Doctor publishes book

Chronicle Reporter
A PROMINENT medical doctor in Bulawayo Mr Solwayo Ngwenya has documented the story of his life in a “must read” book that was launched on Saturday. Professor Clever Nyathi, who was the guest speaker at the launch held at the Art Gallery in Bulawayo, challenged Zimbabweans to have a reading culture to benefit from the book, whose story cuts across a number of aspects ranging from culture, social life to the colonial period.

“In Zimbabwe we are famed for a literacy rate of 91 percent, the highest in Africa though our reading culture is shockingly low. There is a school of thought that suggests that the basis for a reading culture must have a foundation in local stories told in the context of a lived environment,” said Prof Nyathi, a former Pro Vice-Chancellor of the National University of Science and Technology.

“If you do not take pen to paper, someone or something will feel your vacuum with their own history. Stories such as eloquently told by Solwayo Ngwenya, authentic, unadulterated and from the heart shapes our being.”

The book is titled The Tales Of a Herdboy and is a fast paced, easy but a must read book, according to Prof Nyathi.
“I read the book almost non-stop-fascinated by the twists and turns, the trials and tribulations, resilience, intrigue, falling in love, being kicked out of love, sickness, divorce, multiple spouses, generosity, business, legal battles with neighbours, the trauma of war and importantly the dynamic stability of a tormented soul.

“It is the story of a stoic herd boy stretched gangly upwards by the gravity of the heavens, loved by strangers and tormented by both live and phantom family and yet he scaled the heights of a medical profession. Udokotela has turned umnumzana, not by dint of misfortune, but by willing the scalpel to do his bidding as a nimble-fingered surgeon does,” said Prof Nyathi.

The book was published by renowned writer Mr Pathisa Nyathi through his publishing house, Amagugu Publishers.
Mr Nyathi said Mr Ngwenya’s book was motivational, encouraging people not to give up on their lives even when in desperate situations.
“We are happy that an accomplished doctor has documented his own life story. The story shows dedication, perseverance and resilience in the spirit of never say die.

“The book will obviously motivate people not to give up quickly because it is those that work hard that are rewarded. He works hard under a tight schedule from hospital to hospital and us as publishers we are happy to have produced such a book,” said Mr Nyathi.
Speaking in an interview, Mr Ngwenya who is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist said he was inspired by his life as a boy in the rural areas growing into a fully fleshed professional.

“The book is about my inspirational life story up to date. When I look back into my life I get inspired and I thought I should document it as a legacy for young people that they can achieve in life if disciplined, hardworking, focused and determined,” he said.

Mr Ngwenya said growing up with strong cultural background rooted in the Nguni kinfolk; there were some aspects of the Ndebele culture he would never lose despite being a medical doctor.

“There are certain cultural aspects I wanted to document especially about my family. My father was born in 1905 and he imparted some cultural values in me which I can never lose despite being learned. There are Ndebele cultural issues I still follow passionately,” he said.
The 22-chapter book kicks off with the history of the Zulu and Ndebele kingdoms which culminates in how he was born at St Luke’s Mission in Lupane  and named Mtshayiwamathambo by his father Sikhubo and Solwayo by his 93-year-old mother Gogo MaNdlovu.

He narrates how the white settler regime cruelly moved his community from Insuza to a new village in Lupane District and how all his father’s cattle were bought by a white man for a song, for one pound each.

He recalls that at that time his mother was pregnant resulting in his birth in October 1967.
Mr Ngwenya recalls how he was seriously ill for a year when he was only a year old and nearly died.

He did his secondary education at Nashville and Thornhill High Schools in Gweru in the 1980s where he was staying with an elder brother Lififi who had returned from the war of liberation.

Mr Ngwenya graduated with a medical degree at the University of Zimbabwe in the early 90s before moving to the United Kingdom where he furthered his studies and graduated as a gynaecologist in 2004.

He operates a surgery in the city and has also built a female clinic in Hillside, Royal Women’s Clinic.
He is married to Sikhalo.

Mr Ngwenya authored two medical books that are being sold in the United Kingdom.