Teenage poet evokes women emancipation in debut book

AWARD WINNING teenage poet Makomborero Nhau (standing, centre in picture above) launched her debut book of poems titled

in Harare last Friday.

In this contemporary anthology, the Roosevelt Girls High School student shows her “concern for the lives of ordinary teenagers in Zimbabwe and reflects the anomie and disappointment that characterises teens during adolescence; the poems revolve around the plight of women through the first-person narrative point of view of a girl child”.

Nhau, a Youth Advocates Leadership Programme (YALeP) alumni, derives her poetry from the depth of an untold story in a ghetto or middle-class environment where the plight of women is a key feature.

YALeP is “an online course facilitated by Youth Advocates in its endeavour and efforts to foster knowledge on youth leadership and health issues ... among young people and adolescents whilst enhancing their community leadership skills”.

It is quite evident through the recent release of that contribution to the art industry by local women authors has been significant and of paramount importance to the growth of written poetry in the country at large.

Writing professionally at 18 is quite a beginning which Nhau seems to be taking in her stride.

“I’m very optimistic that my book is going to go a long way in educating the young generation to be assertive and affirmative,” Nhau told

“It’s a book that dovetails with some of the sustainable development goals which were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action in order to end poverty, protect the planet, improve education and ensure that by 2030 all people will be enjoying peace, gender equality, equal opportunities and prosperity.”

Delivering his speech during the book launch, director of arts and culture in the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Biggie Samwanda said is nothing but an exoskeleton of what the society is anxious about when it comes to stereotypes associated with the plight of women”.

Several speakers, including Zondiwe Ncube, the headmistress at Roosevelt Girls High, where Nhau is pursuing her A-level studies, took turns to speak glowingly of the young author’s latest achievement and talent.

“You are our own, the precious stone, more than a ruby. A girl destined for excellence, honour, self-worth and true beauty. It is indeed our resolve at Roosevelt to churn out worldclass ladies,” Ncube said in her congratulatory message.

Nhau’s poetry journey took off in 2020 when she emerged among the winners in a Covid-19 and gender-based violence (GBV)-themed poetry competition curated by Daughters Destined for Purpose (DD4P), a community organisation that advocates against GBV, particularly targeted at teens through “building skills of women and men on worth, strength and purpose”.

“DD4P helped me grow in writing. It motivated me to be more into poetry and made me eager to find and focus on my purpose,” Nhau said.