Meet Mbizo Chirasha

“As a poet, writer, human rights activist, defender, arts for justice and peace catalyst, I was highly gratified to be a member of the ongoing IHRAF festivals, eventually becoming the International Fellow…in early 2019. I believe in what IHRAF does and they also believed in my writings and projects that mostly include Brave Voices Poetry Journal and the WomanWords Literary Press, as well as many other initiatives. IHRAF is a game changing, strong and well organized organization that boasts of a qualitative leadership. I am the inaugural Fellow (Literary Activism, Social Media influencing) and African events programming that included the 6th Sotambe Documentary, Film and Arts Festival, where as the IHRAF Fellow, I organized and curated the Live Literature Hub and the Sotambe Poetry Café in Kitwe, Zambia, September 2019. The Sotambe Live Literature Hub in partnership with IHRAF was well represented and well curated, with poets from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lusaka, Kitwe and Botswana.”

Notes from Mbizo on his work with IHRAF

My 2019 Fellowship Success Activities 

  1. I influenced so much throughout the year on social media and blogs, the brand of IHRAF is widely known among poets, writers, artists in Africa and to the Mbizo Chirasha audience.

  2. I contributed numerous written pieces to IHRAF Publishes with poetry and articles.

  3. I managed to push through the publication of IHRAF activities on various forums including inserting my IHRAF position to various activities, profiles, projects and sites.

  4. I sent to IHRAF Publishes poetry by Womawords Poets that led to the featuring of women poets like Star Okpeh of Nigeria and Jambiya Kai from South Africa.

  5. I organized a partnership event between Sotambe Film and Arts Festival and IHRAF in September 2019.

  6. I curated a Live Literature Hub  at the American Corner, Copper Belt University in Kitwe, Zambia in collaboration with Sotambe Film and Arts Festival. 

  7. Towards the end of the festival, I ran a youth film, arts and social media diplomacy for young film makers and artists of the festival.

  8. I managed and initiated for the publicity of IHRAF at the Sotambe festival and other international festivals.

IHRAF SUPORT DURING MY FELLOWSHIP TENURE

The International Human Rights Art Festival has stood with my welfare, communication, talent and artistic career development since 2017. I salute the amount of care, support and development. It was a great phase of growth, transformation and creativity. More thanks to Thomas Block, the President of IHRAF. Thank you to the board, staff, artists and festival organizers for the trust.

MY CURRENT SITUATION

After the launch of my poetry collection A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT in Kitwe, Zambia, I suffered to threats, tracking, stalking and phone threats. I had to dash to East Africa and I was followed by a group of Zimbabwean gangsters who wanted to kidnap me in Tanzania. A Tanzanian friend whisked me out of the bus into some location where I stayed for two days awaiting to go into my proper hiding. I thank you IHRAF for the GoFundMe venture. Together we rise.

I pledge to remain a creative, literary arts and African partner of the International Human Rights Art Festival.