‘Let us be masters of our own destiny’
FORMER Deputy Prime Minister, Professor Arthur Mutambara, has called on Zimbabweans to be proud of their history and be masters of their own destinies.
Speaking during the launch of his book, In Search of the Elusive Zimbabwean Dream: An Autobiography of Thought Leadership, Vol 1 at Mutare Hall, recently, Prof Mutambara, said Zimbabweans should not leave foreigners to tell the country’s narrative.
“We should learn from the Chinese. They have their own documented history dating back to almost 5 000 years ago. If you look at us as Africans, we have nothing to show for that. Shame on us Africans! We wait for foreigners to write for us. Documentation is divine. We need to cultivate a writing culture among ourselves.
“The culture of writing should start with individuals. We all have something to tell about ourselves, families and country at large.
“We should document our history for the benefit of future generations. We should not die with our narratives. You should be the change you seek to see in the world,” he said.
Prof Mutambara said it was everyone’s duty to contribute to the country’s prosperity.
“We should do something ourselves that will make Mutare and Zimbabwe prosper. We should all take charge because we are masters of our own destinies.
“Youths should work hard to make it in life. You should not worry about your background because if you work hard you will make it in life.
“If you want to be a superstar, you must have a combination of academic excellence and social responsibility. That will make you a better person in life,” said Prof Mutambara who lost his father while he was still young and had to depend on the support of relatives to make in life from his youthful days at Old Mutare Mission.
Besides his humble beginnings, Prof Mutambara who served as the Deputy Prime Minister in the Inclusive Government until 2013 is the current president of the African News Agency, a technology-driven multimedia news platform. Prof Mutambara has written two electrical engineering books, and is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, Zimbabwe Institute of Engineers and the Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences.
Prof Mutambara called for unity among the people of Mutambara.
“We are one family and where are the chieftainship fights coming from? We all know our family tree and we should properly follow it,” he said as members of the Mutambara family that was among the audience followed proceedings.
Although Prof Mutambara withdrew from public life at the end of the Inclusive Government, he said he had been following developments on the political landscape in Zimbabwe and did not rule out a possibility of bouncing back.
The book launch was attended by several academics and captains of industry in Mutare.