As the year 2023 comes to its end the Barbara Clara Makhalisa Nkala Literary Trust (BCMNLT) looks back with pride at the progress we have made in a short space of time. True to the vision, passion and hard-working spirit of our founder and members of the Board, we ran a competition in writing Ndebele children’s books. There were winners whose books will be published in January and February of 2024. Look out for those publications.

Among those that were recently published, some of them were selected as setbooks in schools; namely: Umkhosi Wenhliziyo by Olivia Mahwaya Sibanda, and Akugwatshwa Ngokuzala by Meluleki Sibanda for A Level Ndebele students from 2025 – 2027. Umhlaba Lo! by Barbara C Makhalisa is also a set book for O Level students in 2024 -2026.

Our founder was invited to speak at various forums about the trust and authorship as a show of respect and admiration of the Trust’s work. The Trust also supported like-minded entities.

We thank all members of our formidable team of trustees who have lovingly employed their various skills to ensure the organisation’s success.Finally, BCMNLT is most indebted to our main sponsor Telco Broadband. Without this unshakeable support the Trust would not have made such great strides.I wish all of you Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year.John Masuku, Chairman: BCMNLT Board