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Elliot Ziwira, Senior Writer
AUTHOR Fortunate Kufakunesu scooped two prestigious awards at the third Phoenix Publishing book awards held in Harare recently.
“A Woman in Pursuit of Purposeful Destiny” and “Unleashing Her Potential: Guiding a Girl into an Empowered Woman”, published earlier this year, earned her the awards for Inspiration and for Author of the Year.
A multifaceted personality being a mother, pastor, certified life coach, mentor, counsellor, teacher, and philosopher, Kufakunesu’s writing demonstrates her magic with the pen.
Kufakunesu paid tribute to God and her fans yesterday, saying: “I am overjoyed to share that we brought home two incredible awards: winner inspiration category: “A Woman in Pursuit of Purposeful Destiny”. And, thanks to your votes, I have been honoured as Author of the Year 2024.”
She bowed to her multitudes of fans for the appreciation, love and encouragement, saying the achievement was collective.
“From the depth of my heart, I want to express my sincerest gratitude to each and every one of you.
“To my parents in the Lord, my husband, my mentors, children, family, and beloved followers, your unwavering support has been my guiding light.”
The Phoenix Publishing book awards, launched in 2021, recognise local authors for their outstanding contributions to Zimbabwean publishing.
The awards feature 10 categories, including inspiration, fiction, poetry, motivational and spiritual, with winners in the Author of the Year category chosen by readers across social media platforms.
Literary luminaries are also recognised for their selfless contributions to the industry through mentoring others and giving back to the community. Irene Staunton won the Lifetime Achievement Award last year, while Imelda Tsumba, who has 54 titles under her belt, was the winner in the inaugural awards.
This year’s awards also honoured Selina Zigomo with the Outstanding Contributions Award, recognising her selfless contributions to the industry.
Guest of honour, Rutendo Gwatidzo, stressed the significance of the written word, saying: “Books have the extraordinary ability to transform lives, challenge perspectives, and introduce us to fascinating characters.
“In that vein, not only winners are celebrated, but all writers, for their shared stories, contribute to the transformation of humanity in their own unique ways. Every author has contributed to the vibrant tapestry of our literary landscape,” she said.
Faith Mudiwa Chipangura, founder of the awards and Phoenix Publishing executive director, highlighted the importance of recognising authors, stating that it boosts morale and improves quality, ultimately keeping the publishing industry thriving.
Online Reporter