New book explores the challenges, issues facing women

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A 24-year-old published author, Xitsundzuxo Remembrance Ntlhamu, has written a book on a subject that relates mostly to women in today's society.

She grew up in Malamulele and said that she never thought she would become a writer, because her English marks were mostly below 60%.

Her latest book, which was launched recently, is titled Her Ammunition, and it gives examples of women in the Bible, who used their feminine qualities and wisdom to achieve remarkable results. She explained that the subject matter and Biblical illustrations in her book are all relevant to the present time and the book has interesting discoveries that can be useful for everyone.

“The book speaks, among other things, about women's challenges, their leadership skills, relationship issues, and duty as mothers,” she says. “It also explores investment strategies, time-management and effective communication skills, as well as how to apologise and how to attract attention.”

The cover of Xitsundzuxo's book is a story in itself. It portrays a busy picture of a woman with six arms, who is carrying a lot of things. “But that is to reflect the busy life of a woman, a woman is a multi-tasker,” she said. “The broom signifies that she does not only sweep her home, but she also has to clean up after other people's problems. When her husband or her child, or the people around her have created a mess, she mediates to bring about peace.”

Xitsundzuxo states that the woman’s face also shows that she is beautiful, and due to her beauty she can sometimes be taken advantage of, even to the point of becoming a victim of rape. “The lady is holding a child and she has the power to ensure that her child reaches her destiny,” she adds.

This author had made history in the publishing industry when she published her first book,The Life in my Hands is the Road to Success (2006), at the age of 14.

She says that the process of writing Her Ammunition was not always glossy and smooth. When writing, she would usually compromise on her social life by stopping to go out with friends or withdrawing from family space.

“I would sleep after 00:00 when I was writing, and had to wake up early in the morning for work,” she shares. “It is difficult to balance writing, work and social life; and one is bound to lag behind. I would often have time to write, but would encounter writer's block, but when I did not have the time, that is when I had a lot to write.”

All those sleepless nights have paid off, however, with the publishing of Her Ammunition.

By: Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.