THE Uncertainty of Hope is the debut novel of Valerie Tagwira, a Zimbabwean medical doctor currently working in London.
The story is set in Mbare, a densely-populated suburb outside Harare and revolves around the lives of Onai Moyo, a Zimbabwean mother of three and market vendor, and her best friend Katy Nguni, a mother of one, vendor, and black market currency dealer.
THE Uncertainty of Hope is the debut novel of Valerie Tagwira, a Zimbabwean medical doctor currently working in London.
The story is set in Mbare, a densely-populated suburb outside Harare and revolves around the lives of Onai Moyo, a Zimbabwean mother of three and market vendor, and her best friend Katy Nguni, a mother of one, vendor, and black market currency dealer.
The novel focuses on the trials and tribulations faced by Onai and Katy, including poverty, domestic abuse, homelessness and vulnerability to HIV/Aids, which Onai faces because of her husband Gari.
The novel also focuses on how government corruption has worsened the situation for poor Zimbabweans. Home affairs offi cials demand sexual favours in return for aiding people in desperate situations.
Police offi cers buy foreign currency on the black market and execute Operation Murambatsvina the government’s controversial urban slum clearance programme displacing millions of people and leaving them destitute.
Although the novel focuses on the disadvantaged side of Zimbabwe, it also shows how people with money and infl uential positions in society are not as badly affected by the economic situation.
The book shows how the lives of well-off characters like Tom Sibanda, a young businessman and farmer, Faith a law student, and Emily a doctor are intricately woven together with the lives of the poor.
Ultimately the rich better the lives of the poor, as can be seen in the case of Onai and Mawaya, a beggar. I would recommend this book to people because it is not only an enjoyable read, but it teaches one valuable life lessons like the importance of true friendship and hope, surviving through diffi cult times and to be grateful for the things one has in life.
In addition the novel is also a good read for South Africans especially those who are xenophobic, as it can open their eyes to the living conditions of foreign people, therefore make them more empathetic.
