From Liberator to Dictator: An Insider’s Account of Robert Mugabe’s Descent into Tyranny [Paperback]

This is a personal account of the unraveling of Zimbabwe, written by an insider who was prepared to keep faith with Robert Mugabe until it was almost too late. Michael Auret served for many years on Zimbabwe’s respected Catholic Commission of Justice and Peace, which worked tirelessly to defend human rights in that country.

In this absorbing memoir, he traces his involvement in the politics of his country, from his days as an opposition MP in Ian Smith’s Rhodesia to his involvement with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and his election as MP for Harare Central in the brutal election of 2000.

The author’s key position as an insider makes this is a fascinating and timely account of the internal politics of Zimbabwe.

What makes the story more poignant is the fact that Mike Auret believed in Robert Mugabe, and maintained that faith for many years, up to the point when he could no longer ignore what was happening in the country.