The days of Rhodesia were over in 1980: the newly independent nation marched into the post-colonial world with the heraldic anthem ‘Zimbabwe’ by Bob Marley, a Jamaican whose country like Zimbabwe was a satellite of those British islands. 1980 was the year of Robert Mugabe. 2007 is the 27th year of his reign. Africa’s political elite will never listen to Marley’s lyrics of ‘Africans a-liberate Zimbabwe’. It is up to the continent and her diaspora to speak.
The President’s infamous ‘go hang’ response to the international reaction to the arrest and beating of Morgan Tsvangirai cannot cover what his legacy has produced such as accusing Henry Olonga of treason and allegations of human rights violations. Tsvangirai’s double arrest in March is proof that Mugabe’s policies are not going anywhere, least of all down the road of evolution. His determination to reassert ‘African’ identity means that simple calls for his resignation are insufficient. Do something about it – we have elected these leaders to represent us. Why are they in their presidential palaces without trying to spur change?
Fortune favours the brave. The outspoken critics have suffered physically yet if he resigns, their fearlessness shall be synonymous with justice. Pinochet, Amin and ‘Baby Doc’ Duvalier are part of a list of long dictators who had the rug pulled out from under them. Are Mugabe’s feet slipping? The following months shall reveal the answer; we just need our fingers to tighten grip.
Am I a BBC-ised African girl swallowing everything the former colonial masters are feeding me about Zimbabwe? Cynics can think what they like. What is clear is the post-colonial era is over. We just need to stop making excuses for a man who does not have Zimbabwe or Africa’s interests in his heart.
To answer you question Aulelia: “Is Mugabe a real African?” My answer would be that: “He is a real African leader!”
Dr. Tchaka Ndhlovu, an economist working in your Mother country Tanzania, wrote a very interesting article in The African Executive, entitled: “Zimbabwe: Why African Leaders are Silent.” He argues that most other African leaders are more or less, in some way, in the same predicament as Mugabe, illegitimate leaders trying desperate survival tactics to stay in power. They are therefore not only silent on his assault on democracy within his country, but they are using his tactics as a blueprint for illegitimately staying in power themselves. Dr. Ndhlovu terms it “Mugabeism”. He also points to China as having a significant role in the rise of this phenomenon within Africa, because of their support of corrupt and repressive regimes (like Sudan and Zimbabwe), which should be no surprise due to their huge appetite for natural resources and their own poor record on democracy and human rights. Dr. Ndhlovu makes many other observations and conclusions which I would be interested to know what you and others think. Here is the link to his article:
http://www.africanexecutive.com/modules/magazine/articles.php?article=2208
These words by Mahatma Gandhi should give us hope that Mugabe and others like him, are slaves to time… they too will pass away:
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall…think of it, ALWAYS.”
Asa
he’s an perfect example of a virus in the revolution, the way Stalin was to Lenin. He’s nothing now but a crazy ass demagogue who’ve got a bunch og misguided negroes over here fooled or wearing blinders. I think we as regular black folks should take him out and let the nation start fresh…
” I think we as regular black folks should take him out and let the nation start fresh…”
mark bey: I agree with this statement, life expectancy in Zimbawe has decreased by something like 20 years in Zimbawe since Mugabe has been running the show.
What irks me is that too many black bloggers and people give this clown a free pass because hes black( african), I cant stand that turkey, the fact that hes been in power for over 20 years while life expectancy in his country has decreased by 20 years is enough to make me puke. I despise him and in other person or group that thinks they can abuse and harm black people.
Pinochet(CIA puppet), Duvalier (CIA puppet), and Amin (MI6 puppet). How can you compare puppet regimes installed by Europeans to a revolutionary hero like Mugabe.
Not that Mugabe is a saint, but the only reason he so DEMONIZED is due to his land reclamation project. Remember that in a population of over 12 Million people only 4,500 whites owned over 70% of the farm lands. This is why the global (white) media hates and fears his example!
Leonardo – Pinochet > He can no doubt be argued to be a puppet of the US but Duvalier and Amin? I can’t agree with you there. Even if they were, it doesn’t take away from the fact that they were still dictators and helped to destroy certain people’s lives. No one like that is getting crowned a hero by me. Furthermore, Amin installed himself after getting rid of Obote. I hardly see that as a European cut and paste job.
It is not only land reclamation. Look at their economy – things are not working out over there. These people are our brothers and sisters. So many of them are homeless anyway in shanty towns.
Markbey said: ”What irks me is that too many black bloggers and people give this clown a free pass because hes black” – I completely agree. Just because you fought against the colonials doesn’t mean that you have your citizen’s best interest in your heart. You have to prove that with your actions.
Chris Chambers – He is exactly that – a virus! Never thought of it like that.
Asa – cheers for that article! It is refreshing to hear an African perspective from that Tanzanian scholar that doesn’t suck up to him.
–Aulelia
First, black folks have to stop (including me) with the whole – REAL black/African – thing. We’re all real. The question is are we acting on behalf of our communities or on behalf of ourselves. Are we beholden to corrupting capital or to the will of the people?
Now, few governments serve their citizenry. Mugabe is not someone I’ve studied deeply, nor do I know much about the situation in Zimbabwe. However, the taking of the land from white farmers obviously set him up to be ridiculed in the white global press. That he is depotic would seem to be confirmed by the recent beatings/murders of his opposition. What can WE do about it?
What can we do in the AfroSpear or say, that will change what’s happening in Zim? One suggestion: the AfroSpear, hopefully, is not expected to be a panacea for on-the-ground organizing in our own communities.
We need to be creating new strategies and implementing them in our own communities. If we are to help Zim, we need to reach out and aid them however we can; but the best help we can give is us using our conversations to take action at home fighting R/WS, organizing our people, and use this experience as a tool to share with others.
Its debatable.
We can argue that Zimbabwe is going down the drain because of the “re-distribution” that happened a few years ago. Europe and America blacklisted Zimbabwe after what happened to the white farmers before, during and after the redistribution. This is a valid argument because the situation in Zimbabwe deteriorated in the last couple of years. As far as I know, Zimbabwe was still the “breadbasket of southern africa” in the 1980′s and 1990′s.
However, we can also say that Zimbabwe is collapsing because of Mugabe and his bad management.
Personally, I think that alot of factors contributed to the situation in Zimbabwe
1- Mugabe’s mismanagement of the country
2- the economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe
3- Re-distribution
Lubangakene has brought up some good questions. “What can WE do about it?” It’s however difficult to create strategies, whether new or old when, as he states: “Mugabe is not someone I’ve studied deeply, nor do I know much about the situation in Zimbabwe.”
The first thing we need to do therefore, those of us in the diasporic West, the North American AfroSphere, is to educate ourselves on the situation in Zimbabwe and other concerns of Africa. This may also include researching the historical dynamics of how these current situations and/or problems developed. That is what I believe is one of the functions and hopefully, the strength of AfroSpear. Give those who are close to the situation, those from the continent or the country itself, the forum to bring it our consciousness, a voice to educate us, provide us with an opportunity to understand the various dynamics from the voices on the ground. AND as we discuss these issue(s), hopefully we will be able to offer viable solutions which are “relevant” to that particular environment. In Zimbabwe, I am not sure that the dynamics of R/WS (racism/white supremacy) from a North American perspective is as relevant as the aftermath of neo-colonialism. Maybe it is. Maybe they are one and the same dynamics. I will not automatically make that connection. BUT there are other perspectives, voices that I am open to hear from, to help me shape my perspective. And also listen to what “THEY” may need from “us” – those of African descent here.
I do know this though. Here in the diasporic West, the issues concerning Africa are not foremost in our minds, nor in our action plans. How many of us have taken part in demonstrations, rallies or informational seminars, organized and convened by the African/Black community in our cities or towns, concerning Darfur? Zimbabwe? Vulture Funds? I do know that in the AfroSphere I have read much more about the sufferings of the people of Iraq, than of the people of Darfur or Zimbabwe. I have read much more on the evils of American foreign policy in the Middle East, than on the negative effects of Western foreign aid and Chinese foreign policy in Africa. I have read much more about issues concerning democracy (or lack thereof) in America and Iraq, than the lack of or fight for democracy in Africa.
Sure, there may not much we can do from here. We are concerned with our own daily struggles and issues as African/Black people in the diaspora. But maybe that’s the plan. Divide and conquer. Keep us with our heads down and our eyes fixed on our own problems, so that we don’t see the BIGGER picture. So we don’t understand our connection to the struggles, issues and situations facing the Motherland. That way it’s easier to pick us off, one by one.
If you don’t care about your Mother, you will care less about your brothers and sisters. Which ultimately leads you not to care much about yourself.
One question I had reading this is what are some good sources to read more about what is actually happening in Zimbabwe, instead of the spin that the white media is going to put on it?
Not to tout my own horn, but I’ve recently done a series on Southern Africa, including Zimbabwe and the background history over on my blog. You might want to check them out starting with this one:
http://assaultonblacksanity.blogspot.com/2007/04/zimbabwe-chickens-are-coming-home-to.html
and this one:
http://assaultonblacksanity.blogspot.com/2007/04/cry-zimbabwe-cry-azania.html
and you might want to follow up with this one:
http://assaultonblacksanity.blogspot.com/2007/03/so-who-really-did-liberate-south-africa.html
and this one:
http://assaultonblacksanity.blogspot.com/2007/03/south-africa-land-or-toilets.html
and, lastly, this one:
http://assaultonblacksanity.blogspot.com/2007/04/south-africa-is-white-mans-country.html
Let me know what you think.
Michael, thanks for the links. I have always thought that one of the sins of colonialism is the abhorrent value system it forced down the throats of the people it ruled over.
I think many of the African desposts were products of this system, and became as, if not more corrupt, than those wo ruled before them.
So yes, Mugabe was a hero to the people of Zimbabwe, and no one can question his contributions to the continent of Africa. But sadly, it seems like he is waiting too long to exit stage left, and his economic and social policies are starting to prove detrimental to the countries well being.
I wanted to say thanks for the links as well; I’ll read them.
Michael, these links are excellent. Thanks for posting them.