BANKET-BASED teacher and author Hazvinei Musokeri recently launched three books, a Christian book titled Unanswered Prayers, a personal development book titled Zones that Deter Success and a children’s book titled Kiki’s Bad Friends which are aimed at equipping would-be readers with various life and personal development nuggets.
Musokeri is the founder and pastor of Banner of Christ Church in Zimbabwe. He is also the director of Nakiso Arts & Life Skills which aims to create and promote arts, culture and life skills through trainings.
He is a holder of an honours degree in Religious Studies (UZ) Post-Graduate Diploma in Education (ZOU), Diploma in Religious Studies (UZ), Diploma in Church Leadership (NBI), Basic Certificate in Theology (Pretoria University) and a Diploma in Leadership and Development Studies (Springdale College UK) amongst other accolades and qualifications.
An author of three other books titled Love Don’t Break my Precious Heart, Neglected gift and Equipping the Sunday School Teacher – Musokeri is no stranger to the literary and writing world having published his first three books in 2018.
His latest children’s book Kiki’s Bad Friends highlights on the importance of cultivation of good friendships between children.
Unanswered Prayers answers some of the questions that people ask when they feel as if they are being ignored by God. Zones that Deter Success answers the questions about some of the mistakes that people make in their quest to get successful.
Prior to his authorship journey, Musokeri was a teacher at Kwadzana High School in Banket and his experience with students gave birth to the novel Kiki’s Bad Friends. He said that he saw how bad influences corrupted well-behaved students.
His experience as a pastor and life coach gave birth to the books Unanswered Prayers and Zones that Deter Success. In addition to that dealing with people on a day-to-day basis revealed to him some of their mistakes hence the inspiration to write the two books.
Musokeri said that his main aim for writing books is to resuscitate the reading culture of his community and Zimbabwe at large. He aims to educate and ensure that Zimbabweans read content that is written by Zimbabweans for Zimbabweans.
The launch was an action-packed event with some insightful performances from students from the Mumvuri Project. There was a dance group and a few poems on the importance of using one’s talents and also being given a chance to do so. The launch turned into a platform to motivate others to use their God-given gifts to change the world.
Speaking at the launch, editor and publisher of the book Audrey Chirenje stated that she had been inspired by Musokeri’s latest literary works. She added that his drive proved that a small town like Banket had been bestowed with greatness within it.
During the panel discussion, Kudzai Chishaka, a law student and aspiring chef gave an insightful answer to one of the questions about the reading culture of Zimbabwe. He said that technology and drug abuse were some of the leading causes for its erosion and it took great minds like Musokeri to try and change it.
In his author remarks at the launch, Musokeri made a moving speech as he explained some of the hardships that inspired him to write a book and some of the challenges he went through when writing the book.
“Sometimes I’d give up and stop writing. My publisher would call me and ask me about my progress. After some convincing l’d start writing again. Every time I gave up she’d call and encourage me to finish my books. I started working on the books last year and here we are,” he said.
Musokeri explained that through his writing and his company Nakiso Arts and Life Skills, he wanted to encourage other Zimbabweans to join the initiative to reawaken the reading culture of Zimbabwe. He said that he aimed to motivate others to showcase their creativity through writing and make Zimbabwe a better place.
Musokeri said he wrote Kiki’s Bad Friends for his daughter who is nicknamed Kiki.
“It’s a legacy for my daughter and I know the pressures that affect students. I want my daughter to know that she can overcome peer pressure. She can overcome anything,” he said.
“Unanswered prayer is a testament for people to understand the mechanisms of God. It’s meant to help people to get answers to their questions.”
- This article was coordinated by Atrishya Gondo
- Fungayi Antony Sox works at Tisu Mazwi – a public relations and communication-centered social enterprise specialising in book publishing, education and storytelling projects. He writes in his personal capacity. For feedback contact him on 0776 030 949, connect with him on LinkedIn on Fungayi Antony Sox, or follow him on Twitter @AntonySox