Sundaymail Editor
Book Review
Edmore Zvinonzwa
MOTIVATIONAL and inspirational writing is taking root in Zimbabwe, just like it has been doing globally over the years.
Young philanthropist Nehemiah Chipato has just added another title to his catalogue of books.
Titled “Be Intentional”, the 43-page book is a real manual for success and triumph in life.
The book goes on to encourage those dreaming to achieve their set goals and objectives to focus.
What is striking is that the same formula one may use to realise individual targets is not different when one is dealing with organisational ideals.
“Choose to have a winner’s mindset and keep on sailing through your life-journey. Do not be limited; if a door closes in front of you, stick on, persevere until another door opens for you. Faith and hope are keys to obtaining that which seems far and unreachable,” he writes.
In life, people always talk about passion, drive, faith and hope as keys for success.
As soon as one stops hoping, everything is shattered and objectives and goals hitherto set are thrown into the air, disappearing into oblivion.
The writer says “frustrations, disappointments, gloom and, of course, spiritual potholes” must never be the reason for people to abandon their obligations.
Chipato emphasises that people are not homogeneous, but they are different, born with different missions which are decided by God, the Creator.
“Every promise that God gives you comes with an instruction. It is obeying the instruction that enables the promise to be fulfilled. Usually, instructions seem difficult, hence we have to follow and do them . . . ” reads a part of the book.
Going biblical, the writer says the devil’s lies are capable of changing a person’s focus.
“The lies the devil may plant in your mind are the most powerful and destructive when they are kept hidden and are never exposed to light. Many times, the battles you face begin with a lie that has lodged itself in your mind, slowly but surely altering your perspective, and producing a false reality that leads you down a path of misery.”
In an interview, Chipato said: “The book is meant for people to realise their inborn drive, life purpose and to prescribe time management towards achieving life goals and also how to manage their relationships in order to achieve their desired destinies.
“There are some chapters that help you manage these relationships. In the Bible, there is a phrase that talks about two being better than one, implying that it takes a team to push an objective to fruition.”
The author, who is a born-again Christian, quotes extensively from the Bible elsewhere in the book.
“Often times, most people are failing to get up when they experience setbacks because they don’t know the value of that which resides in them. Despite the life details, they fail to get up, yet they are not aware of the fortitude that resides in them to carry on. The only reason why people fail is because of lack of focus. By being intentional, you are incubating your ambitions towards your life purpose,” said the author.
In the motivational booklet, Chipato includes a short story on his personal experiences when he had to do odd jobs in Triangle in the Lowveld.
Titled “The genesis of the beginning”, the story brings in a new style to motivational writing where an entirely different story is incorporated but carrying the same message.
Those who are familiar with Triangle will find that the story renders a real-for-life feel to the rest of the book as Chipato’s experiences in the Lowveld easily merge with the lessons carried by the whole book, especially on faith and hope.
“Unknown to many, growing up in the dusty streets of Rufaro A village in Munakopa Street of Section 6 in Triangle, I witnessed what it meant to be poor and how subscribed dreams without actions dashed into a cemetery of discouragement . . . Sugar packaging, cane cutting, washing pots and pans at Tandarai Restaurant were the occupation for many teenagers in the early 1990s under the John Burton management,” writes the author.
The lessons on perseverance and fear are reiterated. This is not Chipato’s first book as he has also penned “Prayer Zones and Time Zones” (2015), “Nuggets of Fasting” (2017) and “Time Prescriptions” (2018).
The author is also a philanthropist through Joyland Reformers, a civil society organisation that focuses on impacting the lives of vulnerable children, youths, indigent woman and marginalised communities through relief programmes.
Online Reporter