Zimbabwean author denies using AI to write award-winning story

Zimbabwean author Simbarashe Kundizeza has denied using artificial intelligence to write a story that received an award. He said the work grew from a poem about fish tanks and explores struggles faced by his family in Zimbabwe.

Author points to poetic inspiration

Kundizeza identified the poem about fish tanks as the starting point for the story. Rather than attributing the work to AI, he described a personal and literary inspiration rooted in his family’s experiences.

The story’s subject connects its recognition to a deeply personal account of life in Zimbabwe. Kundizeza’s explanation places the focus on the ideas and experiences behind the work, while directly addressing questions about how it was written.

AI use remains central to the dispute

His denial sets out a clear position: the award-winning story was not produced using AI. The author’s comments distinguish the creative source he identified—a poem about fish tanks—from the technology he has been accused of using.

With no further details provided about the award or the specific allegations, Kundizeza’s account remains the key information about the story’s origins. His explanation links the work to both literary inspiration and family struggles in Zimbabwe.

What the author says

• He denies using AI to write the story.
• He says a poem about fish tanks inspired the work.
• The story addresses his family’s struggles in Zimbabwe.

Kundizeza’s comments provide his account of how the recognized story was created and why its subject is closely connected to his family’s experience.