It is important that, we that know truth, must attempt to put the record straight, on Zimbabwe's political situation. Zimbabwe is a former British colony, which gained Independence in 1980. ZANU .PF's leader Robert Mugabe had, a landslide victory in the first democratic elections. Mugabe became the the first black Prime minister, and leader of a free Zimbabwe. There were other political parties, and organisations which played an important role in the liberation of Zimbabwe. PF. ZAPU lead by the late Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo. There is need to mention that ZANU PF had deflected from PF ZAPU earlier on in 1963. The two parties, separated on fundamental ideological issues. About twenty something years later, Dr Nkomo would become the second Vice President, after the infamous Unity Accord of 1987.
Dr Nkomo who spent his whole life fighting for the people, died at the beginning of July 1999, at a ripe age of 82. Perhaps there is need to mention that the man revered as Father Zimbabwe, at one point found himself in exile in Britain. Robert Mugabe and his party mischievously orchestrated an ethnic cleansing plan. This was a desperate effort to make a one party state. Dr Nkomo had to seek refugee in Britain, a country he had spent his whole life fighting against. At home he was labelled a dissident and a sellout. Every zealous soldier was instructed to shoot him.This they did in the name of dissidents in Matabeleland and Midlands areas. When he came back from exile, a Unity government was negotiated, leading to the PFZAPU/ ZANU PF mixing. ZANU PF would obviously dominate, hence the new name would be ZANU PF. Unlike Mugabe who played hid and seek, with the Britain, Dr Nkomo spoke openly and clearly about the need and the agency, for land distribution. Nkomo was willing to unite the people at any cost, even if it meant him being an underdog. Quite frankly, the unity accord was one sided any never served the intended purpose. The only benefit from it was the peace and tranquility, but no fairness or equal opportunities for all.
It is estimated that over twenty thousand people died between 1983 -1987. From pregnant woman, to older man, the North Korean trained soldiers took no prisoners. This period would later be known as Gukurahundi, which in Shona means,
"the rain that washes away". To this day the government of Zimbabwe has never acknowledged, or taken responsibility for the these cold blood massacres. The nearest, the President of Zimbabwe has come to acknowledged this, was when he refereed to it as,"
time of madness"This he did, when he was under pressure from the church leaders, on an officially opening of a B.I.C. Church in Bulawayo, in 1998.
History students must understand that, the the minority who ruled Zimbabwe until Independence in 1980, were predominantly white people of European descent. These were about 1% of the population of Zimbabwe,yet the whole economy was in their hands. This included the land itself. It is also important to point out that the liberation struggle, lasted over a hundred years, dating far back as 1890s. ( On and off) The main issue that motivated the black majority to engage in the struggle was the land. The earliest history documents both oral and written, agree that Zimbabwe's two major tribes, Shonas and Ndebeles fought side by side against the 'European settlers". This was the Umvukela/Chimurenga Upraising of 1897. Generations later Zipra and Zanla would fight side by side against the Rhodesian Army lead by Dr Ian Douglas Smith. Thousands of young people left for training in Mozambique and Zambia respectively, but some were not going to return home, even after Independence. The villagers played an important role in supporting the guerrillas. In many instances, they provided food and shelter. The Smith regime was resistant and the only way they could understand was the armed struggle. No black man will rule this country in a thousand years, Smith boosted.
HOME AND ABROAD.Apart from the above mentioned atrocities, the man Mugabe was worshipped both home, and abroad. No other living or dead leader in the known history, has walked the red carpets more than this man. The Human rights and Democratic watchdogs of the world , Britain and United States had not yet polished their lenses against him, at that time. These illustrious nations of civilisation played a game called, "
see no evil hear no evil". They did not only support him and his regime, but also lavishly hosted him.Robert Mugabe was and honored him with degrees, and keys to major American and European cities. At this point and "His excellence" had not done anything about the land. He deliberately did not mention that word. He was in good books with the white minority, at home and abroad. The economic was booming. Zimbabwe was the bread basket of Africa. In fact Zimbabwe was refereed, to as an example a developing nation.
These were the first ten years of his
"good leadership". I should have mentioned that, the leading democracies of this world, never helped Zimbabwe, during the struggle for Independence. Only the so called communist countries, like Cuba, Russia and Libya did. After Independence, everybody would benefit from Zimbabwe's natural resources. Zimbabwe was home to many regional events in sub Sahara Africa. President Mugabe chaired more organisations that he would ever remember. The O.A.U, the SADC, the Non Aligned movement summit name them. He spoke at every world leaders meetings, including the United Nations General Assembly. Aid and donors were coming from all the ends of the earth. Zimbabwe had good diplomatic relations many nations. At home he was a king, and won every election. As a matter of fact, elections were just a formality.
The only significant opposition he had, was the people of Matabeleland and Midlands. These two poor provinces, could not change anything, given his nationwide support. White people did not vote. To them nothing mattered. They still had everything they needed, and nobody ever disturbed them. Life was business as usual for them. Local musicians and the media sang loud praises about Robert Mugabe's magnificent leadership. He was named among other names " the Africa's illustrious son". Some even went to say, "
if only he would lead the whole Africa." Such was his power and charisma.
THE MARRIAGE GOES WRONG.
Sooner or later the university students, and independent mediums started blowing the whistle about corruption, and mismanagement, within different sectors of the government. Slowly but surely things piled up, the workers ,union, the war veterans, junior doctors strike, the war in D.R.C. People began to feel that the good president was not answerable to anyone. Small voices of criticism were heard within the ruling party. Politburo ranking official Dzikamai Mavhaire did not chew his words. He was the first to publicly, call for the boss to go. Some ministers were involved in scandals. Tenders were awarded to relatives and friends. The war veteran scandal was the match that lite the bonfire. It is alleged that the ministers and their deputies, awarded themselves millions of dollars for the War Veteran Compensation Fund. The only person who did not partake in that scandal was Dumiso Dabengwa. He was a Home affairs minister at that time.This would make most ministers suspicious of the former Zipra intelligence chief, also known as the black Russian.
The story is told that the ministers were vetted for disabilities by Dr Chenjerayi Hundzwi. This doctor whose creditability was questionable, owned an operated surgeries in the capital Harare. Hundzwi got the tender to vet the ministers. The money was given according to their disabilities. According to sources almost all the ministers and their deputies were 80% disabled. People began to wonder that if their leaders were that disabled, how then could they manage to function. Dr Hundzwi, who was also part of war veterans association, spilled the beans about the funds. Despite his questionable credentials, the man was elected as the leader of the War Veterans Association. The war veterans started demanding their shares. Their voices grew louder and louder each day during the mid 1998. They threatened to go back to the bush and remove the government. For the first time the R.G regime face a serious threat.
FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS WINDFALL.
The government under pressure, from the former soldiers, gave thema package of $50 000 each. They did not have this money anywhere. So they printed a lot of notes and by so doing the Zimbabwean dollar lost value that same day. It was trading to the $US one to eleven but the next morning it was thirteen. Each day it went up by three, two, or five numbers. The British and Americans were very critical of this move. Mugabe was adamant and could not be persuaded. By Nov 98, the economy of Zimbabwe was shaking. America was the largest sponsors of ZANU PF at that time, up until the end of year 2000. The ruling party lost the Constitution Referendum in 1999, and that was a clear message to the regime, since elections were coming in less than a year time.
The rise of the ZCTU the largest workers union in the country was seen as political movement. The Zimbabwe Congress Of Trade unions organised stay aways in protest to the the government's policies. The leaders of the union Mr Gibson Sibanda and Mr Morgan Tsvangirayi were seen as politicians by the government. Sibanda was the chairman while Tsvangirayi was the secretary general. The anti government voices soon grew louder and louder each day. The Daily News and some other independent newspaper like Mirror and the Fingaz were people's mouth pieces. The R.G. lead government was frustrated by the formation of the new opposition party. They were also taken aback by the white people who joined forces with opposition.
The ruling party and president Mugabe had no intention of going against the white farmers. These became scape goats for him to build his case. He would appeal to the landless black majority's plight for the first time since Independence. He had to go back to High field , the very first spot where he stood addressing the masses on the 18th April 1980. The reason why I am saying that, he never planned to take farms that way, is because twice on different occasions did his home affairs ministers, Dumiso Dabengwa, and John Nkomo remove these crazy guys, from the farms. They used , Zimbabwe Republic Police as the arm of the law. It was after the war veterans persisted and threatened to go back to the bush. Only then did he (Mugabe) give in. For a moment, the war veterans were in control of the direction of the nation. Mugabe's sense of right and wrong was still functioning at that moment. He had earlier on threatened that those who disobey the laws, "would be severely dealt with". His call fell on deaf ears.
Meanwhile there were talks weekly talks between,the Zimbabwe Chamber of Commerce, the Zimbabwe farmers Union and the government. These tripartite talks did not bring anything. Soon The minister of Agriculture Mr Dennis Norman resigned. Norman who was one of the three white top white ministers in the R.G lead government, was no longer comfortable standing in that position, given the conflict that was brewing. His own white people gave him a vote of no confidence. Soon the minister of transport who was also white resigned. Dr Timothy Stamps, one of Zimbabwe's most respected civil servant. Dr Stamps served in the ministry of health. He tried to hang on. He later had to resign like the other guys. Churches and other religious institutions, held prayers, that the law and order, may return to the land. The war veterans were rampage.
Enjoying their conquering mission, the war vets soon embarked on taking farms. This was a deliberate effort to frustrate the government, and flex the muscles of the organisation. Dr Hundzwi was being investigated for fraud by the police, which coincidental was headed by Dabengwa. Dabengwa and Hundwzi never saw eye to eye. They would only meet in Bulawayo at the mourning of Dr Nkomo death in July 02. Actually at that time Hundzwi was under arrest, and was only given four days to mourn Joshua Nkomo. Mdala was the only thing that brought them to the same proximity. When the war veterans in Bulawayo saw Dr Hundzwi whom they regarded as a hero, for the $50 000 windfall they pocketed the previous year . They lifted him him sky high.
At this time I myself just enjoying singing, and toyitoying . I had gone B/F stadium to pay my last respect the greatest leaders of our time. I had with me a large banner that read,
FAREWELL MDALA WETHU. I was eager to be part of history, and I did. It was more personal to me than political. We sang song s like, "
Sikhokhele Nkomo sithathe i Zimbabwe." Some of the main songs there was, Yithilabo yithi, yithi abantwana benu okwakutiwa ngamatororo" and so on. People from all over Matabeleland were present. They filled the stadium just to pay their last respect to their leader, and father. It was the end of an era. Everybody who was in Zimbabwe at that time must still remember exactly were they were, and what they were doing.
The move by the War Veterans to literally lift Dr Hundzwi up, caught me unaware. They did this right in the presence of Dumiso Dabengwa to deliberately annoy him. I would not be disturbed since I was enjoying my historic moment. That to me was a moment to cherish and reflect on. For the first time I appreciated the people behind the struggle for Zimbabwe. That was just a one day experience for me. Later the government had gained the veterans. The Mugabe regime would use these as a political weapon.It is interesting to note that MDC was born only 9 days after the death of Dr Joshua Nkomo. Hundzwi had to show the minister of Home affairs that he has more power than him. This he did using the former guerrillas.
When they were going to the farms, they were not going against the white farmers. They were showing their defiance to the government's orders. This was the only way out for the Dr Hundzwi. Later they went and defied the judgement of the High court Of Zimbabwe, which had ruled that what they were doing was illegal. For the first time in about three weeks to a month, Mugabe never said a word. There was no law in the land. The laws could not bite. The white farmers became victims. Those who resisted were killed . Mugabe let thing go their way. He was waiting to take the winner.
THE END OF THE PARTY.
The British government disowned President Mugabe, and threw their weight on the new promising leader, Morgan Tsvangirayi. President R G Mugabe began to preach and campaign about the land. That was the only thing that would save him. The introduction of Professor Jonathan Moyo further strengthened Mugabe. He rose from a Constitution worker to the second person in ZANU. PF command. When the British disowned Mugabe, the American did the same. This time their senses were alert. Mugabe had crossed the line. Madeline Albright was the U S Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Bill Clinton was the President, about to leave the office that year. There was war of words between the British Prime minister, Tony Blair and Robert Mugabe.
Mugabe accused the British, and Americans of trying to rule Zimbabwe through the phone. Moyo having lost his job from Witwatersrand University in South Africa. He at the came at right time for Mugabe. With his hidden personal political ambitions, Moyo would seize the opportunity. He changed all the media Laws in Zimbabwe. His is responsible for this media mess that is in Zimbabwe to this very day.The IMF, World bank and other financial institutions made sure that Zimbabwe suffers. The plan was to make people feel the pinch so much that they topple Mugabe quick. ZANU PF soon declared war on the opposition in the name of sovereignty. Anybody not on their side was a puppet of the British. Mugabe and ZANU PF have two problems which emerged at the same time, the War vetarans and the MDC.
He will never forgive the British of trying to remove him from power. After all that he did for them.
Mugabe knows more about being a puppet than anyone else in Zimbabwe. For the British to have another puppet while they have unfinished business with another is betrayal. What angered him most is not the opposition, but the one that is backed by Britain. Perhaps the man had some investments, which the British government had to freeze. If he had to loose, why can't the white farmers loose also. These guys messed up his retirement, and now he has to work few more years to "gather more," for his young family. It said that when two bulls fights, the grass suffers. To fix Zimbabwe we need a man like Jimmy Carter, who is going to go the through fenced gates and break barriers.
