Literary icon, Sitsha to be buried on Tuesday

The City of Kings and Queens is in mourning following the death of one of its most prolific literary sons, respected IsiNdebele author and designer Mihla Sitsha Tsheza. The late literary icon, who died in the early hours of Sunday morning, will be buried on Tuesday at Lady Stanley Cemetery, a resting place traditionally reserved for the city’s most distinguished citizens.

Confirming the funeral arrangements, his son Brandon Sitsha said the family is gathered at House Number 6430 in Cowdray Park to pay tribute to the man who transformed modern IsiNdebele storytelling.

Tsheza’s literary journey began in 1994 while he was still in high school. What started as a youthful passion for poetry evolved into a masterful command of short stories and novels. Over a career spanning three decades, he authored around 30 books, including folktales and poetry collections that captured the essence of Zimbabwean culture.

Inspired by legendary writer Ndabezinhle Sigogo, Tsheza’s work transcended entertainment to become a cornerstone of the national education system. His acclaimed novel Wangenza Mntanami earned a place as a Zimsec O-Level set book and is studied at university level, while EsiLojeni has been featured on Radio Zimbabwe and remains a key text at the University of Zimbabwe.

Beyond the page, Tsheza was a tireless advocate for the craft. He served as National Secretary of the Zimbabwean Academic and Non-Fiction Authors Association and as National Chairperson of Ikhaya Labalobi. His leadership was matched by artistic excellence, winning back-to-back Bulawayo Arts Awards in 2020 for Untokolotshi and in 2021 for Ngubani owabulala Udube?. His influence extended beyond Zimbabwe, earning him the 2021 Intercontinental Young Pan-Africanist Award.

Peers and academics have described his death as a staggering loss to Zimbabwean literature. – Follow on X @MbuleloMpofu