Kalemba Short Story Prize 2023 longlist announced.

The longlist for Kalemba Short Story Prize 2023 was announced in Lusaka, Zambia on Saturday, April 29, 2023.

The Kalemba Short Story Prize is awarded annually to the best work of original and unpublished short fiction written in English by a Zambian administered and funded by Ukusefya Words. Previous winners have been Mali Kambandu (2018), Mubanga Kalimamukwento (2019), and Rhodasi Mwale (2020)

The longlisted writers, who were announced on Saturday, will be invited to participate in a masterclass delivered by an expert in fiction and short-story writing. Those who made the cut this year are;

• Zina, Cornelius Mwanza
• Words for the lost child, Mwenya Chikwa
• Who the Cap Fits, Thomas Chisengatambu
• When it all Clears, Trevor Ace Tao
• Up the Eucalyptus Tree, Mikha Mweetwa
• Unforeseen, Tecla Bwalya Mulenga
• Two-Faced Psycho, Timothy Mumba
• Tina’s Trauma, Nikiwe Taonga Thole
• Till Death, Mazuba Mwiinga
• Thirty9 Steps to Freedom, Simon Kansembe
• The Trip a Trap, Mbeti Sishekanu
• The Tribe, David Chiza Gondwe
• The Testament, Abigail Lubala
• The Talk by the stream, Jeremiah Chenge
• The Sexual Predator, Samuel Zimba
• The Papa, the Patient and the Physician, Katenekwa Njekwa
• The Njalimwenes, Mulobeka Albert Phiri
• The Mysterious Beast, Nchimunya Hatowa
• The Midnight Man, Margaret Mwenya
• The Man from the West, Adam Njobvu
• The Jacaranda Broomed in June, Chileshe Mutale
• The Inciting Incident, unknown
• The Housekeeper, Brenda Nyambe
• The Guest, Glyn Mwiya
• The Final Act, Nduluma Mwaba
• The Family Terminator, Neddy Chimpati
• The Evil Within, Niza Chavula
• The Curious Case of Benjamin, John Phiri
• The Chosen Lamb, Taoma Mukwala
• The Childhood Clock, Jackson Chabala
• The Broken Arow, Isaac Likuji
• The Blues, Fiske Nyirongo
• The Evil within, Niza Chabula
• The Blue Shirt, Musiyani Silumbe
• Suicide Notes, Veagan Muchena
• Strangers at Home, William Mupotola
• Stepmother, Kaseba Lubambo
• Squelching noises, Clarence Chongo
• Some Days are Worse than Monday, Mpundu Charles Chilumba Mulenga
• Small World, Caroline Musole
• Shallow, Kees de Kwaasteniet
• Silver Head Red Hands, Racheal Tembo
• Seeing Anew, Kapampa Mwape
• Secrets, Teri Yombwe
• Red Ink Thandiwe, Chisela Chibale
• Pieces of Flesh, Given Chikwela
• Pelts, Nancy Mubanga
• No Strings Attached, Mukandi Siyame
• M’zimu Wachikondi, Kondwani Bwalya
• Martha’s Monster, Michael Mwanza
• Love Over Water, Bwalya Mambwe
• Locked Emotions let Loose, Kashweka Nalungwana
• Kasuba, Nancy Mwenya
• Ghost in Love, Mukelebai Catherine Mulasikwanda
• Forbidden Love, Angela Kunda Mupeta
• Father Forgive me for I have Sineth, Ndanji Nyirenda
• Extension, Chansa Folotiya
• Echo, Thandiwe Siwo
• Don’t Remember to Forget, Birbal Boniface Mutoba
• Dark Motives, Sylvia Mbewe
• Corrupted, Douglas Kawimbe
• Cilil, Genevieve Kana
• Chimbuya, Musenga Katongo
• Call for the Sandy Tombs, Kaluwe Haangala
• Bush Mouse, Abel Lungu
• Bodza, Mupila yalobi  
• Behind the Make-up, Mwewa Kashell Mwaba
• Before I Rest, Towela Kondowe
• Attract and Repel: Justified Madness, Keegan Sichone
• Atsikana, Theresa Silvester
• Are you coming Back?, Bwanga Kapumba
• Annie, Pierre Bwalya
• Animals, Mutale Chisulo
• And the River Sang, Kelvin Jatwa
• An Encounter with a Smooth Criminal, George Banda
• An Akabi Princess, Inonge Noyoo
• A Union of Inconvenience, Jolezya Adeyemo
• A Night to Remember, David Mumba
• A Mother’s Visit, Susan Mutale
• A Leap of courage, Rose Mukondya
• A Chance at Life, Natasha Mwenda
• A Bitter Love Triangle, Sanfrossa Manyinda

The shortlist of twelve stories will be revealed before the top six is published a week before announcing the winning and two run-up entries. The judging panel will be made public at a later stage.