Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
For Zwelani Ndebele, whose literary journey began inside a prison cell, international recognition has now placed his name on the global creative map.
The writer who hails from Mafuyana village in Figtree, Matabeleland South, has been nominated for the Writer of the Month (October 2025) award by United World of Literature (UWL) Global Creatives, an international platform that promotes writers whose work demonstrates creativity, originality and social impact.
Ndebele’s path to writing started during his 16-month imprisonment at Plumtree Prison for attempted murder, following a family dispute. Battling addiction and incarceration, his future seemed uncertain. It was during this period, he says, that he turned to writing as a way to confront regret and rebuild his life.
“There was a time when I felt the world had written me off. When I began writing Manifesto of a Dreamer in Chains, I was in a place where I felt forgotten. Writing became a way to survive mentally and emotionally.”
After his release on May 15 this year, Ndebele typed up his handwritten manuscript and began sharing his story publicly, despite battling stigma. His talks at schools, churches and community gatherings have focused on discouraging substance abuse, violence and self-destruction, among young people. He went on to obtain a Certificate in Creative Writing, Editing and Publishing from the Zimbabwe Open University and registered as a literary artist with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.
He credits Christ Embassy Church in Plumtree under Pastor Christian Moyo for helping him stabilise and reintegrate into the community.
He said the UWL nomination is a reminder that personal transformation is possible.
“This recognition means more than I can fully express. To be honoured globally for work that was born in silence and pain feels like a miracle I never imagined. When I wrote Manifesto of a Dreamer in Chains, I was writing from a place of being forgotten. It wasn’t for attention, it was survival,” he said.
Ndebele, who is the founder of Aid Transform Zimbabwe, a community initiative that supports rehabilitation and life skills development for former inmates and at-risk youths, says he now plans to further develop his writing and expand his community outreach work.
“This is just the beginning. The goal now is to open more opportunities for others through storytelling and mentorship.”
Londile Moyo