A quarter of a century after independence, the Chimurenga — or freedom struggle — is still part of Zimbabwean life.
President Robert Mugabe continues to make use of this heroic period in the young country’s history to lend legitimacy to his rule.
The pictures of those days are ever-present on the state-run television broadcaster. Zimbabwe celebrates 25 years of independence on April 18 — and on that date Mugabe marks 25 years as the most powerful man in the country.
Then Mugabe was a hero of the freedom struggle, a founding father on whom the hopes of the world for reconciliation between black and white rested.
The old regime dominated by Ian Smith for decades handed power back to Britain formally for a brief period. The subsequent lowering of the Union Jack in Harare was intended to symbolise the end of the colonial era.
Zimbabwe was a model, achieving the highest economic growth rate and the highest level of education in Africa under Mugabe in his early years.
A quarter of a century later, the country is a mere shadow of its former self — ”an outpost of tyranny” as United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called it.
Zimbabwe has been run into the ground, last year suffering an inflation rate of 600% and an unemployment rate that estimates put at 80%.
The change in the country’s affairs came with the new millennium. In 2000 a credible opposition began to contest Mugabe’s rule.
The president used the tried and tested methods to fight it off.
The white farmers were targeted to distract attention from a costly military adventure in the Democratic Republic of Congo and faltering land reform.
Mugabe has driven about 4 000 white landowners from their land, handing their productive farms to people within his own circle and party cronies.
The consequences have been catastrophic. The nation, justifiably proud of the educational standards it had achieved, was forced to watch as its most competent people abandoned the country in droves.
Where once Zimbabwe exported food to neighbouring countries, the shortages of essentials are now an everyday reality.
The days when Zimbabwe’s constitution was seen as a model for the continent are gone. Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party has found ways to make any utterances against the regime extremely dangerous.
The corrupt and violent government keeps itself in power through terror and intimidation. Since its victory in the April elections, which were overshadowed by allegations of fraud, Zanu-PF is in full control.
With its majority now above two-thirds, the party can change the Constitution at will.
The disillusioned and lethargic majority of the population has long since tired of Mugabe’s rhetoric about a new Chimurenga.
Zimbabweans are poorer than they were at independence. Average life expectancy has crashed by 20 years down to 33, but the president continues strong at 81.
Many are hoping that nature will take its course. Others point to an alleged power struggle within the party that could open the way for a credible opposition.
Even if this happens, Zimbabweans will have to be patient. South African economists believe 10 years will be needed to restore the crisis-ridden country to some kind of normality. – Sapa-DPA