Those in government

Novel Zwangendaba, 18 December 2003

Subjects:

A defiant response from a young Zimbabwean poet to the officially sanctioned language of violence that grips his country.

About the author

Novell Zwangendaba is a poet, performance artist, journalist and co-founder of the fashion label Black Scissors in Harare, Zimbabwe. He posts frequently in openDemocracy’s discussion forums.

THOSE IN GOVERNMENT

they are so high
their words
we don’t see them
when they come

they are so quick
their words
we don’t hear them
when they fly

they are so tight
and carefully covered by the clouds
their words
we don’t see them
when they bomb

they are so programmed
and loaded
their words
we don’t survive them
when they destroy

yet, they are so close
their words
we will see them
when they come close
closer by the range

they are so bumpy
their words
we will catch them
when they fly

they are so faulty
their words
we will hear them
when they fail

and, they are so faked
their words
we will shoot them down
and kill them
and burn them
and bury them
and continue...
with the words
our words
the only words
left of the people!

AVO VARIMUHURUMENDE

ari muchadengadenga
mashoko avo
hatimaone
kana ave kuuya

anokasika chose
mashoko avo
hatimanzwe
kana ave kubhururuka
their words

akabatana
uye akavharidzirwa nemakore
mashoko avo
hatimaone
kana ave kudhuuka

akagadziridzwa chose
uye akarongedzerwa
mashoko avo
haatiponese
kana ave kuparadza

asizve,ari pedo chaizvo
mashoko avo
tichamaona
paachauya pedo
pedo pedo nesu

ane magidhigidhi
mashoko avo
tichamakachikira
apo anenge ave kubhururuka

ane dambudziko chose
mashoko avo
tichamanzwa
paanenge ave kukundikana

uye, ndeemanyepo chose
mashoko avo
uye tichamapfurira pasi
uye tichamauraya
uye tichamapisa
uyetichimafusira
uye tichaenderera mberi
nemashoko
edu mashoko
iwo mashoko
asarirwa naiyoyi povo!

Read Novell Zwangendaba in the openDemocracy discussion forum

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