The Story of My Life (review)

Zimbabwe's liberation history from the late 1950s until independence in April 1980 is still steeped in controversy and intrigue. This situation also prevailed in the early years of independence. For this reason mainly, materials published by those that were intimately involved in the events of those days tend to draw substantial interest. However, many of the works coming out are littered with deliberate biases, adopt certain ideological stances or uncritically champion the causes of particular personalities or factions.

Despite the above limitations, many books on the political history of Zimbabwe have continued to provide some useful perspectives. Bishop Abel Muzorewa's Rise Up and Walk: An Autobiography (1978); Maurice Nyagumbo's With the People: An Autobiography from the Zimbabwean Struggle (1980); Ken Flower's Serving Secretly: An Intelligence Chief on Record: Rhodesia into Zimbabwe 1964 to 1981 (1987) and Ian Smith's Bitter Harvest: The Great Betrayal and the Dreadful Aftermath (1997) all fall into this genre.

The publication of Dr. Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo's autobiography, The Story of My Life, written while he was in forced exile, arrived at a time of heightened political tension in the country. It, therefore, elicited an excited response. However, the government of Zimbabwe immediately banned the distribution of the work in the country. This was to remain in force even after the Unity Accord of 22 December 1987, reached between the ruling party, the Zimbabwe African Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), and Nkomo's party, the Zimbabwe African Peoples' Union (ZAPU). Significantly, Nkomo did not retract his contribution.

Nkomo died on 1^st July 1999. In August 2001, the Southern African Political and Economic Series (SAPES) Trust, inaugurating the new Pan-African Autobiography Series, republished a locally-generated reprint. According to the editor (See, Foreword, p. xiv), Dr. Ibo Mandaza, this was designed to contribute to the history of African nationalism in particular and that of the liberation struggle in general.

What motivated Nkomo to put pen to paper? Although Nkomo argues that his book "will…make clear what went wrong and why" (p. 1), other factors appear to have also played a part. These include a number of interlocking elements which, taken together, explain why Nkomo wrote his book of 23 short chapters and 265 pages. First, Nkomo was forced into exile to Britain from 8 March 1983 as a result of political and personal security concerns with the ruling party, ZANU (PF). He only returned to Zimbabwe in 1985, compelled by circumstances in order to lead his party to contest the general elections. Once in exile, Nkomo must have decided, with time on his hands while feeling bitter at his situation, to put pen to paper. This is reflected in the work, in which nearly 25% is devoted to lambasting the Zimbabwe government. The Introduction (pp. xv-xvi); Chapter 1, "Leaving Zimbabwe" (pp. 1-6); Chapter 19, "The Doubtful Elections" (pp. 207-16); Chapter 20, "Zimbabwe's False Start" (pp. 217-30); Chapter 21, "Outcast" (pp. 231-42); Chapter 22, "Repression"¹ (pp. 243-52); and finally, Chapter 23, "Freedom Lies Ahead" (pp. 253-60) - all focus on the acrimonious relations with government. Secondly, there also must have been economic pressures, as he and an accompanying aide needed to survive in London. An advance cheque from publishers in such circumstances is not unknown to bring about greater focus to engage in such a pastime. This section of the book highlights a continuing undemocratic link of persecution from the colonial to the post-independence era. This comes out clearly when one considers Chapter 8, titled the "First Exile" (pp. 89-100), against the background of Chapter 1, "Leaving Zimbabwe". Sixty-five per cent of the second segment of the book is made up of materials focussing on Nkomo's autobiography and his involvement in the liberation struggle. However, even in this section, the urge to state the case for ZAPU and its military arm, ZIPRA...