Liberty Dube
Post Correspondent
ART continues paying dividends for the Hwerekwere family after their second child, Vimbainashe, was awarded a full scholarship at 3 Brigade Primary School for being an artistic genius.
Vimbainashe (10), who is sister to Zim-dancehall whizkid, Jonathan Hwerekwere, fondly known as “Ma Vendor Kid”, is now reaping the fruits of her poetry ingenuity after the school offered her a full scholarship up to Grade Seven.
Jonathan is also a scholarship beneficiary at Nyamauru High School through his music dexterity.
Many might remember Vimbainashe, a Grade Five learner, for writing and presenting a touching and powerful poem titled “Zimbabwe our Motherland” during the 42nd Independence Day celebrations at Sakubva Stadium on Monday.
She comfortably exuded excellent articulation skills, composure and confidence in front of scores of people from all walks of life who thronged the venue.
Considering the magnitude of the event, Vimbainashe, who was clad in a uniquely-designed blue camouflage and black shoes, did exceptionally well and won the hearts of many through her body language and voice projection.
It was a poem which was meant to appreciate the gallant sons and daughters of the soil who waged a protracted and arduous struggle against the colonial rule.
She left many awestruck with her talent.
Read part of the poem she presented:
“We are proud of your great work;
You, the experts who have prepared a battlefield;
An expert who was brave enough to shoot an enemy’s arrow;
We lived in the forests as wild animals;
You taught us to kiss the misery of our land;
Although it was painful to stay in the season, your encouragement is firm in us;
Your courage has germinated in your children;
You, our heroes have become our inspiration;
Hence, we are committed to the interests of the country . . . ”
But who really is Vimbainashe?
She is a 10-year-old girl who started writing and reciting her own poems when she was in an Early Childhood Development class at Joshua Dube Primary School in Dangamvura.
She is an avid reader and boasts of seven poems to date, which she can easily recite at any time.
She is doing Grade Five at the army school and her aspiration is to be a pilot at the Air Force of Zimbabwe.
Vimbainashe’s mother, Anna Muparutsa, said she is elated because of her child’s talent.
“It is not easy for a child to stand in front of such a huge crowd and recite a long poem. It is also not easy for a child of her age to sit down and write such meaningful poems. We thank God for such a talent.
“However, we are not surprised that she is doing well like this. She started reciting short poems at a tender age and at first we thought she would not go far. It is an honour and we hope to continue playing a critical role in moulding her into a mature and polished poet,” she said.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe’s Eastern Regional director, Ms Elizabeth Muusha, said young artists like Vimbainashe need support.
“Emerging artists have great potential to take art to greater heights. They need support through capacity building workshops or art classes. When they are better skilled, their work need better markets,” she said.