KEY POINTS
- The book critiques Zimbabwe’s political system under Robert Mugabe.
- Kombora highlights the struggles women face in a repressive regime.
- The prison setting symbolizes the nation’s lack of freedom.
Tatenda Unika Kombora, 24, authored a book titled I Loved a Dictator. It explores Zimbabwe’s darker political realities. The book highlights the devastating effects of poverty and governance failures. Kombora also examines systemic injustices within the country’s political system.
New book explores Zimbabwe’s political system under a dictatorship
The new book, written last year and now being publicized, examines Zimbabwe’s political system. It explores issues like poverty, governance, education, and women’s condition in society.
Speaking to NewsDay Life & Style, Kombora said her work talks about the state of education, the informal sector, and the role of women and the opposition in Zimbabwe’s political sector.
Through a critical analysis of the education sector and the struggles of women, Kombora’s work offers a stark reflection on the nation’s fight for freedom and equality.
I Loved a Dictator is based on the political system under Robert Mugabe. Kombora said the story follows a little girl who shapes her views through the fourth estate and her family, both influenced by the state.
She explained that the inspiration for the book came as a reaction to foreign media reports. “Foreign media outlets were speaking ignorantly about the absence of political consciousness in Zimbabwe, which has allowed the country’s conditions to remain unchanged for decades. I wondered if they understood the dynamics of a dictatorship, how it functions, and how it maintains power. The book was initially meant to be an article.”
Tatenda Kombora examines the state of education and governance
Written in the lead-up to the 2023 elections, the book also addresses questions about elections and the quality of the opposition in Zimbabwe. Kombora said the story is set in a prison, which serves as a symbolic reflection on freedom, post-independence realities, and the role of the opposition in Zimbabwean politics.
Kombora, who is also a writer, producer, and development practitioner, has partnered with the Centre for Innovation and Technology to produce On Her Throne, a political show that explores the role of female politicians.
I Loved a Dictator is Kombora’s debut book. She has also contributed opinion pieces to newspapers, blogs, magazines, and newsletters.
