He describes himself as writer, a poet, a researcher and a social scientist. No wonder Mbongeni Nyadza, a 3rd year student studying for a Bachelor of Honours Degree in Social Work at the University of Botswana, is a man of many talents.

He writes short stories, and poems that “give a voice to the voiceless and the under privileged in society.”


Born and bred in the city of Kings and Queens and raised in the  dusty streets of Nkulumane11, the 23 year old started writing in 2009 as a hobby after he finished his Ordinary Level studies at St Columbus High School in Makokoba.

However, he started writing seriously after he saw Zakes Mda’s interview about his book “Ways To Dying” on Sabc and after constantly being exposed to Christopher Mlalazi’s column “On the Lighter Side” on the Sunday News.

 Zakes Mda, born Zanemvula Kizito Gatyeni Mda, is a South African novelist, poet and playwright. He has won major South African and British literally awards  for his novels and plays. He is currently a Patron of the Etisalat Prize for Literature.

He is also inspired by other local artistes such as Raisedon Baya, Elizabeth Tshele and Musaemura Zimunya

“It was after this exposure that I realised that writing can change people’s lives and that it is a universal tool that most people can relate to. My passion for writing then grew, he said.

Mbongeni Nyadza- pic by Shamiso

Since then, he has never looked back. He writes about everyday social issues that affect everyday people, about love, Africa, about the HIV/AIDS pandemic about abuse amongst others.

At the moment, he is working on an anthology titled “The Real Deal” which is divided into four sections. This collection consists of sixty poems altogether.

“The compilation is on its final stages of production. It should be finished around mid April. The collection will be first launched here in Botswana because that’s where I am based at the moment. I’ll then launch the book at home later on.”

He however, could not disclose whether the anthology will be immediately available in hardcopy in bookstores or online “as it was still on its planning stages.”

Chief, as he is affectionately known by his friends, shares his poems on a website called vinelypress. He also shares his work with a website called the writer gallery, numerous Facebook pages and groups such as Poetry South Africa, Street Poetry (death of a sonnet), African Authors and Poets Community corner and Poetry BW.

He said in five years, he sees himself “as having grown as a poet, writer with his work touching  and changing a lot of  lives” and having done a collaboration book with some writers. Mbongeni also believes that all this will be possible since writing is a never ending school of knowledge.

Mbongeni has a vision of starting up a writing institution in Zimbabwe  someday. An arts institution where any inspiring writers,artists and poets can horn and  enhance their raw skills of writing and different arts forms.

Chief feels such an institution is lacking in the country as most writers, poets and artists are self taught and usually their potential suffers a glowing splint death due to its untapped potential. This, he says as a person who underwent the same challenges.