adminBlessings Chidakwa in Kadoma
A 13-year-old schoolgirl here has defied all odds by penning two novels within a period of six months.
Rufaro Shantel Chinanga, a Form 1 pupil at Cheziya High School, has written two books — “Mysteries To Be Left Alone” and “The Descendants of Adazadia” — which she hopes will be published soon.
The Herald recently caught up with Rufaro who stays in the Eastview Area, who revealed that she was in the process of completing her third novel.
She revealed how watching cartoons widened her scope of creativity.
“I am very proud that I can weave and craft words in a manner that captivates the human mind. I am motivated by the day-to-day events of our society and the pure acts of the human race.
“People are story makers of themselves by virtue of the thoughts that they cherish and encourage. These thoughts create the inner garments of emotion and the outer garments of character as well as the ability to deal with difficult situations,” she said.
Rufaro, whose literary masterpieces are still scribed in four 32 page books, is, however, appealing for assistance to publish her works.
“I am appealing to well-wishers and those in the book publishing industry to assist me with the publishing of my two novels.
“I am also working on another novel whose themes focus on women’s rights and the plight of the girl child in a patriarchal society,” she said
The widely read teenager said she draws her inspiration from renowned writers like Tsitsi Dangarembga and Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche who have succeeded as female African novelists.
A cursory look at Rufaro’s works leads one to move between the two parallel worlds of reality and fiction leaving the reader having unending nostalgic moments.
In her book, “Mysteries To Be Left Alone”, the young writer reflects on the dangers, ramifications and sweetness of revenge.
The novel peeps into the evils of contemporary society, the protagonist in the book being an ardent seeker of justice and parity.
However, he is also bitter about the brutal murder of his mother.
The male protagonist finds solace in revenge although at the climax all ends in vanity, love, peace while humility takes centre stage.
In “The Descendants of Adazadia, Rufaro” becomes fictitious by writing gingerly about a super hero from space who becomes a messianic figure in an evil society which always swallowed the good and saved the bad as well as the ugly.
Rufaro is the first born in a family of three children.
Her father, Mr Chawapiwa Chinanga, works at the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority while her mother looks after the young family.
Online Reporter