Staff Reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday officially launched a book that chronicles his life history and his contribution to the development of Zimbabwe.

The biography, titled “A Life of Sacrifice - The Biography of Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa”, was written by renowned economist and former opposition member of parliament Eddie Cross and published by Rachael Jambaya.

Speaking during the launch ceremony at State House in Harare, Cross said he was fascinated by the level of dedication displayed by President Mnangagwa to the liberation and development of the country.

Cross highlighted that working on the book gave him an intimate insight into the life of the President and applauded him for laying a foundation for a better future.

“It was one of the great privileges in my life. I realised that you are a supreme debater and I now know what it is like to be a prisoner. Young black Zimbabweans do not understand the feeling of being in a Free Zimbabwe, you are now giving us hope and creating an environment where our children are starting to come home. Mr President, you are laying a foundation for a better future. Today we acknowledge your role and for what you have been doing and are doing to the nation Zimbabwe,” explained Cross.

 Jambaya the publisher, described the book as a must have as it captures the President’s most defining moments.

“It has been a gift and an honour being part of a project that will forever lie in the tremendous history of Zimbabwe. It looks at a man who embodies values and is instrumental in the contribution to the development of Zimbabwe. A must have book,” she said.

Giving a review of the book, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda said the writing, albeit being 130 pages, captures a rare breed of leaders.

“It is an attempt by authors and publishers to capture the eventful life of a young person, his incarceration, escaping the hangman’s noose and the 40 years of leadership. Capturing all this in 130 pages, the book is a welcome development as it adds to the knowledge and history,” he said.

Speaking at the launch of the book, the President said while his generation took up arms to liberate the country, the present generation must also sacrifice in a different way.

“Our nation is underpinned by continual sacrifices. What differs is the form and nature of sacrifice  at every development stage of our nation, and the circumstances that face and shape it.

“In our case we had to pick up arms, suffer incarceration, suffer injuries, and even die to win back our freedoms and collective independence. We are a generation that bore arms and went to war, in the process making sacrifices. Today’s generation must make sacrifices for our nation. This is demanded of them to advance the new development epoch we are facing,” said the President.

Meanwhile more than 50 000 copies of the book were snapped up yesterday as people sought to get insight into the life of their beloved leader.