Robert Mugabe is arguably one of the most spoken about African statesman, unfortunately not for the best of deeds. This is a highly educated individual and arguably one of the most educated presidents Africa has ever had. Yet, many of his people have fled the country for greener pastures at the southern border of Zimbabwe for fear of starving to death if not being persecuted by Zanu-PF war veterans.
The situation in Zimbabwe is very complex, thereby making it very difficult to find an apt solution to the country entangled in dire straits. Many would like to believe that the problems in Zimbabwe are solely due to a sheer lack of leadership and widespread corruption by Mugabe and his cronies who are in government, however, whilst that might be partly correct, I think it is important that one drills down to the true nature of the root causes of problems in this once well run and fertile African state.
The problems in Zimbabwe dates back to 1980 during negotiations between the British and the Zimbabweans in Lancaster house. One of the hottest issues under discussion during those negotiations was the “land issue”. Britain had agreed to make sure that ultimately black Zimbabweans will be given back their land in a systematic approach – pretty much similar to the “willing buyer, willing seller” principle adopted in South Africa. Britain had promised to financially assist black Zimbabweans who will be willing to own and run farms in Zimbabwe.
Ten years down the line, the land in Zimbabwe was still yet to be in the hands of black Zimbabweans, with most of these blacks battling to find finance to buy exorbitantly priced farms in their motherland. It was only after 20 years that Mugabe and his cronies decided to embark on what many would agree occasioned the problems that we’re currently witnessing in Zimbabwe. The war vets embarked on the well canvassed farm invasions and we all know the story around this.
This, like many other people, I agree was a political error that Mugabe and Zanu-PF leadership did as most of those who expropriated those farms did not possess the necessary skills nor the wherewithal to make the farms productive and profitable, however, there are questions that are yet to be answered here. Had it not been for these farm invasions, would Zimbabwe have been in a better state now? Had this been a black on black farm invasion, would Britain and the US still find it imperative to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe?
The latter question is borne out of a contrast of farm invasions to what Mugabe and his Zanu-PF supporters did back in the 80s during the much widely publicized operation dubbed “Operation Gukurahundi”. This was when Joshua Nkomo’s supporters in Matabeleland were butchered by Zanu-PF supporters. Very little was done to act against this brutality by the British and the Americans. There were no sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe, there were still fairly good relations between Zimbabwe and Britain/US and the only difference between then and the 2000 farm invasions is that the people who were killed during Operation Gukurahundi were blacks as opposed to the farm invasions where white farmers were being subjected to brutality.
Who is to blame?
Mugabe often blames Britain and US on any given opportunity. He has always blamed them to an extent many people find it very boring that they have to listen to his Britain and US bashing. Both the foreign and local media often portray this old man as some corrupt and bitter stupid old man. Bitter and old I agree, but is he really stupid?
Are the British and Americans really NOT partly to blame for the situation in Zimbabwe? The British reneged on the promises they made to Mugabe and black Zimbabweans regarding the land issue in 1980 and I like many others who care about Africa would attest to the fact that land is very key to economical development in Africa.
Over and above the economic factor of the land issue is the ancestry element which is pretty sacred in most African cultures – the place where our forefathers have been buried is regarded as an untouchable and sacred place.
Above all, Africa is extremely fertile and it is blessed with so many natural resources such that it is very difficult to ignore the land issue. Mugabe might have went about it wrong in embarking on the farm invasions but it is my considered view that the British are not squeaky clean on this matter and they are not genuine about many things regarding Zimbabwe. They talk left and walk right – they reckon Democracy should be the sole determinant of leadership in any given state and yet they make it very clear that they will only remove sanctions and offer economic support to Zimbabwe if Mugabe has vacated the presidential seat.
While we agree that Mugabe is no angel, should they rather not support the idea of a democratically elected leadership as averse to specifically asking Mugabe’s removal? What about what the people of Zimbabwe want?
Mugabe has done some unsavoury things in Zimbabwe but I would be very cautious of regarding him as a stupid old man. Britain is equally to blame for the crisis in Zimbabwe.
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