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Tafadzwa Zimoyo Entertainment Reporter
New Zealand-based playwright Stanley Makuwe is back with a new play titled “Chimbwido Girl of War” that sets out to show the role of women in society. Much more than a war story, the play, which is also a family story, highlights the role of women in society. The role of women cannot be overlooked as they are responsible for feeding the family, looking after their husbands and the children. The setting which is the bush serves to show the struggle that women went through during their day-to-day lives.
Chimbwido, played by Nyarie Nhongonhema, takes care of her friend’s baby, fathered by an unknown soldier. She meets Cde Dusvura Grader Mutonganebara played by Tafadzwa Hananda – another NAMA award winner – at the height of the war. The two decide to join hands to fight the enemy but unbeknown to Chimbwido, Cde Dusvura is as good as unarmed since his gun has no bullets and he is injured.
PEOPLE: STANLEY MAKUWE
It is at this point that Chimbwido takes over everything from fending for the solider to waging the war as she takes care of both Cde Dusvura and the baby. Chimbwido has to risk life and limb to ensure the struggle continues and the baby dies before meeting the father.
Throughout the play Chimbwido bears the brunt of the war as the solider is unarmed and injured. Put in social context, it is the women who contribute much to the well-being of families. While the man represented by the solider is supposed to take care of the woman, it is in fact the women through Chimbwido who goes through the hardships.
According to Makuwe war stories have been told over and over but he decided to take a different approach in that the play seeks to turn a war story into a societal issue.
“I got the inspiration to write the play from my background. I was brought up during the liberation war and my brother was one of the comrades who fought during that war. However, most war stories about Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle have been told but I wanted to use the war story to tell the story of some of the issues besetting our society,” Makuwe said.
The two-hander opens at Old Mutual Alliance Francaise Theatre on August 26 to 28 featuring Victor Kunonga who will be performing during its run.
Online Reporter