Brian Kazungu: Writers Interview Series

zwnews24 is pleased to launch its Writers Interview Series, a literature promotion program in which it will carry out interviews on writers, authors, bloggers, scrip writers and song writers as a way of appreciating their role in literature in our society.

We also believe that these interviews will provide an inspirational and learning platform for those already in the field and those who want to be active participants in the field of literature.

More so, we are convinced that this initiative will help readers to understand the personalities and realities of the people who write books, blogs, songs, movies etc. that readers themselves always enjoy from time to time.

In this first interview, we talk to Brian Kazungu, a media practitioner, author, poet, technology enthusiast, entrepreneur and an opinion leader who has published several books and contributed a number of articles in various media houses.

Zwnews24: Briefly describe yourself (background, personality, passions, dreams and aspirations etc.) so that the readers (audience) can have a clear picture of who you are and what you stand for as a writer/blogger/author etc.

Brian Kazungu: I am an inspired, motivated and observant person who enjoys recording down his thoughts, visions and imaginations into works of literature. Professionally, I am a journalist by training, I am also a technology enthusiast who studied Information Technology specialising in Computer Networks. More-so, I am a business administrator by training and a passionate entrepreneur.

Zwnews24: What is your greatest reason and or motivation behind your writing career? What do you seek to achieve and why? If you have already published anything both in print or online, do you think you have achieved your goal or do you see yourself achieving those goals through your literary work?

Brian Kazungu: I have always been fascinated by literature. I believe that ‘word engineering’, which is basically the art or craft of making use of common alphabetical letters, from A to Z into making pieces of literature that can transform humanity is a miracle that I cannot resist to participate in. Through literature, I seek to create a conducive environment for the harmonious and progressive interaction of humanity towards a peaceable co-existence amongst ourselves as people, while taking good care of Mother Nature. Yes, I have some published book so far. Through the KDP platform of Amazon, I have published a number of books covering various subjects which I believe are pertinent to the contemporary society. I am convinced, especially based on the feedback that I have gotten so far, that if these books get into the hands of many people, they will play a significant role in positively transforming our Planet Earth.

Zwnews24: When and how did you start writing and what has been the impact of that move on you and on the people around you, including family and friends?

Brian Kazungu: I started writing many years back. I even remember that soon after High School, I attempted to write a novel in Shona, my mother language, but didn’t manage to finish it. I did not give up on writing though, because years later I started working on the material for much of the books that I have managed to write and publish. Writing is one thing that makes me so extra fulfilled in life. Quite often, I even read my own stuff and wonder at the ideas that the universe can offload on a human being like you and me. A such, I believe that a writer who doesn’t write is in prison even if he may travel the whole world. I say so because if you are a writer inside of you and you don’t write, you will lack peace in your soul. On the impact of my work in my circles, I believe that it has been and it is still positive. This is because a number of my friends have encouraged me to continue writing and publishing and so with that, I believe that my writing have had a positive impact on them.

Zwnews24: What are the titles of the books that you have written so far? Would you describe what each of these books is all about and the intended benefit of each of these books to your audience? If you are a blogger, what is the name of your blog, what is it about and what is your intended benefit of this blog to your targeted audience?

Brian Kazungu: I am basically an author. I write books. My writings are in different categories covering leadership, business and entrepreneurship, politics, personal development (motivation and inspiration), poetry and travel etc. 

Leadership – 1) The Practical Executive

Business and Entrepreneurship – 1) The Practical Entrepreneur, 2) The SME Handbook, 3) The Sales and Marketing Pocket Book, 4) The SME Buyers Guide

Politics – 1) Primitive Politics and The Poverty Machinery

Personal Development (Motivation and Inspiration) – 1) Fresh Thinking, 2) The Hidden Hand or Blind Reach Influence

Poetry – 1) General Emeritus – Wisdom, Mysteries and Dark Sayings

Travel – 1) Guangzhou, The China I Saw

The book on leadership is there to supplement and complement the existing literature on this subject and also to disrupt the continued adoption of some leadership philosophies that are no longer relevant to the contemporary society. More so, it’s a Bible based piece of literature that I believe will help in promoting marketplace apostleship across the world.

My main focus on the books on business and entrepreneurship is to encourage people towards engaging in productive and rewarding lifestyles that leads to peace and development. I believe that without serious and informed commitment towards entrepreneurship in a given society, that community will end poor and chaotic.

The book on politics is a dot connector on the issues to do with politics in any society and it helps people to see that whether they are active participants or distant onlookers to political issues, politics spares nobody. As such this book encourages informed participation in political issues by both active politicians and the electorate.

On personal development, my main angle is open mindedness, self-introspection and tolerance. I believe that without these, our thoughts and actions will hinder our pursuit of happiness.

In the poetry anthology, I pour myself out whether it’s about my personal wishes and dreams or the issues that affect others in our common environment.

The book on travel is meant to make people share their travel experiences so that they can encourage others to travel or so that others without the means to travel can also see and understand the world through literature.

Zwnews24: If people want to buy your books or invest in your work, where can they find the books and how do they get in touch with you either for feedback on your work or any other related correspondence? If you are a blogger, please provide the link.

Brian Kazungu: At the moment, all of my books are found on the Amazon book store or you can have a look at them on my Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/briankazungu.

People can also connect with me through twitter on the following handle: @Bkazungu or send me an email through [email protected].

Zwnews24: What are your guiding values which determine what and how you write? Are there things that you do not write about at all or is there a certain approach to writing which you do not use because of these values? Share your insights. 

Brian Kazungu: Quite often, I am guided by my imagination and perception of the consequences of my work on the community. As long as I believe that what I am writing about will help to create and promote a conducive environment for a harmonious and progressive interaction of people in a given society towards peace and development, I will definitely go for it as long as I still have the energy to do it.

Zwnews24: What has been the impact of your writing so far, both to you and your readers and how has it made you feel? 

Brian Kazungu: To me, my works of literature has brought me fulfilment and inexplicable joy, especially when I take time to read it myself. I am sure there are quite a number of writers who feel the same when they also read their own stuff. As for the readers, based on their feedback, they show me so much excitement that makes me even merrier.

Zwnews24: What has been some of the most cherished and memorable feedback that you have received from your readers so far and how has it impacted you in your pursuit of literature, either as a profession or as a hobby? Please share some of the priceless feedback that you received from your readers.

Brian Kazungu: As a person who used to share my manuscripts with other people in my circles so that they can have say in what I write, I was always amazed when they write back to me with a sense of worry on why the books had not yet been published. You can imagine the feeling as a writer, when people can’t contain the joy of reading your books to themselves but also want others to experience and enjoy your writing. I will never forget these moments. More so, I have on several occasions been asked how do I manage to come up with all those unique ideas that I write about. That alone to me can be enough feedback to tell me that I am not wasting my time on literature and that, I am not wasting other people’s time and resources but am rather fulfilling a certain emotional need in them.

Zwnews24: What is it that makes you to continue writing regardless of the various challenges that are associated with this profession or undertaking? How do you overcome the related hurdles?

Brian Kazungu: As I said earlier on, the feedback that I get on its own is very empowering for me as a writer. Plus the fact that to me and for me, the act of writing is therapeutic, it massages my soul, this keeps me writing and writing again and again. Writing in itself to me is a shield and a weapon that I have quite often used to win so many battles of life. I encourage everybody everywhere to try it. You can start with a quote or a poem etc. and eventually, you will find yourself writing a book.

Zwnews24: What are your words of advice and motivation to other writers, both to the established and aspiring ones in their pursuit of literature, either as their hobby or profession?

Brian Kazungu: My advice to them is that please don’t give up on writing. Writing is a spiritual act on this earthily life. When you do it, you connect to the universe and to God himself. Don’t look down on an idea that you put on paper, because truth be told, the words that you write, can actually change the world for the better. However, in your pursuit of writing, seek to improve the skill of writing and communication. Don’t just write because you have an idea but rather learn the necessary skills that helps you to effectively communicate your idea.

Zwnews24: What do you think is the relevance and impact of literature in your community, in your country or across the whole world? Do you think literature should be recognized, celebrated and be promoted? Share your reasons.

Brian Kazungu: In one of my poems titled General Emeritus, The Ambassador of Literature, I described literature as an art, as creation, as an invention, as the showcase of reason and as the expression of emotions. Based on this alone, you can start to feel the spirituality of literature in the being of a person. Literature is an anchor of emotional fulfilment. Without it, our bodies may be covered in glitz and glamour while our souls are covered in wretchedness.

Zwnews24: How deep is your passion for literature? What have you already done, what are you planning to do and how far would you go to promote literature in your community, in your country or across the whole world?

Brian Kazungu: My passion for literature is inexplicable. Besides writing, quite often I am researching on how best people can write, publish and make a living from their works of literature. Such research findings, I try by all means to share them even on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter etc. so that others who do not have the time and resources to research on their own can find me to be their resource or information portal as well.

Zwnews24: Besides writers, who are the other active players that you can think of in the field of literature? In that regard, is there a person, group of people or organization that you know which is helping to develop and promote literature in your community, in your country or across the whole world? Who are they and what is it specifically that they are doing in this context and how is it inspiring you and positively impacting individuals and communities?

Brian Kazungu: I have come to know that the field of literature has many players who together make it all happen. Imagine when you see someone reading a book in an aeroplane, can you even imagine that the book was edited (editor), the covers where designed (graphics designer), the book itself was printed (printing house/publisher) and most probably it was bought from a shop (book store). This narrative alone shows quite a number of people besides the writer who are in involved in making and getting a single book into the hands of the reader. 

As for those helping in the development of literature, I can say that there are so many people and organisations that in one way or the other keeps literature alive. For example, in my case, Mr Rabison Shumba and Mr Rodwell Harinangoni were the ones who activated me into serious writing. Remember, earlier on, I said I once wrote a Shona novel that I didn’t even finish. This failure to finish the project can be attributed to a scenario where passion or zeal is not coupled with the necessary emotional support structure. These two guys once staged a writing competition on Facebook which I participated in and I won a book as a reward. You can imagine what that meant for me on that day. Then there are people like Mr Phillip Chidavaenzi through his Writers Clinic initiative who are doing amazing exploits in promoting literature. In the same regard, I cannot forget Mr Kimanzi Constable, because this guy through his Facebook posts, is always showing you how and where to make money from writing. If I look at all this, my heart gets overjoyed in knowing that the miracle of literature will continue to dazzle us if we are surrounded by such kind of people.

Zwnews24: Have you ever won an award or have you ever been nominated for an award on your literary work? If yes, please share your story about this award and the impact it had on you.

Brian Kazungu: Not yet, but I have won a book that I have mentioned earlier on for participating in a writing contest and for me that was an award enough. And still on that, I remember a certain Whatsapp group by Mr Simbarashe Nyamadzawo called The Faithpreneurs where I used to contribute some scripture based devotionals. On one of my birthdays, these guys also gave me a book by Mike Murdock titled The Leadership Secrets of Jesus. They said this was an appreciation of my writings. So, to me this was another award. So, based on these developments, I always feel like I am an award winning writer.

Zwnews24: If there was or if there is a Global Literature Ambassador Award, who would you nominate for the prize and more so, based on your own works of literature, do you think that you would be able to win a prize for your literary contributions? How would you feel if you were to be locally, nationally or globally recognized for your input in the field of literature?

Brian Kazungu: I believe that the books that I have so far been given as an appreciation for my literary contributions even in small competitions and informal platforms are a sign of bigger things to come. As for other writers who I believe deserve awards, I have read great novels by Phillip Chidavaenzi, engaging motivational books by Rabison Shumba, a novel by Cheryl Ntumy, not forgetting Paulo Coelho among others. These guys and their books deserve awards.

Zwnews24: What has been some of the best works of literature that you have enjoyed so far (Books, blogs, poems etc.)? Share the reasons why you rate them so high and value them so much. Based on what you have benefited personally, what do you think must be done in order to broadly develop, promote and celebrate literature in your community, country or across the world?

Brian Kazungu: Paulo Coelho’s stands out among my favourites in the genre of novels together with other books by others writers. Book such as The Art of War, As A Man Thinketh, The Power of Positive Thinking in their respective genres are very outstanding to me. Based on the value that literature has imparted on my being, I believe that as communities, we must promote and celebrate reading and writing across all age groups, since this phenomenon of recording and sharing of ideas that comes through literature is priceless.

Zwnews24: Do you know of anybody who is making a good living from their works of literature? If so, what do you think is making them to stand out in this regard? Do you know of platforms, individuals or organizations that help writers to earn a living from their work? Write them down and share the information with others. Do you know of any books and poems that have been turned into movies and songs at a fee? Which ones are they and how much has been paid for such work?

Brian Kazungu: Paulo Coelho is the name that quickly comes to mind and I think it’s because of his mastery of literary creativity. On platforms that helps people to make money through writing, I am sure it’s best to follow people like Kimanzi Constable on social media especially on Facebook and learn from them. 

Zwnews24: What are some of the local, national, regional and international literature awards that you know of and what do they seek to reward or promote? What is your take on their criteria? If you were to give awards in literature, what would be your prizes and the related criteria for selecting recipients and awarding such rewards?

Brian Kazungu: On the international scale, I have personally developed so much interest in the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature which seeks to reward outstanding work in the field of literature. Back home, there is the National Arts Merits Awards (NAMA) which seeks to recognise and reward outstanding achievements in the arts and culture industry of Zimbabwe. As for my take on their criteria, I can say that literature is so diverse and so, if anyone is kind enough to recognise, reward and celebrate it from a certain angle, I am very grateful. Personally, if I was to give an award for literature exploits, I would seek to reward those people and organisations that are helping writers to monetize their gifts and work. I would also mobilise financial support for them to continue on their noble causes.

Zwnews24: Are there people and or organisations that you would like to acknowledge and credit, be it for their emotional and material input or contribution (support) towards your works of literature? 

Brian Kazungu: As mentioned before, Rodwell Harinangoni and Rabison Shumba activated me into serious writing through the mentioned Facebook writing contest. Along the way, I always take a pause and reflect on that and then continue on my journey of writing because that competition they staged on Facebook and the book that I subsequently won is enough inspiration. The same goes for Simbarashe Nyamadzawo and the Faithpreneurs who appreciated my writing through giving me a book as a birthday gift. Phillip Chidavaenzi through his Writers Clinic, to me stands as a great ambassador of literature who deserves recognition and support in that initiative. Vincent Mbayo and Sam Masunda are a rare kind of cheerleaders that every reader wants in his circles. They just make you believe in your work the more. To these guys and many others that I will mention in other platforms, I am very grateful.

The questions in this interview are adapted from the book, General Emeritus – Wisdom, Mysteries and Dark Sayings.(https://www.amazon.com/GENERAL-EMERITUS-Mysteries-Sayings-Anthology/dp/1675176574/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=brian+kazungu+GENERAL+EMERITUS&qid=1578511692&sr=8-2).

Zwnews24: Briefly describe yourself (background, personality, passions, dreams and aspirations etc.) so that the readers (audience) can have a clear picture of who you are and what you stand for as a writer/blogger/author etc.

Brian Kazungu: I am an inspired, motivated and observant person who enjoys recording down his thoughts, visions and imaginations into works of literature. Professionally, I am a journalist by training, I am also a technology enthusiast who studied Information Technology specialising in Computer Networks. More-so, I am a business administrator by training and a passionate entrepreneur.

Zwnews24: What is your greatest reason and or motivation behind your writing career? What do you seek to achieve and why? If you have already published anything both in print or online, do you think you have achieved your goal or do you see yourself achieving those goals through your literary work?

Brian Kazungu: I have always been fascinated by literature. I believe that ‘word engineering’, which is basically the art or craft of making use of common alphabetical letters, from A to Z and numbers from 0 to 9 into making pieces of literature that can transform humanity is a miracle that I cannot resist to participate in. Through literature, I seek to create a conducive environment for the harmonious and progressive interaction of humanity towards a peaceable co-existence amongst ourselves as people, while taking good care of Mother Nature. Through the KDP platform of Amazon, I have published a number of books covering various subjects which I believe are pertinent to the contemporary society. I am convinced, especially based on the feedback that I have gotten so far, that if these books get into the hands of many people, they will play a significant role in positively transforming our Planet Earth.

Zwnews24: When and how did you start writing and what has been the impact of that move on you and on the people around you, including family and friends?

Brian Kazungu: I started writing many years back. I even remember that soon after High School, I attempted to write a novel in Shona, my mother language, but didn’t manage to finish it. I did not give up on writing though, because years later I started working on the material for much of the books that I have managed to write and publish. Writing is one thing that makes me so extra fulfilled in life. Quite often, I even read my own stuff and wonder at the ideas that the universe can offload on a human being. I believe that a writer who doesn’t write is in prison even if he may travel the world. I say so because if you are writer and you don’t write, you will lack peace in your soul. A number of my friends have encouraged me to write and even to publish and so with that, I believe that my writing have had a positive effect impact in my circles.

Zwnews24: What are the titles of the books that you have written so far? Would you describe what each of these books is all about and the intended benefit of each of these books to your audience? If you are a blogger, what is the name of your blog, what is it about and what is your intended benefit of this blog to your targeted audience?

Brian Kazungu: My writings are in different categories covering leadership, business and entrepreneurship, politics, personal development (motivation and inspiration), poetry and travel etc. 

Leadership –

1. The Practical Executive

Business and Entrepreneurship –

1. The Practical Entrepreneur,
2. The SME Handbook,
3. The Sales and Marketing Pocket Book,
4. The SME Buyers Guide

Politics –

1. Primitive Politics and The Poverty Machinery

Personal Development (Motivation and Inspiration) –

1. Fresh Thinking,
2. The Hidden Hand or Blind Reach Influence

Poetry –

1. General Emeritus – Wisdom, Mysteries and Dark Sayings

Travel –

1. Guangzhou, The China I Saw

The book on leadership is there to supplement and complement the existing literature on this subject and also to disrupt the continued adoption of some leadership philosophies that are no longer relevant to the contemporary society. More so, it’s a Bible based piece of literature that I believe will help in promoting marketplace apostleship across the world.

My main focus on the books on business and entrepreneurship is to encourage people towards engaging in productive and rewarding lifestyles that leads to peace and development. I believe that without serious and informed commitment towards entrepreneurship in a given society, that community will end poor and chaotic.

The book on politics is a dot connector on the issues to do with politics in any society and it helps people to see that whether they are active participants or distant onlookers to political issues, politics spares nobody. As such this book encourages informed participation in political issues by both active politicians and the electorate.

On personal development, my main angle is open mindedness, self-introspection and tolerance. I believe that without these, our thoughts and actions will hinder our pursuit of happiness.

In the poetry anthology, I pour myself out whether it’s about my personal wishes and dreams or the issues that affect others in our common environment.

The book on travel is meant to make people share their travel experiences so that they can encourage others to travel or so that others without the means to travel can also see and understand the world through literature.

Zwnews24: If people want to buy your books or invest in your work, where can they find the books and how do they get in touch with you either for feedback on your work or any other related correspondence? If you are a blogger, please provide the link.

Brian Kazungu: At the moment, all of my books are found on the Amazon book store or you can have a look at them on my Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/briankazungu.

People can also connect with me through twitter on the following handle: @Bkazungu or send me an email through [email protected].

Zwnews24: What are your guiding values which determine what and how you write? Are there things that you do not write about at all or is there a certain approach to writing which you do not use because of these values? Share your insights. 

Brian Kazungu: Quite often, I am guided by my imagination and perception of the consequences of my work on the community. As long as I believe that what I am writing about will help to create and promote a conducive environment for a harmonious and progressive interaction of people in a given society towards peace and development, I will definitely go for it as long as I still have the energy to do it.

Zwnews24: What has been the impact of your writing so far, both to you and your readers and how has it made you feel? 

Brian Kazungu: To me, my works of literature has brought me fulfilment and inexplicable joy, especially when I take time to read it myself. I am sure there are quite a number of writers who feel the same. As for the readers, based on their feedback, they show me so much excitement that makes me even merrier.

Zwnews24: What has been some of the most cherished and memorable feedback that you have received from your readers so far and how has it impacted you in your pursuit of literature, either as a profession or as a hobby? Please share some of the priceless feedback that you received from your readers.

Brian Kazungu: As a person who used to share the manuscripts with people in my circles so that they can have say in what I write, I was amazed by people who wrote to me with a sense of worry on why the books had not yet been published. You can imagine the feeling as a writer, when people can’t contain it to themselves but want others to also experience and enjoy your writing. I will never forget these moments. More so, I have on several occasions been asked how do I manage to come up with all those unique ideas that I write about. That alone to me can be enough feedback to tell me that I am not wasting my time on literature and that, I am not wasting other people’s time and resources but am rather fulfilling a certain emotional need in them.

Zwnews24: What is it that makes you to continue writing regardless of the various challenges that are associated with this profession or undertaking? How do you overcome the related hurdles?

Brian Kazungu: As I said earlier on, the feedback that I get on its own is very empowering for me as a writer. Plus the fact that to me and for me, the act of writing is therapeutic, it massages my soul, this keeps me writing and writing again and again. Writing in itself to me is a shield and weapon that I have quite often used to win so many battles of life. I encourage everybody everywhere to try it. You can start with a quote or a poem etc. and eventually, you will find yourself writing a book.

Zwnews24: What are your words of advice and motivation to other writers, both to the established and aspiring ones in their pursuit of literature, either as their hobby or profession?

Brian Kazungu: My advice to them is that please don’t give up on writing. Writing is a spiritual act on this earthily life. When you do it, you connect to the universe and to God himself. Don’t look down on an idea that you put on paper, because truth be told, the words that you write, can actually change the world for the better. However, in your pursuit of writing, seek to improve the skill of writing and communication. Don’t just write because you have an idea but rather learn the necessary skills that helps you to effectively communicate your idea.

Zwnews24: What do you think is the relevance and impact of literature in your community, in your country or across the whole world? Do you think literature should be recognized, celebrated and be promoted? Share your reasons.

Brian Kazungu: In one of my poems titled General Emeritus, The Ambassador of Literature, I described literature is an art, as creation, as an invention, as the showcase of reason and as the expression of emotions. Based on this alone, you start to feel the spirituality of literature in the being of a person. Literature is an anchor of emotional fulfilment. Without it, our bodies may be covered in glitz and glamour while our souls are covered in wretchedness.

Zwnews24: How deep is your passion for literature? What have you already done, what are you planning to do and how far would you go to promote literature in your community, in your country or across the whole world?

Brian Kazungu: My passion for literature is inexplicable. Besides writing, quite often I am researching on how best people can write, publish and make a living from their works of literature. Such research findings, I try by all means to share even on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter etc. so that others who do not have the time and resources can find me to be their resource or information portal as well.

Zwnews24: Besides writers, who are the other active players that you can think of in the field of literature? In that regard, is there a person, group of people or organization that you know which is helping to develop and promote literature in your community, in your country or across the whole world? Who are they and what is it specifically that they are doing in this context and how is it inspiring you and positively impacting individuals and communities?

Brian Kazungu: I have come to know that the field of literature has many players who together make it all happen. Imagine when you see someone reading a book in an aeroplane, can you even imagine that the book was edited (editor), the covers where designed (graphics designer), the book itself was printed (printing house/publisher) and most probably it was bought from a book shop. This narrative alone shows quite a number of people besides the writer who are in involved in making a single book. 

There are so many people and organisations that in one way or the other keeps literature alive. For example, in my case, Mr Rabison Shumba and Mr Rodwell Harinangoni were the ones who activated me into serious writing. Remember, earlier on, I said I once wrote a novel that I didn’t even finish. This failure to finish the project be attributed to a scenario where passion or zeal is not coupled with the necessary emotional support structure. These two guys once staged a writing competition on Facebook which I participated in and I won a book as a reward. You can imagine what that meant for me on that day. Then there are people like Mr Phillip Chidavaenzi through his Writers Clinic initiative who are doing amazing exploits in promoting literature. In the same regard, I cannot forget Mr Kimanzi Constable, because this guy through his Facebook posts, he is always showing you how and where to make money from writing. If I look at all this, my heart gets overjoyed in knowing that the miracle of literature will continue to dazzle us if we are surrounded by such kind of people.

Zwnews24: Have you ever won an award or have you ever been nominated for an award on your literary work? If yes, please share your story about this award and the impact it had on you.

Brian Kazungu: Not yet, but I have won a book that I have mentioned earlier on and for me that was an award enough. And still on that, I remember a certain Whatsapp group by Mr Simbarashe Nyamadzawo called The Faithpreneurs where I used to contribute some scripture based devotionals. On one of my birthdays, these guys also gave me a book by Mike Murdock titled The Leadership Secrets of Jesus. They said this was an appreciation of my writings. So, to me this was another award. So, based on these developments, I always feel like I am an award winning writer and so, based on that, you can imagine the feeling. It’s so indescribably priceless.

Zwnews24: If there was or if there is a Global Literature Ambassador Award, who would you nominate for the prize and more so, based on your own works of literature, do you think that you would be able to win a prize for your literary contributions? How would you feel if you were to be locally, nationally or globally recognized for your input in the field of literature?

Brian Kazungu: I believe that the books that I have so far been given as an appreciation for my literary contributions even in small competitions and informal platforms are a sign of bigger things to come. As for other writers who I believe deserve awards, I have read great novels by Phillip Chidavaenzi, engaging motivational books by Rabison Shumba, a novel by Cheryl Ntumy, not forgetting Paulo Coelho among others. These guys and their books deserve awards.

Zwnews24: What has been some of the best works of literature that you have enjoyed so far (Books, blogs, poems etc.)? Share the reasons why you rate them so high and value them so much. Based on what you have benefited personally, what do you think must be done in order to broadly develop, promote and celebrate literature in your community, country or across the world?

Brian Kazungu: Paulo Coelho’s stands out among my favourites in the genre of novels together with other books such as The Art of War, As A Man Thinketh, The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale in their respective genres. Based on the value that literature has imparted on my being, I believe that as communities, we must promote and celebrate reading and writing across all age groups, since this phenomenon of recording and sharing of ideas that comes through literature is priceless.

Zwnews24: Do you know of anybody who is making a good living from their works of literature? If so, what do you think is making them to stand out in this regard? Do you know of platforms, individuals or organizations that help writers to earn a living from their work? Write them down and share the information with others. Do you know of any books and poems that have been turned into movies and songs at a fee? Which ones are they and how much has been paid for such work?

Brian Kazungu: Paulo Coelho is the name that quickly comes to mind and I think it’s because of his mastery of literature creativity. On platforms that helps people make money through writing, I am sure it’s best to follow people like Kimanzi Constable on social media especially on Facebook and learn from them. 

Zwnews24: What are some of the local, national, regional and international literature awards that you know of and what do they seek to reward or promote? What is your take on their criteria? If you were to give awards in literature, what would be your prizes and the related criteria for selecting recipients and awarding such rewards?

Brian Kazungu: On the international scale, I have personally developed so much interest in the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature which seeks to reward outstanding work in the field of literature. Back home, there is the National Arts Merits Awards (NAMA) which seeks to recognise and reward outstanding achievements in the arts and culture industry of Zimbabwe. Literature is so diverse and so if anyone is kind enough to recognise, reward and celebrate it from a certain angle, I am very grateful. Personally, if I was to give an award for literature exploits, I would seek to reward those people and organisations that are help writers to monetize their gifts and work.

Zwnews24: Are there people and or organisations that you would like to acknowledge and credit, be it for their emotional and material input or contribution (support) towards your works of literature? 

Brian Kazungu: As mentioned before, Rodwell Harinangoni and Rabison Shumba activated me into serious writing. Along the way, I always take a pause and reflect on that and then continue on my journey of writing because that competition they staged on Facebook and the book that I subsequently won is enough inspiration. The same goes for Simbarashe Nyamadzawo and the Faithpreneurs who appreciated my writing through giving me a book as a birthday gift. Phillip Chidavaenzi through his Writers Clinic, to me stands as a great ambassador of literature who deserves recognition and support in that initiative. Vincent Mbayo and Sam Masunda are a rare kind of cheerleaders that every reader wants in his circles. They just make you believe in your work the more. To these guys and many others that I will mention in other platforms, I am very grateful.

The questions in this interview are adapted from the book, General Emeritus – Wisdom, Mysteries and Dark Sayings, a poetry anthology written by Brian Kazungu:.

(https://www.amazon.com/GENERAL-EMERITUS-Mysteries-Sayings-Anthology/dp/1675176574/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=brian+kazungu+GENERAL+EMERITUS&qid=1578511692&sr=8-2).