Listen to the poet

Awards won first prize in one of the categories for literature. He called it Lazaruses and Divases, a rather intriguing title. The Zimbabwean poet who stays in Britain explores human nature in this collection.
This is a powerful collection of poems which are easy to understand, compelling and concise. His poems touch on many themes which include war, love, religion and social justice. Most of the pieces are light, elegant and full of comedy. He maintains an uncompromising stance on the truth.   
Like most poets who have spoken against violence, Wellingtone Kusema is against wars. People in power have been accused of starting wars for their own amusement. And the worst thing which they do is to give medals to those who would have killed most people. In his poem, War, the artist puts the effects of war under the microscope. What he sees makes grim reading. The good thing about the poet is that he calls a spade a spade. You respect him for the courage that he has to speak his mind out.
War!
It’s the commoners’ sons who are sent to die on the frontiers
As the authors of war and their sons
Are left to enjoy the spoils!
Only to return after decades of futile warring
And sign peace deals upon tables
Fashioned from the recycled coffins
Of those who died fighting
Just to message the egos
Of those unbalanced political warmongers!
There is something else which is equally disturbing in the Unwelcome Bride. The poet hints at why some of the marriages of today break up before the ink on the certificate is dry. Divorce was rare during the days of old. A young man was expected to choose his spouse from the house of people that his parents knew to be of upstanding habits. Marriage brought together two families in bond which couldn’t be broken up. Siblings were encouraged to marry from the same houses. If the marriage failed, spouses would stay together for appearances in honour of the bond which the two of them would have created between two families.
Wellingtone Kusema espouses the virtues of traditional marriage whose values lead to happiness in the home. The poet blames the breakdown of the institution of marriage on changes in the style of life.
For, this woman you have decided to marry . . .
All will not end well between you and her,
She is of the city and does not know the ways of our people!
Changes were inevitable in view of trends which took place. Young people went to boarding school and met others from other areas. They fell in love and ended up getting married. Where they went to work, they met others from others areas and fell in love. They ended up getting married. That trend cannot be reversed, it has become a way of life. Culture is dynamic and borrows from other cultures. However, it is suicidal to let go aspects of indigenous culture which have stood the test of time.
The poet points out that marriage should be accorded the serious of purposes which it deserves. There is no better way to do this than to invoke the spirits of the custodians of the struggle. Though the poems were written before the City Council of Harare cut down the tree from which Mbuya Nehanda was hanged, reference to the tree is apt. The poet leaves you to wonder whether he was inspired to write by the Greek muse or by his own ancestral spirits. That is open to debate . . .
Son,
Listen, and listen well (,) to the wise words spoken by your elders . . .
This woman of yours is a Muroyi
Who bewitches with a smile in broad daylight . . !
Even when Mbuya Nehanda Nyakasikana
And Sekuru Kaguvi Gombera were hanged
At the infamous place at Harare, she was there!
The poet highlights the difference between the poor and the rich. The gap can be eliminated when the world economic order promotes justice in international trade. This should be based on an equitable pricing system. Western countries determine prices for raw products they import. These same Western countries also determine prices of finished products which they export. The world recession that is taking place has left countries like Zimbabwe in a vulnerable position.
The colonialists invested heavily in the colonies. Their heirs make a living out of that investment and don’t have to work. The real owners of that inheritance survive on crumbs of wounds.
They call themselves the First World
These Divas nations, who gorge themselves
With the choicest portions of other nations’ wealth,
Wealth seized from the Lazarus nations of the Third World . . .
The creation of jobs for youth is an admirable exercise, but it should not be an end in itself. The programme will be complete when youths start producing finished goods and services for the world market.
Kingstone Kusema notes that people who are applying sanctions on Zimbabwe are the very people who plundered our wealth. The bottom line is that people of Zimbabwe cannot survive on political independence alone. They also need economic independence which is edifying. The collection has been neatly packaged and the editing is superb.