The quest(ion) of Leaning Towards a Liberal Historiography in Edgar Tekere’s A Lifetime of Struggle (2007) and Cephas Msipa’s In Pursuit of Freedom and Justice: a Memoir (2015)

Abstract

Zimbabwe’s historiography is commonly confined to a singular narrative that glorifies the deeds of a few prominent figures while sidelining the contributions and perspectives of other political actors. This paper redirects the narrative focus by examining Edgar Tekere’s A Lifetime of Struggle (2007) and Cephas Msipa’s In Pursuit of Freedom and Justice: a Memoir (2015). Attention is given to how Tekere and Msipa adopt a liberal interpretation of historical events and cultivate unity among political leaders through a revised patriotic conception of nationhood. Through an interpretive analysis of their autobiographies, this paper contends that the liberal narrative presented by both texts redefines the conventional storyline associated with Zimbabwe’s nationalist movement and the liberation struggle. Their interpretation of the past seeks to challenge the prevailing version of history written on behalf of the ruling party, ZANU-PF, and rectify the oversight of other participants in the nationalist movement and the liberation war, previously marginalised and reduced to passive subjects in historical accounts. By incorporating the experiences and perspectives of overlooked individuals, they strive to foster a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of Zimbabwe’s history. However, it is important to re-evaluate the implications of the ‘liberal’ historiography both writers espouse.