It is generating massive interest judging by the number of entries and the mix of young and established writers on the shortlist. The shortlist of 10 writers was finally whittled to three and the winner is a surprise package. Novuyo Rose Tshuma is a young Bulawayo born writer who is cutting teeth with each passing day. Her story, You in Paradise, was judged the best and tells about a young Zimbabwean womans experiences in South Africa with the police, with xenophobia, and with Obi the Nigerian with diamonds drooping from his ears. Runner up was web Imagineering guru, Fungai Tichawangana, with his story Ting, Ta-ling! Ta-ling! It is a humorous piece about a bus journey in which a fat lady in the front seat would not stop talking. Eventually, she faints and cannot be awoken, but then her cell-phone rings strapped in her bra.

Violette Kee-Tus who is a former editor of the popular Edgars magazine, The Club, made it into the top three with a powerful account of two sisters, and one of them develops a brain tumour and it conjures up a whole gamut of issues and emotions. The other short listed writers included Memory Chirere, Farai Mpofu, Melusi Mkandla, Urayayi Masaire, Thamsanqa Ncube, Babusi Nyoni and Mgcini Nyoni. The judges of this years competition commented that, the overall standard was very high with entries from across Zimbabwe and from both well known and budding writers. They further added that: The entries were varied, some being topical, some humorous and others emotionally charged. It was a hard task judging the competition with little between those short listed. It is good to see such good writing in Zimbabwe and it bodes well for the future.

Previous winners of the competition include Thabisani Ndlovu who has since been published in amaBooks anthologies and presently studying for a PhD at Wits University in South Africa; Bryony Rheam whose first novel, The September Sun, has just been published by amaBooks and Chaltone Tshabangu a former Crossing Borders Creative Writing fellow.