Title: Prominent African Personalities Of Rhodesia
Author: Yearbook
Published 1976
Publisher: Proprietors, Cover Publicity services (PVT)
ISBN 0-7974-0209-8

THE book Prominent African Personalities is a fascinating read.
It is a collection that is testament to the fact that you cannot keep a good man or woman down.
Africans, according to Rhodesians, were second-class citizens; they were lazy and good-for-nothing-people and were intellectually inferior.
But the book compiled by Africans highlights the successes of black people in various spheres from business to the academic world.
Everything that whites were doing, Africans were doing in equal, if not better, measure considering that they were operating under a repressive system that did not recognise their rights or grant privileges to black people.
The book is a testament of the capabilities of Africans.
History has been used to justify the plunder, the ‘rape’, the disenfranchisement of Africans.
But history, as has been shown by the late prominent Afrocentric scholar and author, Dr Vimbai Gukwe Chivaura, presents only that part that agrees with the beliefs of the writer.
Thus in repressive Rhodesia, according to Rhodesians, Africans were no different from the brutes of the bushes.
Africans were not self-sufficient or responsible people capable of taking care of themselves.
Africans required and needed the Whiteman to survive.
Africans were satisfied, content and had no ambitions to become anything significant.
All the above assertions are proven wrong by the book.
Produced and put together by people who included Dr P. T. Kazembe, a PhD holder, Luke Madzedze, Hosea Mapondera and M. Hove, the book records the successes of Africans in various fields.
“The Yearbook gives a moving account of the outstanding achievements of …Africans from many walks of life. Beyond sheer recognition the yearbook serves another purpose. Through reading the book, many young boys and girls can be motivated to attain greater heights. A point that the yearbook spells out is that success in life is not limited to one kind of career,” writes Dr Kazembe in the foreword.
The book highlights success of Africans in fields such as law, education as well as the retail and transport sectors.
For example, one of the fascinating personalities in the book is the current Chief Justice Godfrey Guwa Chidyausiku.
His genius was recognised and appreciated early in his law career.
And he was one of the first students at St Ignatius College.
“Born on February 23 1947 in the Chinamhora Tribal Trust Lands. Obtained lower-primary education at a local village school before attending Makumbe Mission… Entered St Ignatius College, Chishawasha in 1962, as a founder student. Obtained the Higher School Certificate and in March 1968, enrolled at the University of Rhodesia as a law student. Obtained first law degree LLB. Was then qualified to be called to the Bar and in 1972 admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of Rhodesia”.
The illustrious careers of the late national hero Dr Bernard Chidzero, who in 1958 had gained a PhD in Canada at McGill University, Montreal, is also recorded.
“In 1960 (Dr Chidzero) went to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as economic affairs officer with the Economic Commission for East Africa. 1963 became representative of UN Technical Assistance Board and director of special funds in Kenya. 1966 appointed resident representative of the UN programme in Kenya and was later promoted to UNCTAD as commodities director and played an important part at the third session of UNCTAD held in Santiago, Chile, in April 1972.”
Even sport personalities are featured in the compilation.
Football greats such as Itayi Chieza and Oliver Kateya are featured in the book.
“Born 1945, Salisbury. Son of Gideon Chieza. Coach, Zimbabwe Saints Football Club, Bulawayo. 1970-73 former player/coach of Mangula Football Club, Sables Football Club. Rothmans Sales promotion staff. Joined Mashonaland United in 1975 as a coach and in 1976 became Zimbabwe Saints Football Club coach. Soccer Star in 1967 and 1971. Married 1972, Roselin Mgwali, two sons.”
“Oliver Kateya, popularly known as ‘Whirlwind’ or ‘Helicopter’, joined Dynamos Football Club, Salisbury, from Metal Box, the fastest player in the country. 1976 went to Greece as guest player. 1976 helped the team to win Nyore Nyore Trophy, BAT Rose Bowl, Champion of Champions in Southern Africa Trophy, Castle Cup and Super League Championship Trophy.”
Besides the sporting and academic arenas, Africans also scored big in the business sector.
The likes of Paul Matambanadzo, one of the prominent transport operators of the time, is featured in the book.
“Born in 1936 at Domboshawa, Goromonzi. Educated at Chiutsa School, Mt Darwin. 1955-1956 worked as a bus conductor, then driver for Maziveyi. In 1958 granted permit to operate a bus service between Hartley, Sinoia and Sipolilo. After overcoming financial problems bought own bus and drove himself. Using profits from this acquired a second bus…today is managing director of Matambanadzo Bus Services which operates 75 passenger and 16 goods transport permits. Owns and manages Matambanadzo Store in Sipolilo and Mt Darwin. Also owns Mafenyatsela Bus Services in Botswana”.
The book is an enlightening read.
Africans have never been and will never be an inferior race no matter what the giant megaphones of Rhodies and their kith and kin deliver to the world.