The Sunday Mail
Society Reporter
TINEMUFARO Blessings Zharare, a 13-year-old budding writer and poet, has added his voice to the growing calls for the removal of illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West.
A Form One learner at Manyame Airbase Secondary School in Harare, Zharare has so far contributed poems to two anthologies.
Two of the poems address the issue of illegal sanctions.
“Independence,” “Tree Planting,” “Sanctions” and “Covid-19” were published in the anthology “Essential Verses”.
Zhararae, a multi-lingual poet, has seven of his poems featured in the Shona anthology “Chingoma Chokwedu”.
In “Chingoma Chokwedu”, Tinemufaro contributed poems such as “Rusununguko,” “Nzou Inotasviwa Yakavata”, “Mwanasikana Dzikama” and “Manatsa Mukanwa”.
A past winner of the History Maker of the Year award and Overall Best Speaker award at Manyame Airbase Primary School, the young writer made headlines when he presented his poems before the ambassadors of Cuba and Palestine.
He also recited, to loud applause, his own poems during a Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Trust indaba.
At school, he is a member of the debate and public speaking clubs.
With 30 unpublished poems, he is also active during prize giving day presentations.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail Society, Zharare said he was inspired by his father Patson, who is an accomplished writer and poet.
“I would watch my father write and I started to have an active interest in writing.
For me, writing is a hobby, which might one day become my source of income,” he said.
Zharare is currently working on a storybook that he believes will inspire children.
The youngest boy in a family of seven, he is also into choral music.
He is part of a group that is fronted by his mother.
Patson chronicled how his son developed an active interest in writing.
“At first, he would peep at my works each time I left them on the table.
He then mastered one of my poems and began writing his own,” the proud father said.
Patson, who edits his son’s work, also acts as his adviser and mentor.
“As a father and his mentor, I always encourage him to work hard, and to remain humble and disciplined.
I am happy to say that the youngster is self-motivated and always gives his best,” Patson said.
