Temba Munsaka – The African Continent Is Governed By Persons Not Fit To Lead, Author of The Fall of a Despot

Themba Munsaka, the author of The Fall of a Despot, an action packed, high adrenalin military spy novel which is about a politically mismanaged African country fictionalised as Azambezia described the African continent as a place governed by selfish people who are not fit to lead.

Munsaka who believes that it is the duty of mankind to unleash whatever literary thoughts in the mind for the enrichment of all, said he writes about things and stories that not even predators dare to talk about especially here in Africa.

The daring writer lamented the fact that for a long time Africans have denied themselves the ability to put to paper their thoughts on things around them and thus making some context of serious expression to be only the preserve of writers from the Western world.

zwnews24’s Brian Kazungu had an interview with Temba in order to find out more about his novel The Fall of a Despot and other works of literature that he is working on.

Zwnews24: Mr Munsaka, your book, The Fall of a Despot, is a masterpiece fit for a blockbuster movie. Would you briefly tell us the motivation behind coming up with such a thrilling novel?

Temba Munsaka: I was motivated to write such a book because of what I was seeing in our world today. The African continent is governed by persons not fit to lead; they are corrupt, brute and unrelenting in their quest and hold on power. Democracy does not exist on their agenda. They use unparalleled force to cling and advance in perpetuity their evil and unsanctioned mandates. Such despots made me to write this sad African story. 

Zwnews24: Is The Fall of a Despot, your only literary work or there are other books which you have written or that you are still writing? If you have other books, would you tell us more about them?

Temba Munsaka: I have also written several academic papers and currently working on four literary works that I hope to complete by end of the year 2020. The books (work in progress) are as follows;

1. Thoughts of a Demented Scribe (a collection of 1,111 quotes spanning from religion, psychology, science, streets, etc). These quotes were inspired by my studies in psychology and my daily experiences as a Zimbabwean. I am only left with editing and publishing this manuscript.
2. Fables of a Demented Scribe (an anthology of ten short stories depicting life in Zimbabwe). Just four stories remain to complete the manuscript.
3. The Minion and the Scoundrel (the sequel to the fall of a despot). So far, I have written more than 50,000 words and the book will have about 120,000 words at completion. 
4. An Ode for Shawna- This is my attempt at romantic writing! This will comprise of 100 poems and a few textual stories

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?

Temba Munsaka: I have always loved writing. In high school I won several writing competitions. The people around me have always supported my writing career. However, to be honest; writing is not an easy job. The mind is always restless and the imaginative self is always in overdrive and yet, writing is also a therapy to my soul, it decongests my nasals!  .

Zwnews24: To people who are interested in knowing more about Temba Munsaka, how would you describe yourself and the inspiration behind your pursuit of literature?

Temba Munsaka: I am an enigma, not even I understand my cognitive. The thoughts I conjure up often gets me labelled. The profanity of it all is that I keep writing, for there alone lies my freedom and orgasmic experience!

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? 

Temba Munsaka: My books are available on the Amazon bookstore and other online stores across the world. For updates on my writing and other correspondence, we can interact on my blog and on the usual social media platforms:

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. 

Temba Munsaka: I have only one philosophy; the mind is like a mother lode; it is loaded and so, my duty to mankind is to unleash whatever literary thoughts it holds to and for the enrichment of all.

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

Temba Munsaka: I write about things and stories that not even predators dare to talk about. I write about stories that ordinarily were a preserve of the western writers. Such kind of writing that I am doing is still new in our party of the world. People are used to reading about liberation themes. My coming book, ‘Thoughts of a Demented Scribe’ will definitely set a new agenda in cognitive thinking and since for a long time, Africans have denied themselves the ability to put to paper their very thoughts on things around them.

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? 

Temba Munsaka: My readers love the new African genre in my fictional works. They love the high adrenaline, action packed kind of writing contrary to the usual passive stories that people have been exposed to in the last millennia 

Zwnews24: Has there been any element of danger associated with coming up with your book, The Fall of a Despot, especially considering the contents thereof? If there was, what made you to continue writing and to proceed with publication?

Temba Munsaka: When I wanted to launch the book in 2016, I was cordially reminded that it presented a security threat and I could only launch it at my own risk. And so, I stopped the launch. However, that did not stop me from conjuring up political themes; “The Minion and the Scoundrel” is all about the reign of the generals!!

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?

Temba Munsaka: My advice is simple; write what you want! 

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? 

Temba Munsaka: The problem with African literature is that it is only celebrated when the books are made set books! Anything outside set books, people don’t read. In fact the reading culture in Africa is low. I often tell people that you cannot write if you cannot read! Literature tells stories about people; it captures the imaginations of its citizenry. These stories will forever be lost as long as people don’t read!

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?

Temba Munsaka: I love reading works by African writers (Ngugi, Rabson Shumba, and Wilbur Smith) especially fictional and biographies. At the top of my international list are; Ken Follet, Lee Child, Robert Ludlum, and James Clavell. There are too many writers that are good but there isn’t enough space here to celebrate them all. The culture of reading is slowly dying in our country; the government must come up with strategies to promote reading. The problem is that governments the world over leave out writers in such strategies. 

Zwnews24: Are there people and or organisations that you would like to acknowledge and appreciate for their contribution towards your love of and pursuit of literature? If yes, what did such people or institutions do to deserve such respect from you in this regard?

Temba Munsaka: I would definitely acknowledge and appreciate my family for the support and encouragement especially when I denied them of quality time in pursuit of writing.

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

Temba Munsaka: I would like to thank Weaver Press, the publisher. They gave me critical literary feedback and writing lessons in 2013. I will forever be grateful to Irene, their founder.

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://amzn.to/2T8sEQX