From the Rift Valley to the Dream of Freedom: Memories Of Lisungo

Paris Book Festival Award – Honorable Mention Best Autobiography/Memoir
New York Book Festival Honorable Mention
Readers’ Favorite Book Award – Honorable Mention

Born in the District of Lago, Province of Niassa, in 1946, John William Kachamila migrated to Tanganyika with his parents when he was about four years old, in search of better living conditions. From the Rift Valley to the Dream of Freedom: Memories Of Lisungo is an amazing autobiography of author John Kachamila, who is now the honorary consul of Serbia in Mozambique.

$14.95

Paris Book Festival Award – Honorable Mention Best Autobiography/Memoir
New York Book Festival Honorable Mention
Readers’ Favorite Book Award – Honorable Mention

Born in the District of Lago, Province of Niassa, on January 30, 1946, John William Kachamila migrated to Tanganyika with his parents when he was about four years old, in search of better living conditions. From the Rift Valley to the Dream of Freedom: Memories Of Lisungo is an amazing autobiography of author John Kachamila, who is now the honorary consul of Serbia in Mozambique.

Testimonial

I met John William Kachamila in March 1963 at the Mgulani refugee camp in Tanzania, where we were housed with other refugees from Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. His straightforwardness and generosity made him well-liked by all. Patient and determined, John is a great educator and adviser.

We’ve been together so much—in FRELIMO duties, while studying in Tanzania and Yugoslavia, and during the post-independence challenges—I’m not sure if we are friends or if we are brothers.–Francisco Valentino Cabo

 

 

 

Year Published

2017

Author

John Kachamila

ISBN

9781882658954

Cover

Paperback

Size

6 x 9

Pages

200

1 review for From the Rift Valley to the Dream of Freedom: Memories Of Lisungo

  1. Reviewed By Romuald Dzemo for Readers’ Favorite

    From the Rift Valley to the Dream of Freedom: Memories Of Lisungo by John Kachamila is a mesmerising memoir, a compelling story. John William Kachamila and his parents left his hometown when he was just four years old to seek better opportunities in Tanganyika. The author documents vivid memories of his early life and moves on swiftly to offer a spellbinding account of his life, his career in the National Liberation Struggle, and the government. Now serving as honorary consul of Serbia in Mozambique, Kachamila’s life illustrates a journey in search of justice and truth, for equal opportunity for all, a journey of freedom, and one man’s unshakable faith in himself, and the belief that he can make a huge difference in the lives of others.

    The memoir is written in a simple, accessible, and captivating style and readers will love the picturesque scenes the author offers of his childhood along the shores of Lake Niassa. I was pulled in from the very beginning of the story with the dramatic moments, the vivid descriptions of the setting, and the author’s unique outlook and perspective on life. This book is filled with numerous and wonderful historical references and the reader will feel as though they are navigating the political landscapes in Africa with the characters. A lot has happened to the protagonist, including a deadly attack on his life, but what will surprise readers is the fact that he has decided to create his own path towards inner freedom and service. From the Rift Valley to the Dream of Freedom: Memories of Lisungo is every bit as captivating as it is inspiring.

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About the Author

Born in the District of Lago, Province of Niassa, on January 30, 1946, John William Kachamila migrated to Tanganyika with his parents when he was about four years old, in search of better living conditions. He started his primary education at the age of six, and completed eighth grade in St Joseph Middle School in 1962, in Mbeya.

After joining FRELIMO in 1963, he enrolled at the Afro-American Institute in Dar-es-Salaam the following year, where he attended tenth grade. In 1968, after having been awarded a scholarship, he attended Geoloska Sredjna Skola in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and completed the high school program in Geology and Mining in 1973. Five years later, he received the master honors degree (MSc) from Rudasko Geoloska Faculteti, in Belgrade.

Upon returning to Mozambique in 1978, John Kachamila was appointed the Head of the National Geological Services. In 1981, he left for London to continue his studies, where he completed the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Geology and received a Diploma of Imperial College.

He returned to Mozambique in 1984 and was nominated National Director of Geology and Mining, an office he held until 1986. Two years later, in April 1986, he was nominated as the Minister of Mineral Resources, an office he held until 1994. During this period he was a Member of Parliament.

After the first general elections in Mozambique, held in 1994, he was nominated as the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, and served for a five-year mandate. In the period between 2000 and 2005, he was the Minister of Environmental Affairs.

After the government mission, John Kachamila was appointed Chairman of the Mozambique Hydrocarbon Company and held this position until 2013, when he took accepted the position of Chairman of Portos de Cabo Delgado.

He has been a member of FRELIMO since 1963, a party in which he has served on the Central Committee. John Kachamila is also an honorary member of OJM (Mozambique Youth Organization) and serves as Secretary for Cooperation of the National Liberation Struggle Association.

During his career in the government, Kachamila was entrusted with diplomatic missions of building friendship between Mozambique and the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, and for the revival of diplomatic relations with Brazil. He was awarded the Eduardo Mondlane 2nd Degree Order on January 29, 2005, by the Government of Mozambique. He was also awarded the Ordem Nacional do Cruzeiro do Sul by the Brazilian Government.

Currently, John Kachamila is the honorary consul of Serbia in Mozambique; he speaks Portuguese, English, Serbian, Chinyanja and Swahili.