The Sunday News
Rumbidzai Mhlanga, Sunday Life Reporter
BASED on his life experiences, Greyson Fungai Chipote saw it fit to pen his first book as a way of empowering the boy child.
The book basically explores the critical roles played by a father in shaping their children’s future. It also highlights the challenges children face when they are fatherless.
The author said writing his first book was not intentional, but he was forced by the situation that he had come across. He also explained why he titled his book, When fathers go missing.
“This book was not intentional. I hastened to put pen to paper after I had a terrible accident with my wife hence it was birthed at an accident scene. I had the responsibility of making sure my wife was fine even though I was also devastated and shivering but I had to take care of her.
“I could not call my mother right away because she was going to be worried but at the same time, I needed someone to talk to and at that point I missed my father who passed on some time back. I then realised he played a very big role in my life, as someone who has been on both sides of the fence, I know how life is with and without a father,” said Chipote.
Chipote said he gave his book the title because he now knows how it is to live without a father.
“Initially ideas about the book started as a sermon I preached about fatherlessness at church on Father’s Day last year. My main focus is on the critical roles played by fathers in shaping destinies for their children whether they are there or not. Hence, I titled my book, When Fathers Go Missing. I realised that when fathers go missing there are a lot of problems whether it’s social or political and if such issues are not resolved it cascades down to people they lead and that affects the boy and the girl child.
“The book is a clarion call saying let’s discuss and talk about this issue. Let’s not pretend as if it’s not happening because if we keep on ignoring it the world will be the worst place. We should have policies which empower the boy child to take his position in the society.”
Chipote said he cannot categorise his book as it is about day to day experiences and is looking forward to more books coming as he did not exhaust all his ideas.
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