Reflections of an Old Man

In this autobiography, Valentine Nyagweta takes a panoramic and holistic view of his life as an innocent village boy, a student, a desperate jobless school leaver, a refugee, a teacher, a civil servant and diplomat. In the process, he makes incisive, analytical comments on the social, economic, diplomatic and political environment that affected his life. He relates the story of his life in colourful, critical and often humorous detail. The strength of the story, however, lies in the fact that the insights shared are not just about his private life, but the role he played in shaping the politics, civil and diplomatic services of Zimbabwe over many years. The book is also a rich, anthropological rendition of the culture and traditions of the Manyika people of Eastern Zimbabwe, from which Nyagweta himself is hewn. Here we are given a blow by blow rendition as he captures his life experience in full, engaging details that make the book an enjoyable read. The book gives a detailed account of life in Rhodesia as experienced by Nyagweta, the brutalities of the 1970s liberation struggle on ordinary villages as well as his experience in the Diaspora and how all these experiences shaped him.