Dakalo Malange, from Tshimbupfe in the Vuwani area, drew much inspiration from reading books as a young boy. This inspiration allowed him to give wings to his own imagination and capture it on paper to share with others. He has recently published his third book, a novel titled "A Web of Mistakes."
The story revolves around a bright young girl with a promising future ahead of her. However, one day, she suddenly starts to change, neglects her studies and responsibilities, and reaches a point where she becomes a hedonist. She gets entangled in an unhealthy relationship, and her life spirals out of control.
Malange, 31, developed a deeper love of writing during his high school years at Edson Nesengani High School. He found himself indulging in writing short stories for pleasure. "I used to write short stories, and my friends were always very impressed with my writing ability, so I thought that maybe I should take it more seriously," he recalled.
In 2019, he published his first book, "Reality Short Stories," followed by a motivational book titled "Bruises and Scars" in 2020.
After completing school, he went on to study at the University of Limpopo, where he graduated with a bachelor of law (LLB) degree. Currently, he is pursuing his master's of law (LLM).
"My new book shows how making bad decisions can affect one's life, but it is also meant to encourage the reader to never give up on their dreams, even when it seems impossible. The point is to always get up again, dust yourself off, and resume your journey," he said.
His advice to young people is to read as many books as possible. "It is important to develop a love for reading. If you don't read, you are robbing yourself of the many delights found only in books, magazines, and newspapers. We have a lot of entertainment and social publications that also educate us in one way or another."
He also encourages other youths to utilise their talents for the benefit of their communities. "It is important to use our skills while we are still young because that could be the foundation of our future. Mine is an inborn talent, but my success is coupled with hard work and a positive attitude. I also want to prove the fact that success does not depend on whether one comes from a disadvantaged rural area, like I do, but on one's ability to use the available limited resources profitably," he said.