PROMINENT Bulawayo historian, Pathisa Nyathi, last week donated 400 copies of his book on the late nationalist, Welshman Mabhena to several school in Matabeleland North and Bulawayo.
By KHANYILE MLOTSHWA
The book, titled Welshman Hadane Mabhena: A voice of Matabeleland, was co-authored by Nyathi and academic Marieke Faber Clarke in honour of national hero, Mabhena, who died in 2010 and was buried at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo.
Matabeleland North and Bulawayo provincial education directors, Boitatelo Mnguni and Dan Moyo, respectively, received the books at a brief ceremony held at Nyathi’s Amagugu International Heritage Centre offices in Bulawayo.
Mnguni expressed gratitude to Amagugu Publishers and noted that the book “profiles the illustrious life of a liberation
war stalwart that was born and bred in Matabeleland North Province”.
“This new publication is also in line with the new curriculum that promotes scholarship in arts, culture and heritage,” she said.
The book profiles the life of Mabhena — the family man, liberation fighter and former governor of Matabeleland North Province.
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Mabhena started his political activism in the 1960s, opposing white minority rule, and was detained in prison between 1962 and 1979.
In 1985, he was elected the MP for Nkayi constituency on a PF-Zapu ticket.
After the unification of PF-Zapu and Zanu in 1987, he became Zanu PF provincial chairperson in Matabeleland North. In 1990, the then Deputy Speaker of Parliament, became Minister of State for Political Affairs.
Mabhena served as Matabeleland North governor until 2000.
Mabhena opposed numerous policies of the ruling party and was known to speak fearlessly in defence of the interests and culture of the people of Matabeleland.
Nyathi and Faber Clarke have also co-authored Lozikeyi Dlodlo Queen of the Ndebele People.
