Sundaymail Editor
Leroy Dzenga
Senior Reporter
In medieval times, a portrait was hugely important in immortalising significant figures.
The ink, time and skill needed for such works justified the cost.
It is the same task that confronted Eddie Cross when he wrote President Mnangagwa’s biography, which was launched on Thursday.
Titled “A life of sacrifice — A Biography of Emmerson Mnangagwa”, the book is the first biography of a sitting President in Zimbabwe.
It captures his life, from his early days as a young man agitated by the excesses and racism of the settler regime, to his active contribution in post-Independent Zimbabwe — a story that is still continuing.
Cross describes the work of putting together the book as the lesson of a lifetime.
“When I retired from politics in 2018, one of the first people to call me after the military-assisted transition in November 2017 was President Mnangagwa. He asked me to write a document on the problems that the new Government is facing and what were the likely solutions,” he said.
Some of the insights he shared were part of the rationale for the adoption of the 100-day cycle, which is until today a central component Government’s policy implementation matrix.
It was an experience that showed him a man who was committed to transforming Zimbabwe through listening to diverse opinions and ideas.
“When the President won the 2018 election, he decided to revive his programme with a new team in Cabinet.
“At that point, I was involved and this time became an informal advisor to the President and the Minister of Finance. I did not seek to become permanently appointed; I simply felt I could contribute intellectually to some of the problems facing the country.”
The working relationship and the resultant encounters he had with the President made it easier to accept a rare offer made to him by Jarach Media, publishers of the biography.
“When the publishers approached me to write his story, I thought it would be a very interesting exercise. I agreed!”
When he initially tried to sell the idea, the President questioned his motivation.
He, however, later agreed.
“Writing a biography, even a short biography on an individual, is always a big responsibility. In this case, with a man who is currently President of the country, even more so,” added Cross.
The book, which combines both pictures and text, took three months to compile.
The publishers made it clear that he should not exceed 50 000 words.
“I had a couple of interviews with the President, not much more than that. The rest of my research and work on the book was based on historical data that was readily available in the public sphere and what we obtained in the archives. It took me two to three months of work to put it together . . . At no time did I receive any real instructions relating to content; it was pretty much left to me.”
After submission, the work was reviewed by a small group of editors, which included a Professor at the University of Zimbabwe.
Cross said he got to understand the President more during the compilation of the book, getting access to his history, vision and innermost thoughts.
“It was not difficult to secure an overall view. This is not an academic or even a professional biography in the sense of the world; it is a pictorial record of a man’s life. For me, represents a glimpse into the sacrifices made to bring Zimbabwe to independence in 1980.
“The sacrifices which have been made since then to bring us to where we are today. My conclusion was this was a man who really had sacrificed much of his life and personal ambitions to his country and his people. He was now trying to put Zimbabwe onto a new path.”
President Mnangagwa, added Cross, has a vision for young people to play a leading role in the country’s economy.
“Part of the exercise and benefits are really evident to all Zimbabweans. You can see how he has been able to stabilise the economy and lay the platform for what I regard as rapid growth into the future. For me, the number one measure is that young people are coming back to Zimbabwe with knowledge, experience and they are beginning to make an impact in all spheres of our economy, and they really constitute the future,” he said.
The book sold more than 50 000 copies on launch, making it one of the best-selling Zimbabwean books in recent times
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