The Sunday Mail
THERE is a time when we all have to make tough decisions, moments where it is inevitable to make a choice.
Such situations could be daunting and exhaustive mentally as an individual creates a battlefield within the mind in which the outcome must produce a winning choice.
I got a glimpse of such a scenario while reading Violet B Lunga’s “Desperate Choices”, which is about a single mother at crossroads.
A product of Zimbabwe Publishing House, this fictional piece looks at some of the factors that drive people to look for opportunities in foreign lands and the effects that accompany such moves.
The protagonist, Thoko Mpala, is torn between the responsibilities of motherhood and her ambition to further her education. Having been presented with the opportunity to study abroad, she has to endure the pain of leaving her 13-year-old daughter, Busisiwe, since she cannot afford to buy her a ticket.
With the prospect of getting an education and the promise of a better future, Thoko wrestles with “abandoning” her teen daughter.
The writer captures real life situations with a storyline that touches on many aspects of contemporary society.
The book grapples with teen pregnancies, adolescence, cultural diffusion and rape, among other things.
Lunga showcases her vast talent and creativity on many fronts and I could not help but marvel at the way the plot unfolds.
Her diction is exceptional, bringing “Desperate Choices” to life so vividly.
Even simple things like describing the atmosphere and scenery are captivating: “The dry leaves, crooked twigs, dry pods and shreds of dry savannah grass littered the yard and gathered together furiously spinning into a whirlwind of dust and litter. The column of litter collapsed as it crashed against the walls of her house. The wind ceased suddenly and in its lull, Thoko moved forward.”
The book explores mother-daughter relationships and other family bonds, with Lunga making use of numerous characters in an effective manner.
When Thoko flies to the US, she leaves her daughter under the guardianship of her mother, a responsibility assumed by her sister when the old lady passes away.
Lunga also captures the emotional struggles individuals go through as a result separation.
With her mother in the US, Busi feels like an orphan and while she sometimes misses her, there are times when hatred fills her.
This is an exceptional tale that carries a number of lessons for society at large.
