Rejected and Written Off

*Rejected and Written Off* - a gritty, raw, hopeful and lyrical re-imagining of Michael Rwasunda's life, *based on a true story*. Born in 1987 under the bruised-purple sky of Hwedza, Zimbabwe, Kundai grows up in a mud-thatched hut where his mother, a nineteen-year-old with a spine of steel, fights drought, poverty and a violent step-father. After a brutal night that forces his mother to flee through a shattered window, Kundai is taken in by a harsh grandmother in Headlands, where he endures endless chores, abuse and a cold, unloving home.
Despite the odds, teachers like Miss?Jones and Mr?Matsokotere become beacons of hope, helping him escape to Dubi Farm where his mother works as a housekeeper. There, he faces another tragedy when his mother's health collapses, but her fierce love fuels his resolve. A wrongful arrest and a night in jail only strengthen his faith, and the support of a compassionate priest and a choir give him the courage to write.
His raw verses evolve into short stories, eventually catching the eye of a publisher in Harare. The book, _Rejected and Written Off_, becomes a testament to survival, the unbreakable bond between mother and son, and the power of storytelling to rewrite destiny. Now, with his own children carrying the torch, Kundai continues to build a small school in his village, proving that even the darkest nights can give way to a new dawn.