Published by The House of Books and National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare 2014

IF a picture is worth a thousand words, then the recently published pictorial book on the life of President Robert Mugabe, 90 Robert Gabriel Mugabe: Pictorial Moments from the Life of His Excellency the President of Zimbabwe Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe, is worth a billion words.
Never before seen photographs of President Robert Mugabe tells or rather sort of completes the story about the man.
While President Mugabe is a man of the people, a leader dearly loved, there are some aspects of his private life that have remained private such as how he spends his time when not working or how he celebrates the birthdays of his children.
The book published by The House of Books and National Gallery of Zimbabwe shows that there is more to the man than being a brilliant politician and revolutionary leader.
It offers glimpses into the private moments of the man.
President Mugabe is shown to be not only a great statesman; he is captured by the lens in the clothes of the everyday average man.
A father fussing over his children, a dotting son, a loving husband, a man devoted to his religion and a being relaxing doing what he loves best is what the book presents.
The man has been painted by numerous brushes and all types of paint depicting not always facts, but perceptions.
The bronze like book whose cover is emblazoned with a stately Robert Mugabe is, simply put, beautiful.
Before delving into the collection of pictures of President Mugabe in various arenas, one is impressed by the quality of the medium carrying the pictures.
Evidently great effort was put in coming up with the product.
But it comes as no surprise as one of the people involved in the publication of the book is none other than the suave and arts aficionado Doreen Sibanda who served as the project director in the fascinating and enlightening compilation.
There are pictures in the book that present a President Robert Mugabe who is mellow, who is so different from the fiery politician and revolutionary leader that many of us know.
Clutching a fishing rod on a pebbled shore with the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe and his colleague Sam Nujoma, one gets to see the other side of the man.
Away from the hustle and bustle of state business, he is just an ordinary man whose desires are no different from that of the ordinary man or woman.
And this is what makes the book exciting, the private moments that many of us have not had the fortune of witnessing.
The book which also carries pictures of President Robert Mugabe during the liberation struggle enables one to understand and appreciate why the man abhors imperialists and will not brook attempts by outsiders to regain control of the country.
Quotations in the book highlight and show that the man has been consistent in his fight and all along has been led by the desires and wishes of the people and never personal comfort.
“If the moment comes for me to make decision, I will make a decision in the light of the situation as I see it. But all the time, it will be the interests of the people which I will take into account rather than my personal comfort and safety,” said President Mugabe in 1965 while at Sikombela Restriction Camp.
To generations born after independence, the pictures help and increase understanding of the processes of the successful liberation struggle waged by the brave sons and daughters of the soil.
Pictures of President Mugabe and fellow nationalists reaching out to the international community in Germany and China as well as other countries show not only the difficulties but determination to prevail over the enemy.
The pictures of the struggle dispel assertions in some quarters that Robert Mugabe’s uncompromising and ‘hard’ attitude against imperialist forces is borne out of the need to stay in power, as if it has been his decision to remain in power.
Pictures of him in 1962 surrounded by Ian Smith’s police show an unwavering and unflinching character with not an ounce of fear.
Delivering speeches in 1963 even in prison in 1965 he remained defiant.
The pictures are a tale of a leader leading from the front and who knows exactly where the country is going and what must be achieved.
“The enemy is frightened, he is in disarray and completely resigned to defeat. This is no moment to slacken our efforts. Let us hammer him to defeat. Let us blow up his citadel. Let us give him no time to rest. Let us chase him in every corner,” he rallied his troops in 1978 and continues to do.
This is one book that must be availed to everyone, it will not only increase appreciation of President Robert Mugabe, it will also delight.