Zimbabwe – A Long Sad Story

Saturday 18th November

The early history of Zimbabwe is not well-known.  There were very few written records, and anyway – until the White Man appeared nobody in the West knew, or of course, cared.  Africa was (and still remains for most of us) a mystery.  There were several spoken languages in that country, even if English now predominates more and more.

In the late 1880’s, Cecil Rhodes; adventurer, businessman and, although he was a hero in Britain, exploiter in chief, obtained mining rights from one of the kings in the region and with the help of the British South African Police and his own private army took control of the country, naming it Southern Rhodesia and establishing the capital Salisbury.  There were several rebellions by various black tribes, but as in South Africa, white rule was brutally established.

The country was fertile and full of mineral wealth which was exploited by European settlers – though they called it development.  In 1923 the country became a self-governing colony of the UK.  Of course this meant white rule only; the blacks were considered too stupid or dangerous to be allowed to rule themselves, even though many blacks served and died for Britain in the two World wars.  In 1963 Zambia (formerly Northern Rhodesia) gained independence and essentially black rule.  The ruling white Rhodesian Front in Rhodesia under Ian Smith declared Unilateral Independence and defied Britain to take back control.  Covertly supported by white South Africa and despite Sanctions and a Civil War, which lasted for 15 years, with two main groups, led by Joseph Nkomo and Robert Mugabe.  The blacks were winning and Smith made peace with some groups. The new Tory administration under Thatcher called a conference of the warring side to Lancaster House in 1979. Apparently she was charmed by Mugabe, and Independence was granted and after the first election Mugabe took over as Prime Minister.  His party Zanu PF has held onto power since, although there have been accusations of intimidation and vote rigging for years.  Mugabe basically created a one-party state and a policy of land redistribution ensued.  Many white farmers were killed, but many also thrived as cronies of Mugabe.  Corruption, as in so many African countries, has been the order of the day, and Mugabe has enriched himself immenely.

A week ago, Mugabe sacked his Vice President Mnangagwa, and a few days later the army detained Mugabe in a quiet coup.  The motives of his wife, the power behind the throne, Grace, are still uncertain.  There are hopes for a peaceful transition, but it looks as if Zanu PF will still be on control.  Free and fair elections are a rarity in Zimbabwe and despite some hope that Mugabe may be on his way out, as usual it is the people who will suffer.  This is definitely not the end of the sad story of Zimbabwe…