Nov 7, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Centre for Stories

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Zimbabwe is a country with a chequered history of struggle and triumph. Having attained independence from British colonial rule in 1980, the country has been governed by the Zimbabwean African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) in the post-independence years. The country’s “First Republic” lasted for 37 years under former president Robert Mugabe and came to an end through a military coup in November 2017 which ushered in the post-Mugabe “Second Republic”, colloquially referred to as “the new dispensation”. This troubled history has influenced and produced a rich tradition of storytelling.

Join us and members of the Perth Zimbabwean community for an evening of commentary and readings reflecting on the country’s present and future trajectories, focusing on the role of the arts in the ongoing struggle to realise the fruits of independence. ‘Spotlight on Zimbabwe’ is part of PEN Perth’s ’Spotlight’ series where we focus on the contemporary plight of writers, artists and journalists in countries experiencing hardship and how that might effect responsible freedom of expression, media censorship, and political interference. It is hosted by local Zimbabwean-Australian writer and intellectual, Tinashe Jakwa.

This event is part of PEN Perth’s ‘Spotlight’ series where we look at different nations around the world. With a focus on responsible freedom of expression, the audience will get a chance to hear political commentary, personal stories, and literary works.

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  Tinashe Jakwa

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  Tinashe Jakwa is a PhD Candidate in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Western Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of International Relations (with Distinction) from the same institution. Recently, she was a Visiting Scholar (January-June 2019) with the University of Pretoria's Future Africa Institute and Department of Political Sciences. Her research examines the causes of peacebuilding policy failures in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a focus on deconstructing state theory. She is a political and security risk analyst who has written extensively on geopolitical developments on the African continent.   She has appeared on various TV and radio platforms, including the ABC News, Channel 10's The Project, CNN, Radio National Australia, Triple R FM's The Grapevine, and 2SER, providing commentary on African political developments. Tinashe is also a published author of short stories. Her writing has appeared in anthologies published by Margaret River Press and Ethos Books Singapore. She has spoken at the Sydney Writers' Festival. A writer of both creative non-fiction and fiction, Tinashe can be found straddling the fine line between the imagined and the actual. 

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