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Beaven Tapureta
2017 has ended badly for the Zimbabwean literary family as it lost one of its own on December 23, two days before Christmas. Brian Tafadzwa Penny, a multi-talented writer, was involved in a road car accident on his way to his rural home in Chimanimani.

According to information shared by CJ Milton Chitsime with whom Penny worked as directors for Forteworx Press, the accident also claimed the wife and daughter of our author’s young brother. For fellow writers such as those he worked with as an arts promoter by passion, his sudden departure was unbearable. Christmas was bleak without Penny. And yet, as they say and we believe, writers never die.

His published works and memories of our togetherness will timelessly stick with us. Back in the 90’s, the days of the Budding Writers Association of Zimbabwe, Penny was one of the active members of the Harare Chapter. Some of the new writers shining today are products of the association.

His poems are featured in anthologies such as “Zviri Mugapu” (2014), “Dzinonyandura” (2014) which is an ‘A’ Level literature set-book and was once nominated for the NAMA awards, “Tsuro Ndisunge” (2015), “Flowers of a Dry Season” and “Ink of a New Generation”.

His short stories appear in the anthologies “True Lies” (2015) and “Outside The Garden of Eden”, the latest publication by his publishing stable. Penny also ventured into film, actually writing and directing a short film called “Nowadays — Love In the Park”. He also published a children’s book titled “Makiti and Other Stories”. As a journalist, he contributed arts articles to a local newspaper NewsDay.

According to Milton Chitsime, Forteworx Press will early next year publish a collection of tributes to Penny from different quarters. The passing on of Penny pained everyone who knew him in various arts associations where he belonged.

The planned publication of tributes is surely deserved for the man who believed in the pen. Below are a few hurriedly gleaned from “WINZIM Classic”, a Whatsapp group for the Zimbabwean new generation of writers and poets.

Moving poems, songs, and memories were shared for Penny. Penny, the thoughtful pen-pusher, was laid to rest in Chimanimani.

It was such a painful moment for friends and relatives yet we will forever celebrate his talent. May his soul rest in peace. Below are poems that fellow writers dedicated to Penny:

 

On the other day (by Aleck Kaposa)

He was here

Writing

He was one of us

Together yearning for the survival

Of the written word

Whoever knew this unexpected storm

Which fate had in stock?

Now

A recent text message to him lies unanswered

Lo and behold, only silence and sorrow…

 

Tsaona uri njodzi (by Tinashe Muchuri)

Tisina kufungira hama kana

Shamwari yapfuura

Unoda ropa handiti!

Unoridirepi parisingazari?

Unongoda raivo vakazvigwinyira!

Hausarudzi

Harahwa kana vacheche

Zinyamukonyira!

Zifunji!

Chigoro!

Ramasase!

Wandigumbura!

 

Penny where is your pen? (by Chenjerai Mhondera)

Scribble one more word,

We want to erase pain!

Sorrow hangs in our heads your fellows

Tears in our eyes drop

In that swift courier

You went so fast

To lift eyes to see you go

Oh we were too late

Although gone

Between sheets of that books

You live forever

Immortal telling of your story

The verses of that poem

Lyrics of that song

Run down memory lane

T-Penny, T-pain…!

 

Tafambiswa tsoka imwe imwe sezvana (by Tamutswa Muzana)

Dhe-dhe takananga kwatisingazivi

Kunozivikanwa nemudhanaidzi

Asi zvedu zviso zvichipenya nenyemwerero

Zivo yekuti mudhanaidzi ndiye mwene weraramo

Yotikotsirisa nyangwe takagarira nhanzva

Tikasasvika rwendo rwepanyika

Rwokumusoro tinosvika

Vanosara bararanwa kuzhamba

Asi mwene weupenyu harasiki

Anotiisa panzvimbo nenguva

Nekubwaira kweziso Brian Tafadzwa Penny wakwidza

Zvironga tunge pahwendefa yemoyo yevasara

Asi redu gamba harina kurasika

Ratorwa nenguva sekudanwa kwatichaitwa tose

Zvake zvinyorwa uve munyu kumaronda edu.

 

Inyembezi zethu zigcwele (Tapiwa Mugozori)

Imibuzo,

Sasithi kumbe uhambo lwethu

Lulaqala,

Sijabulela uzibuse wesibili

Simunye,

Usitshiyele ingqobe mfoka Penny,

Ukujula kolimi sizokuthapa

Kubani?

Imibuzo yonke izophendulwa

Ngubani?

Lala ngoxolo qhawe lezingwalo,

Silindele elakusasa, lapho

Sizogiya ndaonye ngosuku lokucina,

Kuwe TP Brian, indoda emadodeni.