged him to continue having that writing and reading culture. His father is also a writer and he inspired him. Our wish is to have a great writer and we are there to give him all that support he needs.”

Now, Gwiriri’s influence has also inspired another Grade 5 learner at the same school, Priscah Mauye (10) and she has now recorded her song.

The single track titled “Amai Vangu”, is dedicated to her mother.

“My mother is a hard worker, who has always been there for me,” she said. “Through her love, nothing bad happened to me and I am safe always. Zimbabwean singer Dorcas Moyo inspired me. She is into gospel music and I love her songs a lot. I am planning to record more than 10 songs this year.”

Rich with the message to all caring and loving mothers, the song is already popular at the Macheke Government Primary School and again, the staff and other learners are supportive.

Mrs Caroline Mauye, Priscah’s mother said after listening to her daughter’s song, she shed some tears.

“The song touched me, I cried when I first listened to it,” she said. “I asked her why she had to sing that song and she said it is because of what I do as a mother of the family. I support her, she is also good in class.”

A prominent boarding school in Murewa, Macheke Government Primary School is boasting of being the current leaders in the whole district academically, with the school recording the highest pass rate in Murewa District recently.

The only school with a number of Grade 7 learners who scored six points in last year’s examinations, Macheke Government Primary School enjoyed three years glory in 2019, 2020 and 2021, leading other primary schools in Murewa district in as far as the pass rate was concerned.

The school is also conducting projects to sustain itself and as learning tools for the learners which include farming and keeping chicken.