The Sunday Mail
Lovemore Kashawo, the well-known prolific “Letters to the Editor” writer, has a gift of knowing how to appeal to editors so that he gets his name in print.If the media fraternity were to introduce a “Letters to the Editor” Writer of the Year award, Kashawo of Kuwadzana, Harare, would easily scoop it.
Basing on the regularity with which his letters are published, one might be tempted to conclude that he does nothing else in life but write letters. In the past couple of years, he has always presented lively, constructive and thoughtful commentary.
He writes on almost every subject – from soccer, social issues, the arts, to climate change.
Unlike some of the writers who thrive on writing controversial pieces, Kashawo is a bird of a different feather as he refrains from provocative commentary and personal attacks.
Highlighting a diversity of views, he focuses mostly on serious, important issues- praising those that would have done better and giving advice to those that he feels would have missed the plot.
His passion for letter writing sees him contributing on a daily basis. He also regularly features on radio and television phone-in programmes.Kashawo is just one of a number of prolific “Letters to the Editor” regular contributors.
Hwange-based Lawrence “Pen Pusher” Moyo and Farai “Mashasha” Masango of Mutorashanga are some of the noticeable regular contributors.
Although a pen pusher is defined as a person who writes a lot and is often involved in a lot of boring paperwork, Lawrence Moyo seems to enjoy his writing. He writes on anything and everything under the sun.
To show his versatility, Kashawo once penned two letters that were published in the same issue – one in which he was giving tips on how to deal with heat and another one in which he was condemning hooliganism in sport.
A staunch Dynamos and Manchester United fan, his love for soccer greatly influences his letters.
Editors are seemingly enchanted by his well-researched letters which are often given a historical context.
Although Kashawo’s contact details are readily available, getting an interview with him proved to be a mammoth task.
The prolific writer initially requested for the interview to be done in two weeks’ time since he wanted to “prepare” for the one-on-one.
After days of relentless pleading, the unassuming writer finally strode into The Sunday Mail newsroom and chronicled how he developed himself into such a popular newspaper contributor.
“The passion started way back when I was in Grade Six but my first letter was published in Parade magazine when in I was a Form Four student at Kuwadzana High School.
Although it took long for my letters to be published, I kept on writing,” he said.For the coming years, his letters were published in almost all the local publications. On the international stage, his letters have been read during a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) programme.
He also regularly contributes to Kick-Off, a popular South African soccer magazine, among other international publications.
Kashawo explained how he comes up with the contributions.
“When I wake up in the morning, the first thing that I do is to switch on the television. I watch television and listen to the radio.
These are some of the sources for my opinion pieces. Basically, I write what I hear and see every day,” Kashawo said.
At 37, Kashawo is still single and has never been employed.
And he does not see himself marrying anytime soon.
“I will only marry after breaking into the mainstream media,” quipped the soft-spoken writer.
According to Kashawo, the publication rate of the letters that he writes is almost 100 percent.
He has a personal library at home from which he draws most of his statistics and ideas.
Writing has seen him travelling to Egypt where he watched an international soccer tournament after winning a writing competition.He said his writing is driven by passion.
“It is not about the money. My late father was also a prolific writer although his works were never published,” Kashawo said.
Kashawo features prominently in our sister publication, H-Metro, “Letters to the Editor” section and the publication’s Deputy Editor, Charles Mushinga, explained why they often publish his letters.
“He is a writer who is always up-to-date with what is happening, whether on the local or international scene.
He is also versatile and can write on any subject, be it sport or social.
He is a jack-of-all trades and it is fascinating to see how he tackles issues,” explained Mushinga.
Some readers have complained that Kashawo is given preferential treatment by editors.
One of the letters read in part: “Editor, I am getting sick of opening your newspaper and seeing a letter from Lovemore Kashawo.
Why is it that he always appear in your paper on a daily basis?
Are you, in any way, related to him? I am sure there are other writers out there who can also write.”
Mushinga said his paper does not give Kashawo preferential treatment.
“His letters are published in many newspapers and he is also always on radio.
This means that his views are appreciated and that he knows how to present himself.
At H-Metro, ‘Letters to the Editor’ are published on a first-come, first-serve basis,” Mushinga said.
According to Mushinga, one of Kashawo’s suggestions to bakers, through the feedback column, might have actually had a positive impact.
“He once wrote advising bakers to introduce half loaves.
Only yesterday, he wrote again to say some bakeries had introduced half loaves. Whether they did so after reading Kashawo’s contribution or not is anyone’s guess,” added Mushinga.
Television and radio personality Charles Mabika also regularly recognises Kashawo’s contributions.
There are people who started off as “Letters to the Editor” contributors before transforming themselves into full-fledged journalists, take Edna Machirori for instance, a former Financial Gazette deputy editor-in-chief.
Speaking whilst receiving an International Women Media Foundation (IWMF) Lifetime Achievement award, Machirori narrated how she started her journalism career by sending letters to publications when she was still in high school.
She subsequently joined the mainstream media, becoming the first black woman in Zimbabwe to be appointed news editor of a mainstream newspaper and subsequently becoming the first black woman to edit a mainstream weekly newspaper.
Several other practising journalists launched their careers this way.
