‘Zagamo’: Unique narration of journey to independent Zimbabwe

Garikai Mazara

SIMPLICITY is the ultimate sophistication!

The name “Zagamo” makes one wonder what it means or what could have inspired it.

And the sub-title “The War Within” does not help matters much.

But after reading through the novel, the first published fictional work by veteran journalist Ray Mawerera, it is the simple manner in which the story is told that leaves the reader with a bit of awe.

Even from back in the day, different authors have had varying ways of expressing themselves; they use different approaches to storytelling.

While some authors, like those in the mould of Dambudzo Marechera, would leave the reader wondering what could be the meaning of the text or sub-text, plot or sub-plot, others, such as Ray Mawerera, would have the reader turning page after page with a simple yet gripping storyline.

The title seems confusing as it leaves the reader in suspense as to what or who Zagamo could be. However, the story is basically about the journey to independent Zimbabwe, told through the eyes of a Highfield-born and bred youngster, Dexter.

It should not be lost on the reader that the writer was born and bred in the same environment, which makes the story more of a personal reflection on the journey that Zimbabwe travelled to gain its freedom.

And the author does little to hide his own convictions: “What we call fiction is, for me, synthesised experiences of the writer, whether as a passive or active observer.”

This makes this story a different narration, a different perspective, for most such stories of the fight for freedom are told from a personal and interactive platform.

This is the story of the liberation war told through the eyes of a boy resident in Highfield; how his life interpolated with the struggle for independence.

As much as this is a war story, do not expect to smell any gunpowder, dodge any bullets or rinse any blood off your hands.

The story is so easily woven, so pedestrianly told, so simply understood that one can read through all the 15 chapters and not come across any form of violence or bloodshed.

For instance, the killing of the three “terrorist” teachers at the mission school is so plainly told, devoid of any terror and horror, so is the abduction of Zagamo’s uncle in broad daylight by Rhodesian agents, violent scenes that might have inspired a different author to leave his readers raging with boiling blood.

Mawerera plays with his prose in a straightforward manner such that those who grew up in pre-independent Zimbabwe, especially in urban settings, will readily relate with the story.

Even those born well after independence will equally follow the story, and possibly feel the pain of what it was like growing up in Rhodesia.

If you are used to heady endings to a war story, some happy ever after, some romantic honeymoon in some far-off country or some heroic acts by the main character, then this one will leave the reader wondering if the war was worth all that effort, especially if its heroes came back to meet the same fate as Zagamo.

But why Zagamo, you might be wondering?

“This is the actual name of a character we had at school, who used to be quite athletic and had the physical attributes ascribed to the fictional Zagamo in the book, so it is really a fascination with the name, nothing more,” explains Mawerera.

That Mawerera chose to write his first novel in such simple and easy-to-follow-and-swallow language is testament to his career-long conviction of engaging and stimulating communication, first as a journalist and later on as a public relations practitioner — two inter-linked and inter-related occupations that demand a high level of simplicity for effective communication.

Though “Zagamo: The War Within” is his first fictional work, it is not the first time he has been published.

In 2014, Mawerera contributed a chapter in “Introduction to Middle Eastern and African Perspectives on the Development of Public Relations Now”.

Mawerera traces his journey back to the 90s when he made a name for himself as an authoritative arts critic for The Sunday Mail.

Joining the private sector thereafter, Mawerera, a born communicator, continued his communication journey, this time within the public relations realm.

Besides being chairperson of Rooftop Arts Promotions, he is the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority board, as well as personal assistant to a Government minister.

His days as an arts critic presumably shaped and influenced Mawerera’s perception of the arts such that “I have a deep interest in the social condition of our people, as what
happens to us impacts our world view and, therefore, collective consciousness and psyche”.

He adds: “My interest in the arts . . . probably reinforces this more than anything else. Like journalism, these disciplines (poetry, music, drama and general entertainment), other than acting as society’s mirrors, play a huge role in influencing hearts and minds. This is how nations are defined, by their societal norms and practices.”

When done reading “Zagamo”, maybe wait a little for the sequel, which might be in the oven, as there have been overbearing noises as to the injustice that Zagamo faced at the end of the story.

And if the sequel does not materialise?

“There are other projects in the works, specifically a collection of short stories and another fictional tale, but you know with writers, drafts will be created and discarded    . . . but ‘Zagamo: The War Within’ is only the beginning.”