Kwekwe Activist Emmanuel Nkosilathi Moyo Pens Poetry Book in Tribute to Ukrainian Refugees

Kwekwe-based human rights activist and author Emmanuel Nkosilathi Moyo has turned his recent encounter with Ukrainian war refugees in Germany into a moving poetry collection titled ICH BIN KAPUTT. The title, which translates from German to “I am exhausted” or “I am broken,” reflects the emotional toll of war as seen through the eyes of those who have fled the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Speaking to Standard Style, Moyo revealed that the book was inspired by firsthand conversations he had with Ukrainian refugees during his stay in Berlin. “I was in Germany recently and started writing the book in Golitzer Park, Berlin after listening to stories of Ukrainian refugees who fled the war,” he said. “It saddened me after hearing their heart-rending stories. Those stories about the war informed this anthology.”

The book is written in English but intentionally carries a German title to mirror the setting in which the poems were born and to resonate with both local and international readers. According to Moyo, the collection dives into themes of loss, displacement, trauma, and resilience, capturing the essence of the refugee experience through lyrical storytelling.

Proceeds from the sale of ICH BIN KAPUTT, which will be priced at €8, are set to benefit the very communities that inspired it. “The proceeds will be directed towards the refugees and homeless people in Kruezberg, Berlin and Golitzer Park in particular,” Moyo confirmed. The book is expected to be officially launched in Berlin in the coming weeks.

This latest project is in line with Moyo’s longstanding commitment to human rights, democracy, and social justice. He is no stranger to controversial yet impactful publications. In 2018, he published Dismantling the System of Mugabeism, a critique of the post-Mugabe political landscape in Zimbabwe. In it, he argued that the events of November 2017 were not a popular revolution but rather an internal power struggle within the ruling ZANU PF, led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and backed by the military.

Moyo’s bibliography also includes Robert Mugabe: From Freedom Fighter To The People’s Enemy, The Rise of Grace Mugabe—The Fall of Zanu PF, and Zimbabwe: A Revolution Waiting To Happen, all of which challenge the status quo and reflect his fearless advocacy.

His activism once made headlines in 2016 when he controversially sent former President Robert Mugabe prison clothes as a birthday gift, symbolizing a call for accountability.

With ICH BIN KAPUTT, Moyo extends his advocacy beyond Zimbabwe’s borders, shedding light on global humanitarian issues and continuing his mission to give a voice to the marginalized—this time, through the power of poetry.