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Blessing Karubwa, Chronicle Reporter
NINE A-Level learners from Milton High School have co-authored an anthology as part of their fulfillment of the Continuous Assessment Learning Area (CALA).

After completing their CALA task, Keegan Mathe, Muziwandile Dube, Mothusi Sibanda, Sizabantu Muvoni, Simangaliso Shezhu, Ashton Kuswa, Junior Sibanda, Happiness Dlamini and Anold Mukozho decided to publish their poem collection under the title Qeqetsha Mahlabezulu.

CALA is whereby learners conduct projects and tasks in school, which constitute 30 percent of their coursework for the final examination under the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) for each subject.

This means learners only need to work for the remaining 70 percent in the final examination.

Qeqetsha Mahlabezulu was officially launched at Milton High School on Friday by guest of honour, renowned Bulawayo-based author, historian and cultural activist Mr Pathisa Nyathi.

The anthology presents various themes such as love, disease and music, and also portrays communities` way of life.

Mr Nyathi encouraged the learners to continue writing poems, as poetry is a powerful way of communicating with people.

“If you study poetry at this stage and compare it with poetry which was done 100 years ago, you will see some change because we now hold a different world view. We encourage that you continue with that effort so that they document the changes in society and how it looks at certain issues. The issues may be the same, but we now see them differently,” said Mr Nyathi.

“Poetry is language, our heritage, our thought and indeed our world views are embraced by poems. They may think they are doing poetry, but in actual fact they are documenting a lot of things, activities that are taking place and a lot of ideas that change,” he said.

Milton High headmaster Mr Similo Ncube said they are impressed by the learners’ efforts.

“The new curriculum allows children to do new things of their choices using their different talents. When they approached me with a view of publishing this book, I encouraged them and told them there are people doing that as a profession,” said Mr Ncube. –@ TichaKarubwa