# Caine Prize clears Zimbabwean author of using AI to write winning story

> Original title: Zimbabwean author Simbarashe Kundizeza cleared of using AI to write prize-winning story

- Source: The Guardian · AI
- Published: 2026-11-12T13:14:38.000Z
- Bad Influence: https://badinfluence.news/items/jjbh13i0upmskcyw9rnccz65v
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/nov/12/zimbabwean-author-simbarashe-kundizeza-cleared-ai-caine-prize-winning-story

## Summary

The Caine Prize for African Writing concluded after a month-long investigation that Simbarashe Kundizeza's story The Blue Fighter was human-written, rejecting allegations it was AI-generated. The £10,000 prize was announced on 6 October, and AI-detection software Pangram had flagged the story in an Atlantic article by Vauhini Vara. Kundizeza said he was "relieved" the allegations were dismissed.