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Reginald Chirenje

Youth Interactive Writer

Stories are a great way to introduce new words and ideas into a child’s language starting with picture books for a very young, working up to more complex novels for teenagers.

Novels have the power to take us on great adventures, immerse us in fantasy worlds, change our points of view, scare us and it can make us laugh or cry as well.

The characters bring the stories to life and join us on the journey’s through the pages of our favourite reads.

By conjuring up vivid images of different characters and letting us connect or empathize with them, novels help us to explore our own identity and put ourselves in other people’s shoes. Our favourite characters really take us on the most incredible journeys. Zimbabwe is one of the countries in Africa with young girls who are talented and passionate about writing novels.

One of such talents is Chishamiso Chichie, birth name Shamiso Mandemwa who has 11 publications.

The 22 year old writer resides in Chegutu and she started writing in 2019.

For her, writing novels started as a challenge competition in a certain WhatsApp group, where competitors were posting short stories every week.

Chishamiso’s first publication was “Rombe”, were she wrote early chapters of the novels with someone and later finished others herself.

“Publication of my first masterpiece writing which was a collaboration made myself to create many WhatApp groups where I could share and circulate my writings,” she said. In 2021 the young gifted writer started getting offers from film producers and directors of taking her writing to screens which was her goal from the onset.

Her publications novels include “Rombe”, “Muroora”, “Life Without Hope”, “Family Drama”, “My Prince from London”, “Mbinga Yangu”, “Game of Hearts”, “Live and Learn” and “Finger Crossed”.

“’My Prince from London’ is a love story based on king’s son who came back from London and had to choose a wife to marry. ‘Mbinga Yangu’, currently the best seller is a story of a gold digging orphan raised in an orphanage and sets a marriage trap for a rich footballer,” said Chichie.

‘“Game of Hearts’ is set in a gameshow. Contests lie, scheme and worm their ways into winning the hearts of the audience all for the jackpot prize,” Chishamiso added.

The 22-year writer has faced quite a number of challenges from the industry but she has not yet given up on her dream.

“This career has taught me why writing really matters to everyone. It is the fabric of every society and how significant it can be when most if not all can express their voices through writing,” Chishamiso said.