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Addis Ababa — On January 30 2016 the Outgoing Chairperson of the African Union (AU), His Excellency Robert Gabriel Mugabe, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, presented the Hashim Mbita Research publication to the African Union during its 26th Ordinary Assembly. The publication comprises of 10 volumes, which document the history of the liberation struggles in Southern African that sought to end colonial and apartheid rule in Southern Africa.

The publication presents events and stories of Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In addition to these countries, the research covers the contributions of countries and organisations outside of the sadc Region that played a key role in aiding the liberation movements in Southern Africa.

The Publication was officially launched in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe in August, 2014 during the 34th Ordinary Summit of the sadc Heads of States and Government.

When presenting the publication to the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, President Mugabe noted that sadc leaders thought it was proper that the collective history memoir of the liberation struggles is handed over to the AU so that it can be accessible to all citizens of the continent. He also alluded to the fact that the publication is a testament of the commitment, dedication and sacrifices of those who fought to bring the freedoms enjoyed today in Southern Africa.

Late Brigadier General (Retired) Hashim Mbita, whom the publication is named after, served as the Executive Secretary of the Liberation Committee of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) from 1974 to 1992. — sadc.int