Mbozi Haimbe is the winner of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2019 in an announcement made on Wednesday, May 8, 2019.
The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded annually for the best piece of unpublished short fiction and open to all citizens in the Commonwealth.
The shortlist for the Africa region announced on April 10 included Mbozi Haimbe, Alex Latimer, Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu, Adorah Nworah, and Erica Sugo Anyadike.
The winner of the prize has been revealed to be Mbozi Haimbe for her short story Madam’s Sister.
In the story, the arrival of madam’s sister from London causes upheaval within the household but has an unexpected bonus for the guard, Cephas.
Haimbe speaking on the win said, “I am absolutely thrilled to have been selected as the regional winner and feel privileged to contribute to Africa’s literary landscape. Although a social worker by profession, I have always considered myself a writer. Winning the regional prize validates my aspiration. I thank the judges, and give acknowledgment to Zambia, which remains deeply influential to my writing.”
Mbozi Haimbe was born and raised in Lusaka, Zambia.
She completed an MSt in Creative Writing at the University of Cambridge in 2018 and is currently working on a collection of African inspired short stories.
Mbozi like each of the other regional winners goes home with £2,500 and is in the running to win the global prize that is £5,000.
Congrats mama.
Keep it up
Congratulations Mbozi! Keep up the good work!
“I thank the judges, and give acknowledgment to ZAMBIA, which remains deeply influential to my writing.”
With “ZAMBIA” in that great sentence, you have made my day Mama!!!!
UR STORY IS FAKE BEING A TONGA YOU SHOULD HAVE WRITTEN A SHORT STORY ON UPND FAILURES, LOOKING FORWARD TO UR TONGA STORY