Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike
Senior Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has described Professor Simbi Veke Mubako as a crown of wisdom, whose contribution will continue to inspire future generations.
He said Prof Mubako’s knowledge has been generously shared not only to Zimbabweans but also other African nations.
President Mnangagwa made the remarks in a speech read on his behalf by Vice President Dr Kembo Mohadi at Prof Mubako’s 90th birthday celebrations at Heritage Village in Harare yesterday.
He described Prof Mubako as a moral compass of the nation, a living and growing library, whose shelves are stocked with wisdom.
Prof Mubako turned 90 on April 20.
He was born in 1936 in Zaka, Masvingo. Said President Mnangagwa: “His life story is not merely a biography; it is a vital, living chapter of our journey from colonial subjugation to the free, independent nation we cherish today.”
The President said he first met Prof Mubako at the University of Zambia, where he was his law lecturer. He said Prof Mubako’s intellectual rigour and deep commitment to African liberation profoundly shaped his understanding of justice and political destiny – a foundation that guided his service to this day.
Turning to Prof Mubako’s role in justice and liberation, the President said his contributions began long before the lowering of the Union Jack.
He described him as a committed nationalist who used his formidable intellect as a weapon in the fight for self-determination.
His role as Chief Legal Adviser to ZANU (PF) and his presence in the trenches of Zimbabwe’s legal and political struggle remain a source of inspiration.
“The struggle for independence was rooted in the profound African concept of Ubuntu – ‘I am because we are’. Professor Mubako understood that true freedom could not be achieved by a single person, but by the collective will and shared destiny of our people. The struggle was not for his individual liberty, but for the humanity, the Ubuntu, of all Zimbabweans,” he said.
President Mnangagwa added that Prof Mubako’s acumen as late General Josiah Magama Tongogara’s defence legal counsel in Zambia cemented his position as a crucial player in the leadership dynamics of the liberation movement.
The President said Prof Mubako guarded the nest of the liberation struggle, ensuring that its spirit remained strong and protected.
“The climax of this period saw him lead the ZANU legal team at the Lancaster House Conference, where the final legal framework for our independence was forged,” he said.
Prof Mubako’s tenure in various Cabinet portfolios, including Justice, Home Affairs and National Supplies, was characterised by diligence, integrity, and a deep commitment to establishing a new, just legal order for all Zimbabweans.
President Mnangagwa said Prof Mubako’s career was not confined to the executive, but he transitioned seamlessly to the Judiciary, serving with distinction as a Judge of the High Court, upholding the rule of law and dispensing justice with wisdom and impartiality.
“Later, he served as Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the United States, where he fiercely defended our national interests on the global stage.
“Professor Mubako is fundamentally a man of letters and a true academic. His academic career spanned continents, lecturing and holding professorships at institutions such as the University of Zambia, the University of Southampton, and serving as Dean of Law at the National University of Lesotho.
“His scholarly output has enriched our understanding of constitutional law, political history, and the liberation movement itself.
“He continues to inspire future generations, having served as a professor at Midlands State University and Chairman of the Council for Legal Education in Zimbabwe,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said the establishment of the Museum of African Liberation, a vital project that falls under the auspices of the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), is the crowning jewel of Prof Mubako’s life and work.
“It represents the ultimate intersection of his passions: the liberation struggle, the preservation of African history, and the pursuit of knowledge.
“Under his calm and thoughtful guidance, INSTAK is collecting, documenting, and protecting the true narrative of African self-determination, ensuring that the sacrifices of our heroes and the factual history of our continent are never distorted or forgotten.
“This project, which includes the development of Liberation City, the launch of The Africa Factbook, the Heritage Village and the signing of strategic partnerships, is a legacy that will benefit generations to come. It is through his vision that we are building an enduring monument to our shared heritage, a source of pride for every Zimbabwean and every African,” he said.
The birthday celebrations were attended by his long-time friends, Government officials and former Cabinet ministers.
