Herald Insensitivity and Lack of Professionalism Unacceptable But Not Surprising
By Dr. Noah Manyika
February 16, 2019
I just read the tribute to the late Ambassador Chipamaunga by Foreign Affairs Minister SB Moyo in The Herald. While I find the paper’s failure to get the name of independent Zimbabwe’s first Ambassador to the United States right (they kept referring to him as Ambassador Chipamananga https://www.herald.co.zw/sb-moyo-mourns-ambassador/), totally disrespectful, unacceptable, and unprofessional, it is hardly surprising.
Those who knew him like some of us did know of the critical and dangerous role people like him who remained in the country as teachers and doctors played during the war being the eyes, ears and suppliers for the liberation war.
The late hero Maurice Nyagumbo in his autobiography “With the People” (https://www.amazon.com/People-Autobiography-Zimbabwe-Struggle/dp/0850313627) which must become required reading if we are to correct the telling of Zimbabwe’s history details the importance of the role of some
of those who remained who were dedicated to the fight for freedom.
That role is unfortunately constantly minimized by some who think that only those who left the country to join the ranks of the freedom fighters made our independence possible. Today our politics rewards the loudest voices with recognition, while burying the illustrious service to our country of men and women of integrity who eschewed rabid partisanship and were committed to professionalism and servant leadership.
There is a reason why Edmund Chipamaunga was appointed Zimbabwe’s first Ambassador to the United States. There is a story there that a paper like The Herald needs to tell and future generations need to know about. They can’t tell that story however if they can’t even get the name of the subject correctly.
After a decade of service in the Foreign Service following a long career as an educator, Ambassador Chipamaunga retired to continue writing. Shortly after, he lost his beloved wife and his sight, and recently his firstborn son, while being treated as if he never existed by the powers that be.
Ambassador Chipamaunga was an incredible father, man, patriot, educator and diplomat. He served his country at a critical time in our history, something every patriotic Zimbabwean should be curious to know more about. He was our representative during the presidency of Ronald Reagan and at the height of the Cold War and was in a unique position from his vantage point at our mission in DC and later on in Nairobi to watch important global events as they happened.
He faithfully wrote about his life and experiences so that we would be better informed about the history of our nation and make better decisions about our future. Not only is it important for The Herald to get the spelling of his name right, but he and many other Zimbabweans like him deserve the correct telling of their story.
Is there not a cause?