The ManicaPost
Thank you Mr Mtisi
IN the name of Jesus, I would like to say how are you Mr Mtisi? I would also like to thank you very much for your column and Education Page which you write in The Manica Post.
The column has really helped students from Nangabwe Secondary School in Mashonaland East where my wife teaches English from Form One to Four.
The pass rate at Nangabwe has improved. When my wife started taking some tips from columns in The Manica Post which you write, I had an idea that you must visit the school which is located in the district of Chikomba East in Mashonaland East Province.
Mr Mtisi every week, we buy The Manica Post with my wife, of course, to read it, but the main purpose now is for my wife to take some English tips from your column.
Mr Mtisi, the other interesting story is that I failed my English in 1990, 1992 and 2001 and only passed it in 2015 after taking some tips from your column. Now I am working as provincial co-ordinator of VODAT (Voice Of Domestic Animals Trust). Ndisina English, basa rainetsa. Now ndakapasa English. Ndawa kushandawo basa riri nani. Tinotenda imi vaMtisi makaita kuti ndipase Chirungu.
Most pupils from Nangabwe Secondary School, that is former and current students, are so thankful to my wife, not knowing you are indirectly their mentor and, of course, the mentor for my family when it comes to English writing and speaking.
In Chikomba District, vaMtisi, The Manica Post is now the most wanted newspaper because of your column which is so educative.
It has helped many people, school-leavers and parents included – even vafudzi vemombe can be seen with old copies of The Manica Post because they know kuti vakanyora English Language and English Literature vanobudirira after reading it, especially your column. The column has helped many.
We now ask for more pages for your column. More people will read, pass their examinations and get employed mumabasa akanaka. Kutaura kudai vamwe vakapasa nekuda kwenyu Va- Mtisi vave vadzidzisi, vatyairi vedzimota, electricians, mechanics, etc; others have improved their English speaking.
Let me conclude by repeating: “Thank you, Mr Mtisi. Please be blessed.”
Ndini David Mukunda in Mutare (cellphone number 0717825195)
MTISI RESPONDS:
I have received feedback from many readers of my column. I sincerely thank all of them for such glowing remarks. But this one is outstanding in its detail.
I get humbled by the level of honesty and frankness from certain members of our communities who read the Education Page. It is not quite part of our cultural DNA (Africans) to acknowledge other people’s achievements and usefulness in the community. It is much easier and more pleasant to find fault with other people and speak ill about whatever they are doing. It is obviously a dangerous assumption that every African finds little comfort in sounding other people’s trumpets, but many do.
One is a gentleman, who says to you, “Well done!” and mean it. One is a lady too, who says, “You changed my life,” and mean it.
One teacher who is one of the few who have been gentleman and brave enough to acknowledge having benefited from the Education Page since its inception more than seven years ago, once said to me, “Many of us…quite many, use your columns to teach English; but few will ever come out acknowledging the great work your are doing.” My answer to him was simple. ‘I do not do this to gain publicity and favours from readers. If one person benefits something, I’m happy. If two benefit, I get ecstatic. If three benefit, I go over the moon.”
And, yes, I write this column because I love teaching and sharing the little that I find fascinating and useful in the teaching and learning of English and Literature; not because I want people to thank me or shower me with praises.
Students and teachers and out-of-school adults who wish I could have more pages or space in your paper, please write directly to the Editor. He will know what to do with all your suggestions.
I love writing and will continue to do my best; God will do the rest.
Thank you again David Mukunda. God bless your wife. May God help her to continue to learn in order to wisely and competently take on the demands of the new curriculum which Zimbabwe is busily implementing to give “the digital natives” 21st century useful education skills!
