Lived experiences have driven a Masvingo novelist to embark on a passion to write books that not only depict societal realities, but inspire people to change family and personal relationships.
In 2000 Edson Madondo worked on his first novel, Hama Muroyi and finished writing the book in three weeks,-a rare fit among authors.
Born 45 years ago in Zaka in Masvingo, Madondo told StandardStyle that recurring experiences in family fueds over chieftainships released his adrenaline to write "Hama Muroyi" in a short space of time.
"There is so much feuding, hatred, blood spilling and even witchcraft accusations as rival claimants to the throne jostle to succeed the incumbents and this inspired me to write.my first novel. The situation is even made worse if the heir to the throne is a young person who will be in the midst of older relatives also eyeing the traditional leadership," Madondo said.
Madondo said he worked on his second novel, Ndaizivei between March and May 2015.
"In this book I converted myself into a woman who tells her story from the point of a mother who, after struggling to raise her children, educates her brilliant first born son. The child, however, gives her nothing in return because of a wrong marriage decision,"he said.
"At times marrying across cultures, social classes or even same age marriages can be problematic as this could strain family relationships."
He said Hama Muroyi and Ndaizivei were however published in 2022 by Josphat Gwezhira through Avante Media Group.
Madondo said he once worked for a local non governmental organisation for 12 years but was laid off in 2015.
Losing his job largely inspired him to work on his third book, Akashamba Pakagezera Gudo, which he said should be published in March next year.
"The story in this novel is centred on effects of economic decline, unemployment and bad governance on a retrenched graduate," he said.
The passionate author however bemoaned lack of recognition of writers especially in the age of new information technologies.
"Unfortunately, if your books are not recognised in the education curriculum, you will remain an unsung author as Zimbabweans generally no longer read books for recreational purposes," he said.
He, however, remained hopeful that one day his novels will be selected as education setbooks.
Madondo added: "The reading culture is dead especially in the advent of social media. People only buy novels that are setbooks for educational purposes.'
He said when growing up in the 80s and 90s his parents were in the habit of buying one or two novels at the end of the month and telling children stories after reading them. Madondo did his primary education at Madondo primary school in Zaka before proceeding to Hippo Valley High School in Chiredzi where he completed his ordinary and advanced level learning.
He went on to graduate with a Bachelor Honours degree in History from the University of Zimbabwe, Bachelor of Arts media studies, Zimbabwe Open University, Diploma in Communication and Journalism from Christian College of Southern Africa as well as Diploma in Public Relations from the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry.