THE just ended 11th edition of the Litfest lnternational Literature Festival carried with it loads of excitement and one of them was the launch of Rumbidzai Dunduru aka Rumbi Chen and Elliot Chatima’s book Landing in 15 Minutes on November 29 at the Nhaka Gallery in Harare.
Aggrippa Sora who was the guest speaker described the book as an exciting piece of work which is relevant to the Zimbabwean context as it explores themes that resonate with everyday experience. Sora a veteran educationist said the duo of Melbourne-based Dunduru and business consultant Chatima's Landing in 15 Minutes was a perfect example of a collaborative work.
“Issues of infidelity bear a new twist as the offended partner is the one who is apologetic. Solomon, a character in the story, breaks the news to his wife that he is leaving! Unheard of in the society of our forefathers but a common occurrence in the global village. Co-authorship is a very challenging arrangement but it has worked out so well with Rumbi and Elliot,” Sora said.
“Both have shown ingenious attributes as they challenge the reader with their vivid imagination. I challenge you to be the movers and shakers! Be like an elephant in your life. Where an elephant visits it destroys the grass and shrubs. It upsets anything in its way. Whatever obstacle in its way becomes the way! In other words, be visible and make a positive impact in society. The eloquence and flow of the story is captivating. This is a true gift to book lovers.”
Rumbi Chen is a chartered management accountant with an interest in public health particularly health economics and health promotion. Chatima is a chartered accountant with experience spanning decades. Chatima has written his debut novel The Storm also co-authored with Rumbi Chen. In 2024, Rumbi Chen published four books — Ramblings of an Old Teenager (women’s fiction novel), A Journey in Confusion (true short story collection), a collaborative effort with Sherlyn Chigiji, The Storm (action novel on drug trafficking and a collaboration with Chatima) and Ballad to Lonely Earth an Ode to Youth (poetry for the mind and earth on climate fiction). Landing in 15 Minutes is Dunduru’s 5th book.
She described Landing in 15 Minutes as an aviation thriller that is tied to family secrets, betrayal, love triangles and a society grappling with drug abuse.
“A plane suffered severe turbulent moments after initiating landing preparations. The jet lost communication with air traffic control, leaving its whereabouts unknown. On board were high-ranking dignitaries, including a UK team negotiating Zimbabwe's readmission to the Commonwealth, a US special envoy and representatives from Japan, Spain, America and South Korea. They were en route to meet Sadc presidents during the August 2024 Sadc summit in Zimbabwe. Interpol has taken an interest in the disappearance due to the reported 'special' cargo on board. Will the captain succeed in saving the plane?
“Captain Smith, a renowned pilot, is the male main character with a family at the verge of collapse. With a ruthless wife on his side, Captain Smith is knighted by the British monarchy, yet he becomes the centre of a nasty deal. Throughout the book, the drug mafia operates cartels, leading to loss of lives, mental health challenges and other problems. From London to Harare, this story touches on contemporary societal issues.”
Cultural pop artiste Lwazi Tshabangu, who was part of the audience, described the collaborative effort by Dunduru and Chatima as a masterpiece and encouraged fellow authors to invest in such adventures. Chirikure Chirikure, director of the Litfest lnternational Literature Festival, described the joint effort as a standard to follow in presenting literature to an audience.
