Choosing the title for a book is one of the most agonising decisions an author can face. A title must encapsulate the essence of the story while also capturing the reader’s interest. It should invite curiosity, provoke thought, and ideally linger in the reader’s mind long after they finish the book. For me, selecting A Moment of Madness as the title to my book was no exception.
The inspiration for the title came during research I carried out about six months before I finished writing the book. I came across this phrase when it was used by Robert Mugabe in the late 1980s when journalists questioned him about the Gukurahundi campaign. Mugabe dismissed the atrocities as “a moment of madness.” This gross understatement struck me as an affront to the gravity of what had transpired in Zimbabwe during the early 1980s.
The Gukurahundi campaign, launched ostensibly to control armed dissidents, quickly devolved into a brutal, state-sponsored political campaign against the Ndebele nation. Its aim was clear — to annihilate ZAPU as a political force and ensure the Ndebele nation would never again emerge as a military power. This was part of Mugabe’s broader ambition to dismantle Zimbabwe’s fledgling democracy and establish a one-party state under his rule.
The title of the book is both cynical and ironic. Far from being a mere moment of madness, the Gukurahundi campaign spanned five years and was anything but a fleeting lapse of reason. It was a calculated and deliberate assault on political opposition, orchestrated with chilling precision. It is estimated that around 20,000 to 40,000 Ndebele were killed, while countless others were brutally beaten, raped, tortured, made homeless, or subjected to forced political re-education. Some commentators have in fact describe the campaign as a genocide.
This campaign left deep scars on the Ndebele nation — scars that remain unhealed to this day.
In September 1983, the Zimbabwean Government convened the Chihambakwe Commission of Inquiry to investigate these alleged massacres, responding to widespread international and domestic criticism. Yet, no official report was ever released, with the government citing concerns that publication might incite violence.
In 1997, two Zimbabwean human rights organisations, the Legal Resources Foundation and the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, produced a landmark report titled Breaking the Silence, Building True Peace. This independent report aimed to counter the state-sanctioned silence surrounding the events of the early 1980s.
A summary of this report is available on my website — click here.
Despite the government’s refusal to fully account for its actions, Mugabe’s infamous dismissal of Gukurahundi as “a moment of madness” persists. But how can a five-year-long, state-sponsored campaign of violence and brutality — resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent civilians — be described as a mere “moment”?
In choosing this title, I sought to throw Mugabe’s words back at ZANU-PF. A Moment of Madness is not an attempt to minimise the horrors of the campaign but to underscore the absurdity of trying to trivialise such a calculated atrocity. The title challenges readers to reflect on how language can be manipulated to distort history and evade accountability.
But the title alone is not enough to convey the weight of this history. The cover of A Moment of Madness was carefully designed to complement and reinforce the book’s themes.
The stark colour palette of red, white, and grey was chosen for its symbolic resonance. Red evokes both the violence of the Gukurahundi campaign and the blood of its victims, while white suggests the erasure and silence surrounding these events. Grey, with its sombre tone, represents the moral ambiguity and lingering shadows of this dark chapter in Zimbabwe’s history.
At the centre of the cover is an abstract silhouette of Mugabe, his profile rendered in grey against the white background. This image is deliberately minimalist yet evocative, drawing the viewer’s attention to the man whose leadership defined this troubled period in the country’s history. The visual simplicity belies the complexity of Mugabe’s role in the campaign — both as its orchestrator and as the individual who sought to trivialise its significance with the phrase “a moment of madness.”
The tagline at the bottom of the cover further amplifies its message: “The dark shadows of Mugabe's 1983 Gukurahundi campaign still persist — a moment of madness with lasting repercussions.” These words serve as both a summary of the book’s focus and a chilling reminder of the enduring impact of these events.
The jagged, torn edge separating the red and white sections of the cover echoes the physical and emotional scars inflicted by the Gukurahundi campaign. It is a visual representation of division — between the government and its people, between history and accountability, and between truth and denial.
The process of selecting a title often involves weighing options, consulting with peers, and second-guessing oneself. Authors strive for titles that resonate with readers and capture the spirit of their work. For me, once I encountered Mugabe’s quote, I instinctively knew it was the right title for the book. The cover design, brilliantly visualised and executed by my son, Simon, came later but was equally crucial in setting the tone for the book. Together, they encapsulate not only the theme of my narrative but also the bitter irony of the historical events it portrays.
So, does the title of a book matter? Absolutely. A title is more than just a name — it is the gateway to the story within. Combined with a well-crafted cover, it carries meaning, sparks curiosity, and invites readers to delve deeper. For A Moment of Madness, the title and cover are not merely choices but statements. They reflect the tragic irony of history and serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of political ambition and tyranny.
If you would like to view a promotional video on the book, click here. The link will open a video which is stored on my website.
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