The Sunday Mail
Book Review
Edmore Zvinonzwa
MOST authors today prefer to display their sophistication with acquired languages through writing in English, Portuguese or French. This is not Langton Mhembere’s take as he has chosen Shona for his writings, despite the fact that some of the authors who inspired him also wrote in English.
Mhembere confirmed this in an interview with The Sunday Mail Society.
“I am not suggesting that I have confined myself to Shona as I think I might come up with a work in English, and that is soon,” the writer said.
Mhembere’s rendition, “Pasi Rine Nharo”, explores the devastating social ills that are prevalent in urban settings, especially the high-density suburbs.
At the time of the writing of “Pasi Rine Nharo”, some of the challenges were festering — especially drug and substance abuse —problems that have taken communities by storm and threaten to destroy all that society has put up.
The life that Mhembere portrays in “Pasi Rine Nharo”, which seems to come out in the title, is real and is reflected in what parents and guardians are battling with in their children today.
This book, as well as “Kudenga Kure Kure”, by the same author, are available at Baroda Bookshop. Clearly one who believes that there is never art for art’s sake in the world of creatives, Mhembere chooses to use his book to take a dig at unbridled pursuit for material wealth that is evident in today’s world.
In this vein, Mhembere shows that his desire is to positively influence the lives of many in society. In other words, Mhembere can be aptly described as a transformational writer who desires to see his works impacting the lives of his diverse readers, something that can never be underestimated.
For years, the church has led in this regard, leading from the front in changing people’s lives. However, today, even in the church, greed and other vices are prevalent, perhaps even exceeding the secular world. This greed, for instance, has seen some church leaders devising intricate methods of getting money from their congregants, which money they use for personal enrichment under the guise of doing God’s work.
On the other hand, and interestingly too, the congregants themselves are so gullible that they do not question any of the leaders’ motives.
“Naro Bhaibheri irori, tichachuna pfungwa dzavo, vakafunda nevasina, vakuru nevadiki, varombo nevapfumi, kuti vagove nekufunga kumwe, kubata kumwe nekuona kumwe, panguva imwe chete mari yobuda, vachisevenzesa maoko avo kutora mari muhomwe dzavo nemuzvikwama zvavo, vachiti vanopa Mwari, asi ichiuya kwatiri, isu toirova zvemandorokwati nemhuri dzedu.”
A devout Christian himself, Mhembere is perhaps drawing from real-life experiences he came across in contemporary Zimbabwean society.
The determination in religious leaders to use the Bible for their nefarious plots is shocking.
“Isu chedu chatinacho iBhaibheri. Naro, mari ichauya kwatiri, ichibva kwavari magweta, mainjiniya, vanamukoti navanachiremba, varairidzi navanamuzvinafundo, tigorarama zvakanaka uye kutovadarika zvakapetwa kapfumbamwe chaiko (What we have is the Bible and we will use it to get money from lawyers, engineers, nurses, doctors, teachers and professors and live lives that are nine times better than theirs),” he writes, showing just how easily congregants’ gullibility is preyed on despite their level of education.
Mhembere says, as he grew up, he never had any plans to become a writer but he has since discovered that it is in fact a calling, getting inspiration from writers Thompson K. Tsodzo of the “Pafunge” fame, Patrick Chakaipa, who authored “Pfumo Reropa”, Charles Mungoshi’s “Waiting for the Rain” and Chinua Achebe’s “No Longer at Ease”, among others.
Mhembere’s novels, which draw a lot from Biblical scriptures, carry real life lessons relevant for every ordinary man.
Mhembere is a devout Christian and a minister of religion in an apostolic sect church, although he does not hold a formal academic or professional qualification in ministerial work.
He believes he possesses an anointing from the Almighty and inspiration to preach the Word of God, arguing he is just a vessel as his preaching is not of his own but from above.
Mhembere is married and a proud father of three boys and a girl. After doing his primary education at Dhirihori Primary School in Marondera District as well as Kudakwashe Government Primary School in Glen Norah, Harare, Mhembere proceeded to Glen Norah 1 High School in Harare for his secondary education.
He holds a Southern African Association of Accountants (SAAA) Diploma in Accountancy and did his Bachelor of Accounting Science Degree (BCompt) with the University of South Arica (UNISA) before doing his Master of Business Administration – Finance (MBA-FC) with the University of Zimbabwe (UZ).
