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Simbarashe Clever Kavenga, better known as Clever Kavenga in the writing circles, is a poet, children’s fiction writer and journalist. His poems have appeared in the anthologies “Ngoma Yokwedu”, “Mudengu Munei?”, “Visions of the Motherland: A Poetic Celebration of Cultures, Tribes and People of Africa”, and “Defiled Sacredness”.Kavenga has published two children’s books “Mashiripiti eDehwe RaRungano” and “Kare Kare Kwazvo”. “Mashiripiti eDehwe RaRungano” won Best Children’s Book from Zimbabwe Publishers Association for 2007 /8. It was also nominated for NAMA in 2008.
In 2010, his Shona column “Nhasi Tiri Tose” which is published in the Mutare-based Pungwe newspaper was also nominated for NAMA. He has been with Pungwe for the past seven years, writing children’s stories, arts and culture articles under his column.
Kavenga was born in Manicaland, Nyanga district, in 1973. He did his primary at Bende Primary School before moving to Shamva where he lived with his late elder brother William. He did the rest of his primary in Bindura. He is married and is blessed with three children. Nyanga is his home area but he is now based in the city of Mutare where he is employed.
Bookshelf caught up with Clever Kavenga (CK) to hear a few words from the Manicaland province on various issues.
Bookshelf: Do you remember the first time you discovered you want to be a writer? What had happened, if anything?
CK: My mother who is now deceased was a story-teller. We grew up listening to her Sekuru Gudo and Muzukuru Tsuro stories back then at Bende. On the other hand, you may laugh at this as another ‘Tsuro naGudo’ story but the truth is girls discovered the writer in me also! It was the letters we wrote to them, most of the letters never reached their destinations as we were also afraid of these girls of our time! Time after time my friends and other boys would ask me to write love letters to their would-be girlfriends. It was my joy writing these letters and then to be thanked with anything like 10 cents or roasted maize cobs. That is the time I always cherish. Then around 1992 and 1993 I started trying my luck with Parade Magazine. I was still at school when Parade published my first poem “No peace, No hope”. That poem was like a trigger to my writing dreams.
Bookshelf: Kavenga, you were one of the active members of Budding Writers Association of Zimbabwe. Just how did it happen that you sailed from “letter-writing” at school to serious writing at BWAZ?
CK: I was on my way to Nyanga from Bindura and I needed something to read on this journey. I bought The Herald. There was a story about mukoma Albert Nyathi. He was talking about his hit song “Senzeni Na?” He was also talking about creative writing and BWAZ which was an organization for budding writers. He also gave his address for those who were interested in poetry and arts in general. That’s how I came to know about BWAZ and started rubbing shoulders with writers such as Ignitius T Mabasa, the late Stephen Alumenda, Memory Chirere and other young and promising writers the likes of Tinashe Muchuri and many more.
Bookshelf: Manicaland has nurtured and produced many writing talents. Is the province still vibrant in terms of literature?
CK: Yes Manicaland is still alive in the writing arena. We have writers such as Mapangidza who wrote “The Rebel Soldier” which is a NAMA awarding-winning book. Creative talent is still here. Remember this is the home of the Mwanaka brothers, also great authors like the late Dambudzo Marechera, Musaemura Zimunya and many others. The creative voice is still here.
Bookshelf: Piracy has become a serious threat to the book sector. What are your thoughts?
CK: Piracy is a cancer that is killing the creative world silently. Publishers are no longer publishing books as they used to do and others are closing shop, this leaves writers in the cold. One of my publishers removed books from the market because of piracy. At the end of the day, publisher and writer suffer as this means ‘no income, no royalty’. Piracy also promotes fly-by-night publishers who publish your work but when the book is out that’s the last you will hear from them.
Bookshelf: What other platforms for writers are there in Manicaland apart from the Zimbabwe International Book Festival yearly provincial outreach?
CK: ZIBF used to have yearly programs but it seems it’s now stuttering. We also have the Shaurai program run by National Gallery of Mutare. This is a mid-monthly program where poets, musicians and other artists share the stage. It has been running for some years now. The Mutare Writers Club died in its early days. This club had writers such as Mr Chitakatira, Mr Pedzeni and others. Personally, I’m a member of Zimbabwe Writers Association (ZWA) and Writers International Network Zimbabwe and these organizations have always kept me abreast of what would be happening in the book sector.
Bookshelf: What word of advice do you have for the new writers?
CK: My word of advice to new writers is that writing is like a journey. Do not be a lone ranger. Share ideas with fellow writers and yes be strong as you will encounter so many ‘dry seasons and windy days’. Also remember that a good writer should also be a good reader.
Bookshelf: Any other thing you would like the rest of Zimbabwe to know?
CK: To all Zimbabweans out there please bear with us writers and buy original books not pirated photocopies from the street. My fall is your fall also let us unite and build our beloved Zimbabwe.
Bookshelf: Thank you for the time Kavenga
CK: Welcome
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