Valentine Musakanya played a leading role in Zambia"s first post-independence government as Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service. He was subsequently a Member of Parliament, a Government Minister and Governor of the Bank of Zambia. Musakanya is however better known today as one of those convicted of the 1980 coup attempt against the one-party state of Kenneth Kaunda"s United National Independence Party (UNIP) government. Although Musakanya was subsequently acquitted of involvement in the coup, questions have persisted: was Musakanya involved in the coup attempt? If so, why did he become involved? This volume, making Musakanya"s writings available in public for the first time, provides a glimpse into one of Zambia"s most brilliant minds. Musakanya"s memoirs chart his personal and intellectual journey from a childhood in rural Northern Province and the mining township of Wusakile, to outstanding educational success and a glittering career in the civil service of newly...