Zimbabwean Tales

Team Building

Team Building and Other Stories is a collection of eight short stories. The first, Team Building, takes place in Victoria Falls and describes a day in the life of Mbambo. His employer conducts corporate team building exercises and this story follows the absurd misadventures of Mbambos benighted charges who eventually triumph, despite the odds, due to Mbambos inspired leadership, which is worthy of Good Soldier Svejk. Section 3 (g) gets its title from the Miscellaneous Offences Act, a set of colonial laws used by the Zimbabwean government against it own people. Malinga, an enterprising single mother who is a money-changer, is arrested and charged with section3 (g) blocking the pavement. The story follows her struggle against the state security apparatus. The Buffalo is a story set in rural Matabeleland. A lone buffalo visits a remote village setting off a series of events that ultimately ends in tragedy for one of the local identities, Tshabalala, whose misfortunes are the product of his fraught relationship with his daughter. The Eagle also begins in a rural district when a family is visited by a terrifying, supernatural force that demands to be appeased. Unfortunately, this family is unable to present a united front when it is needed most. Majujus Magic is the last of the rural stories and examines the conflict caused by the filial loyalty of Dlodlo for his roguish uncle, Ncube, and his responsibilities as a young professional in the modern world. One Shoe is concerned with the antics of mad Archie, notorious war veteran and debt collector, as he recovers money owed to his friend, Ngwenya. The last two stories are set in Australia and deal with the experiences of the Zimbabwean Diaspora. Little Buddies is about Lubas experiences of racism in primary school. Three Little Birds deals with the political divisions within the Zimbabwean community as they surface during a beauty contest.