On behalf of the sponsors, Bradley and Teely Chartered Accountants, and another sponsor as well as the ten Judges, I am pleased to announce the following;

That we received a total of 1042 submissions of which 989 were reviewed as the rest were resubmissions. Of these, 53 were disqualified because they failed to meet instructions. We also received 63% submissions from females, 32 from males and 5% from an unknown gender.

Of the 936 qualified to be reviewed, each of the 9 judges submitted to the senior judge 5 stories for a total of 45 stories. From the 45, only ten stories have been shortlisted as finalists. From these, five will be selected by the Chief Judge to win the prizes as follows;

1. First Prize: MK200,000
2. Second Prize: MK150,000
3. Third Prize: MK100,000
4. Fourth Prize: MK50,000
5. Fifth Prize: MK25,000

The following are the ten finalists in no particular order;

1. Sins of My Father by Winfrida Kamwana, Female, 24

2. The Proposition by Linda Mulamba, Female, 29

3. Guilt by Emmanuel Kaison, Male, Age unknown

4. The Khungu Between Us by Mayeso Grace Mazengera, Female, 27

5. Glass Doors by Nomsa Lungu, Female, 19

6. Hold On, Dalitsani Lucy Anselmo, Gender unknown, 25

7. Behind the Mob by Gift Chigundo, Male, 32

8. Mombera University; The Memoir of a Kabaza Rider. Details of writer unavailable for now.

9. Not Meant to Know, Yolanda Wandawanda, Female, 19

10. The Trial by Anabelle Maduka, female, age unknown.

Congratulations to all those who have made the final ten. We will announce the final five winners at a ceremony to be held in Lilongwe, on July 24th. We have postponed the dates to allow us more time to prepare for the ceremony including securing a venue.

All inquiries on the competition must be directed to hello@pempheromphande.com. I’m also pleased to announce that this competition will now become an annual
competition and that this year is the inaugural year.

Thank you to all who submitted. We will be unable to offer individual feedback considering the volume of stories received.

For the Short Story Writing Competition,
Pemphero Mphande
Senior Judge 2021

Judges:

George Masinja, Matthew Phiri, Precious Chaponda, Lucius Phaiya, Joseph Chirwa, Dr Joram Nyirongo, Beaulla Likambale, Dr Richard Kamwezi, Tawonga Taddja Nkhonjera and Kephas Chiona