“The face in the mirror is not mine. I am not the only one hiding secrets…”

This is the haunting statement that greets you at first glance of AMANDLA, a debut publication by Thandeka Lindarose Bhebhe, an exceptional 18-year-old young lady based in Kwekwe, one of the cities in Zimbabwe’s Midlands Province.

Thandeka recently completed her Advanced Level studies at Eagles College, where she served as Vice Head Girl and President of the Toastmasters Club. She is an expressive poet with numerous poems published in a weekly newspaper. A spoken word artist, she uses her voice to advocate against drug and substance abuse, as well as other societal ills. She is also an avid reader and a gold medalist in athletics with big dreams of inspiring others through her writing.

Join me in this exclusive interview as we uncover who she is, her dreams and aspirations, and what truly makes her tick.

L.G: First and foremost, allow me to congratulate you on your achievements. It warms my heart to see a young lady taking a stand and telling her own story. Let us dig deeper into the core of why you do what you do. How did it all start?

T.B: I put a lot into it, so I am really happy to hear that. Thank you, seriously. It is nice to know I am on the right track. Sharing my story is something that is very close to my heart. It is a journey that has been years in the making, a journey filled with pain, struggle, and healing. Hundreds of thousands of people are dying in silence. And because of that silence, I became a writer. My art is a way of saying we can keep each other breathing. My art is my voice, louder than the stigma hoping someone will listen. I was enrolled at a boarding school, and that is the year depression sunk its teeth deep into my bones. It took me only a week to realize I was different, that I had to constantly mold myself, squeeze into a box just to be accepted. I had many people I counted as friends, but none of them counted me as theirs. That experience gave me an invisible tag that followed me everywhere. At just thirteen, I understood what anxiety meant. I could hear voices in my head screaming that I was a failure. I was confused and lonely. That is when I started writing down my emotions. But the more I wrote, the more I realized that every paragraph, though random, sounded so rehearsed. I had found a powerful way to turn pain into rhythm. I had found a listener and I felt it in my bones. I wrote to survive, to escape the noise in my head. I wrote to loosen the chain around my neck. By fourteen, I began writing formal pieces, more than just journal entries. I had transferred from the boarding school to a private school. My first attempt was a story titled Hunted, which my brother and I wrote together each night. One day, I brought it to school and gave it to our principal and my Geography teacher, Mr. Mugwagwa. To say they were impressed is an understatement. I will always be grateful for their encouragement. Mr. Mugwagwa, who is now the headmaster of Eagles College, was particularly supportive. Since then, I have been a writer, not just for myself, but for everyone who never found a voice. For those still stuck in that dark hole. For those still suffocating under the weight of depression.

L.G: Is this your first publication?

T.B: Yes, AMANDLA is my first book but I have also had some poems published in the Midlands Observer newspaper.

L.G: What is the book about?

T.B: AMANDLA is a powerful exploration of identity and mental health. It seeks to answer the elusive question, “Who are you?” Like all fiction, it is rooted in truth. The book reflects the experiences of my generation, following a young girl’s journey to self-discovery. With AMANDLA, I wanted to bridge the generational gap, to voice the thoughts and emotions of a teenager navigating life. It is written in the form of diary entries and delves into complex themes like addiction, death, abuse, teenage love, and oppressive cultural superstitions. My hope is that by sharing this story, I will inspire empathy and challenge stereotypes. Teenagers are not just rebellious, they are vulnerable, they are searching, and they need to be heard.

L.G: I am sorry you went through all of this at such a young age, but I see you have turned it around. The back cover of AMANDLA speaks of a leader. Tell us about your journey with the Toastmasters Club and how you eventually became president.

T.B: All I can say is, I am a survivor. In my mind, there is a girl who lives in a dark hole of nothingness. She thinks so little of herself, always trying to shape-shift to fit in. But my past did not break me, it built me. I lit up that dark hole. I became the 2023–2024 Vice Head Girl of Eagles College and President of the Toastmasters Club. I spoke at assemblies and school events, performed spoken word, published poems in a weekly paper, and wrote articles on mental health for StraightUp Magazine. I joined youth platforms where I used every opportunity to speak up for femininity and challenge societal norms. Now, I am a published author but I would be lying if I said it was all self-motivation and hard work alone. I have always been creative. Imagination was my superpower as a child. I never dreamt of being a doctor or soldier, I dreamt of becoming the President. I was not into fairytales about candy houses. I wanted to be in the State House. I know that sounds wild, but it is the truth. I was overambitious, overzealous, and unrealistically bold but I did not know that until the world told me my opinions were as insignificant as a drop in the ocean. For a while, I let the world’s opinions define me. Reading was always a passion. I was an avid reader and consistently won “Best Reader” awards in my early school years. I was that confident girl who felt she could change the world just by giving a speech at assembly or acting in a school play. That is just who I am. I have always been told I am “too much” even in high school. Honestly, I do not know how to be anything else. I give my all, every time.

L.G: How has the support from family and friends been for your work?

T.B: My parents have supported me financially and emotionally, they have made real sacrifices for my dreams. My siblings too, my younger sister is a budding poet and activist, and we have even performed together. My brother has been my coach, helping me put myself out there. When I was still at Eagles College, I consulted with publishers. Our principal, Mr. Mugwagwa, was invited to attend the launch of a book called Behind Masculinity: The Reality, written by a student from Nashville. I went with him. That event showed me it was possible to amplify my voice. Just recently, Mr. Mugwagwa told me that I had been malleable and that I had allowed myself to be shaped into something wonderful. That meant the world. Even when some doubted me, I had just enough support to keep going. These people blocked out the noise for me. They were my crutches when I was about to fall, and they believed in me when it all felt like a far-fetched dream. That made all the difference.

L.G: Plans for the book launch are underway. How excited are you, and what does this event mean to you?

T.B: For me, the launch is about breaking the silence, shattering it with my own hands. It is the day we speak up and tell the world how much we are hurting and how tired we are of pretending. It is the day we revolt against the chains around our necks. I am excited about the launch. Amandla is something teenagers can relate to. I hope it provokes the system to stop ignoring teen mental health. If my book can help even one woman realize that strength means not surrendering even when your femininity is under attack then I have done my part. I want to help people redeem their identities. Maybe we will see that humanity is not lost, it just lost its way. And for every drop of blood spilled, there is still a chance to cleanse it. In the middle of the madness, there is always a spark of light.

L.G: When and where will the book launch be?

T.B: My book launches this Saturday, June 28th, 2025, at Touchwood Lodges. It is more than just an educational piece, it blends fantasy, culture, identity, and teenage love. Through its pages, I invite readers to reflect on the masks we wear and the truths we hide. Copies will be available for $10.

Follow Thandeka Lindarose Bhebhe on social media:

Instagram: @Thandeka_rozey | @Midnight_miragepoetry

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