Zimbabwe's 75 best writers

Zimbabwe's 75 best writers, 25 each from the country's three main languages, have been selected by a jury under the leadership of Professor George Kahari. The list of the nominee writers has been released but the final list and the books will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held on 5 August 2004, shortly after the Zimbabwe International Book Fair (ZIBF) has ended.

The 75 Best Books Project jury has selected 25 fiction books from each of the three language categories, namely English, Shona and Ndebele. The list of writers supplied by the ZIBF does not specify which language category a writer has been nominated for. The project, which is supported by the British Embassy in Zimbabwe and the British Council, is of a unique nature in that it is the first ever project of its kind not only in Zimbabwe but also in Africa, says the ZIBF. The awards for this project will be the highest ever given to Zimbabwean authors by a Zimbabwean organisation.

The list of authors contains Zimbabwe's best known writers including Chenjerai Hove, Stanlake Samkange, Dambudzo Marechera, Yvonne Vera and Tsitsi Dangarembga. There is also a former politician in the mix, in the shape of Ndabaningi Sithole.

The full list of writers is as follows, sorted alphabetically by first name: Aaron Chiundura Moyo; Aaron Hodza; Alexander Kanengoni ; Barbara Makhalisa; Bekithemba S Ncube; Bernard D Ndlovu; Cain Ginyilitshe Mathema ; Charles Mungoshi ; CharlesSamupindi ; Chenjerai Hove; Chiedza Musengezi (Ed) ; Chihota (Eds) ; Chirikure Chirikure; College Press (Ed) ; ContMhlanga; Dambudzo Marechera; Doris Ndlovu; Elkana M Ndlovu; Ezekiel SK Hleza; Felix Manyimbiri ; Freedom Nyamubaya; Geshom Khiyaza; Gonzo H Musengezi ; Isaac N Mpofu; Israel Ndlovu; James  P Ndebele; John Marangwanda; Joyce Simango; Ken Mfuka; KhumaloG N S; Kizito Muchemwa (Ed); Mayford Sibanda; Mordeka i Hamutyinei; Mthandazo Ndema Ngwenya; Musayemura Zimunya; Ndabaningi Sithole; Ndabezihle Sigogo; Kumbirai Tsodzo; Literature Bureau (Ed); Mabasa Ignatius; Mafuranhunzi Gumbo (Martinus Danniel); Nobert Mutasa; Patrick Chakaipa; Peter Mahlangu; Ray Choto; Robert Chakamba; Robert NMele; Sharai Mukonoweshuro; Sharai Mukoweshuro; Shimmer Chinodya; Sibongile Mnkandla; Sithembile O Mlilo; Solomon Mutswairo; Stanlake Samkange; Stanley Nyamufukudza; Stephen Alumenda; Tsitsi Dangarembga; WillieChigidi; Wilson Katiyo; Wiseman Magwa; Yvonne Vera; Zimunya(Eds) .