Lawson Chiwara: Words, Learning, and Life

Fractured Hearts and Random Minds and Other Stories By Lawson Chiwara Contact: lawchiwara0@gmail.com | +263777212895 | Ndanga District Hospital, PBag 9004, Masvingo, Zimbabwe Introduction Fractured Hearts and Random Minds and Other Stories gathers five tales from Zimbabwe’s heart, where fractured relationships, personal struggles, and chaotic thoughts collide under jacarandas, in beerhalls, and on dusty school grounds. Lawson Chiwara’s voice—steeped in Shona slang, sadza-scented homes, and the pulse of Museve and Zimdancehall—paints a nation’s joys and wounds. From a hospital cottage’s sibling wars to a village’s poisoned cup, a Masvingo bar’s political banter, a teen’s loyalty test, and a teacher’s lifelong shame as a “nherera,” these stories weave humor, suspense, grit, and hope. Rooted in Zimbabwe’s economic grind, CLZ sermons, and party loyalties, they speak to universal truths—family, betrayal, self-worth. This collection concludes with an excerpt from Chiwara’s debu...

How My Rural Form 4s Nailed Zimsec English Intro: My Form 4s barely spoke English. I gave them a handout with templates and starters, and they wrote reports and letters like pros. Pass rates jumped 15% in 2024. Objective: Teach guided composition for Zimsec Paper 1, Section B. Materials: Handout (see below or link), chalkboard, pictures (e.g., borehole). Plan: Warm-Up (5 min): Draw a borehole, ask in Shona: “Wakamboona chinhu chakashata?” Kids say: “No water!” Say: “Write to fix it!” Activity (40 min): Give handout, explain in Shona: “Mushumo is for headmaster.” Model report: “This report is about the broken borehole.” Pairs write about a dirty classroom. Try letters: “Hello, how are you?” Kids write to friends. Wrap-Up (5 min): “What’s easy?” They say: “Templates!” Homework: Write a letter. Takeaway: Low TTT, local examples, and templates work. Try it! #Zimsec #Education #EnglishComposition #Zimbabwe #RuralEducation --- Handout: Guided Composition Templates and Starters Fo...