His debut fictional work, The Land Remembers, transforms decades of scholarship on accountability, justice, and leadership into a sweeping human-centric story about land, memory, and redemption.
Set on Alkebulan Farm, the novel follows Muntu Sango and his family as they struggle to preserve ancestral land threatened by betrayal and greed. Beneath its drama lies a deeper meditation on stewardship; how the earth itself becomes a record of moral choices, good and bad.
Explaining the motivation behind the book, Professor Chizema said: “In research and policy, we often talk about land, governance, and justice in abstract terms. But behind those words are lived experiences, families, histories, and communities. The Land Remembers is my way of giving those ideas a human voice.”
“By reimagining policy and governance themes through fiction, academic work can inform public imagination and turn complex issues into emotionally accessible narratives.”
Professor Chizema’s academic work has long shaped real-world governance reform. As Lead Consultant for the African Union project that developed its first Principles of Corporate Governance, he helped establish ethical and accountability frameworks across the continent.
The Land Remembers extends those same principles into storytelling, exploring what happens when stewardship fails, when pride erodes duty, and when renewal becomes possible only through humility.
The Land Remembers exemplifies Loughborough’s commitment to the ethos of ‘Progress with Purpose’, supporting research that engages meaningfully with society and addresses significant challenges.
Professor Chizema added: “Good governance isn’t just institutional, it’s emotional and moral. The same values that sustain a good organisation sustain a good community.
“At its heart, this is a story about responsibility, the kind we owe to our communities, to those who came before us, and to those who’ll come after.”
The Land Remembers will be available from 28 November, available at retailers Waterstones, TG Jones and Amazon.