By Jimmy Chazama:
Lilongwe-based actress and storyteller Desiree Namachotsa, known for her roles in School Days and Welcome to Maula Prison films, has authored a book titled Parenting Disasters: Parenting In A Modern World Full Of Chaos.
The book will be released on April 30 2026.
Namachotsa, who received the Trevor Noah Foundation Grant in 2023, said her filmmaking and writing are connected, both rooted in storytelling and human behaviour.
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“Through film, I have seen how people’s actions, emotions, and relationships are shaped by their upbringing. That same curiosity is what led me to explore parenting more deeply,” she said.
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She described the book as a different form of storytelling, inviting readers to reflect internally rather than watch characters on a screen.
“Films are powerful. They normalise behaviours, shape beliefs, and influence what we think is acceptable in families. That is why it is important for films to portray parenting in a responsible and realistic way,” she said.
The book has 12 chapters looking at areas such as Parenting Without Parenting, The Cost of Parenting, Not Two Siblings Have the Same Parents, Girls, Boys, and the Myth of Sameness, Parenting by Observation, Gentle versus Good Parenting, Parenting without Perfection and Continuous Learning.
Now in her final year pursuing a Masters Degree in Educational Psychology, Namachotsa believes the themes in the book are visual and emotional enough to be adapted into film or documentary, opening up conversations about family life.
