Maxwell Sibanda's poetry collection canonises the late journalist's Verses on Epitaph

Maxwell Sibanda

By Staff Reporter — Harare, Zimbabwe

The Maxwell Sibanda poetry collection Verses on Epitaph Ode to a Fallen African Scribe by Canada‑based writer Snyman Sibanda has been released to mark the fifth anniversary of the late Daily News assistant editor Maxwell Sibanda, who died on 22 February 2021. “I poured my grief on paper and honoured a family hero, someone who inspired me to love the written word,” Snyman Sibanda said, describing the collection as both a personal tribute and a public memorial.

Book details and structure

Title: Verses on Epitaph Ode to a Fallen African Scribe

Author: Snyman Sibanda

Subject: Tribute to Maxwell Sibanda; journalism; grief; Zimbabwean social themes

Format: Poetry collection; 23 poems divided into two sections the first dedicated to Maxwell, the second exploring broader societal and personal themes

Publication and availability: Released to coincide with Maxwell Sibanda’s fifth death anniversary; available on Amazon

Location relevance: Themes and references rooted in Harare, Zimbabwe, and the Zimbabwean media landscape

Writing process and poetic style behind the tribute

Snyman described his approach as free‑style poetry, prioritising raw emotion over formal constraints. “I believe in free‑style poetry where words just come, no artificial addition, not bothered by issues of assonance, alliteration, or repetition to make the poem rhyme,” he said. For the author, writing became an emotional outlet after Maxwell’s death on 22 February 2021, helping him process grief while preserving his brother’s memory.

Themes: journalism, grief, and a life well lived

The poems aim to reveal the human side of journalists, their courage, pain, and the enduring power of their work. Snyman said the collection addresses grief and celebrates a life that influenced many: “This book’s publication coincides with Max’s fifth death anniversary. It’s intended as a tribute to his works and the impact he had on our lives. He touched and influenced a lot of lives.” The poems also reflect on broader societal issues drawn from Zimbabwean experience and personal reflection.

Availability and legacy for Zimbabwean letters

Verses on Epitaph is available on Amazon, and Snyman hopes the book will introduce Maxwell’s legacy to new readers in Zimbabwe and the diaspora while contributing to contemporary Zimbabwean poetry. He said the collection stands as both a personal act of remembrance and a public record of a journalist whose work outlived him.