There has been an outpouring of immense grief and palpable sense of loss as news broke of the death of Charles Matorera, a well-known writer who was based in Free State.
Matorera, a Zimbabwean national, had wormed his way into the hearts of readers, writers and aficionados of arts and culture with his stream of short stories and essays on literature which many pundits believe belonged to the top drawer.
And the fulsome tributes keep on pouring in. “It’s a sad day indeed, a terrible news. Charles was such a polished exponent at writing short stories. He had so much to offer. We shall miss his frenetic energy, fervour and goodwill.” – Soqaga (critic and essayist)
“What a loss! I relish those stories churned out by Mr Matorera; he wrote with a deft, adroit hand. A natural, effortless writer. It’s a pity to hear about his premature demise.” – G Rampai (novelist)
“As a writer Charles had his favourite writers; namely Ngugi Wa Thiongo, MtutuzeliMatshoba, Chinua Achebe to name a few. Charles’ dream regarding literature was to see or transform African stories into motion pictures. As it has always been true, the good die young. Plenty of fine artists and writers across the world have died young and though expectations were rocking the sky-high from their blazing talent. Charles will be remembered for his good work and it will go down with history to the future generations. Adieu!” – T Thiba (essayist and poet)
“I have heard of his death with a great shock as he was still young and talented. Not long time again Sesotho Literary Fraternity and the world of academia lost one of the literary Giants Professor Benito Khotseng. We are still trying to heal those wounds and all of a sudden we are losing a talented writer.” said the Deputy Director at the Sesotho Literary Museum (SLM) Mr Tseliso Masolane
“My heart is laden, heavy and ponderous in the wake of the precipitous, premature exit of dear Charles. The time for a proper tribute is not now. Meanwhile I’m regaled with a flotilla of reminiscences; eg Charles always stolid and ramrod-straight, assuring, comforting, keeling, a pillar of common sense and sobriety; in rather eerie mode, always somehow managing to track me down whenever he was in the “city of roses”; with typical munificence, once presenting me with both a jacket and a lovely jersey one stultifying winter; Charles’ unfluttered and unperturbed mien despite his towering height; prodding me to intermittently eat not only Zimbabwean, but also Ethiopian and Ghanaian food… memories…” – O Bolaji (distinguished writer)
