Their coarse, black skins could hardly bear the heat of the African sun.  They walked with little words spoken to each other.The weather was unbearable and it limited their speech. They had drunk water from the well a few minutes ago but it was not long before the intense heat reminded them of the summer thirst of Zimbabwe. This was partly the hardship of Bulawayo. Greater problems abound, what with the war between the Shona tribes and the Ndebele tribes over land, celebration was always short-lived especially in their village: the Matanda Village.Tawana was trying to keep up with his father, Farai Masimba, who was carrying an impala across his shoulders walking ahead of him. Now at fourteen years of age, Tawana had actually seen his father hunt different kinds of animals like impalas, rabbits and the elusive duiker. Any animal bigger than the impala or the duiker was impossible for Farai. He was now thirty-eight years old. He was a thin but strong man with sparse stran

‘Then make sure that he’s kept in check,’ the chief also warned her. The voice itself was authority.Just as quick as he arrived, the chief began to leave.‘Crazed baboon!’ Ngoni spat at Tawana. ‘Maintain that attitude and we’ll throw you into the army at your age!’ he added. ‘You’ll be dead in seconds and dead boys can’t disrespect chiefs the way you did.’Smack!He was slapped backhand by Bhonzo. The force knocked him face first into the ground.His father rushed to his aid this time.Tsitsi was on top of Tawana, acting like a shield between the two giants. ‘What more do you want from us?!’ she shouted at them, her eyes were quivering, trying to retain the tears in her eyes.Farai now had both his arms above Tsitsi and Tawana, also acting as a barrier to protect his son. He had seen enough madness for that day.Tawana was still on the ground. He turned his eyes upward at Ngoni and Bhonzo. Tears could be seen glistening in his eyes but anger did not permit h

‘Was? You speak of her as if she's dead. Father, you're a man. You once told me that it is better for a man to lose his life than his dignity.’‘I know I did, Tawana but...’ he shrugged hopelessly.‘But what? Father, another man has just taken your wife!’‘What can I do about it? It’s our culture!’ he defended himself.‘No it's not...it's you! Morality conquers culture and you know that.’ He jumped off the cart and ran into the multitude of guests leaving him sitting alone in the cart. Tawana was greatly frustrated. He was infuriated by this turn of events. What was once his happy family had now been driven apart. So much chaos caused by one man:  Chief Mbada! His eyes were blurred with anger and his skin crawled. If he ever got the chance again, he thought, he would kill the chief himself.‘So, you think that since your mother is marrying the chief you shall be above us?’He had bumped into three boys who were each almost twice his size.‘I never s

He had been napping on the floor. As soon as he heard Tsitsi’s voice he sprang up and ran to embrace her.She pushed him away gently with both hands.‘What’s wrong?’ he asked her concernedly.‘What is this I hear about you beating up Va Mutasa?’‘So the dog has a name?’ Farai spoke casually.Tsitsi on the other hand looked devastated. ‘Do you know what that man is?’ she asked him.‘A fool?’She sighed in anger, ‘Va Masimba...that was the chief’s royal advisor!’The reality banged him on his head. ‘Ad…visor?’She clapped her hands on her thighs, ‘You beat up the man who molded the chief from since he was a child!’He was now speechless. ‘Let’s leave. L…L…Let’s leave…all of us!’ he grabbed her wrist.She snatched it from him. ‘You don’t understand, do you? I am no longer your wife! I am no longer a Masimba! I am a Mbada.’This statement was enough to crush Farai’s soul. A tear rolled down his cheek like it was long overdue.Tawana had been sleepi

This, Tawana thought, was a very good but difficult question to answer. Where to start? ‘My father…My mother…Those people…Last night, I…’‘Calm down, boy,’ the man told him realizing that Tawana was just vomiting words. ‘Let’s start with names then. I am Nyasha. I live in Chaponda (It has rung) Village which is not too far from here.’Tawana was gasping for breath as he spoke to Nyasha; ‘My name is Tawana, I live in Matanda village, I…’ he panted some more, ‘I…My mother was married to our chief, Chief Mbada yesterday but there was great disapproval from my mother and father. Then last night I was chased for a long time by these men with torches and I fell into this pit…’‘Chief Mbada!’ Nyasha literally spat onto the ground. ‘I know it’s tradition but I didn’t think there was any chief still sick enough to practice it. So are your parents and brothers and sisters okay?’ His face was still hardened as if the mention of Mbada’s name had left a bitter taste in his mouth.‘I