Afro-pessimism: Robert Mugabe

By David Mpanga

“I will never, never, never, never surrender. Zimbabwe is mine, I am a Zimbabwean. Zimbabwe for Zimbabweans.”  Robert Mugabe, December 2008.

If a white fiction writer had dreamt up the Zimbabwe-under-Mugabe plot, he would have been roundly condemned as an Afro-pessimist and a racist. But we have all seen that after ruining the Zimbabwean economy with misplaced policies, purportedly intended to emancipate the downtrodden black man, Mugabe “secured” an 85.51% “landslide victory” by beating his opponents into submission.

Having failed to declare official results for over a month when it looked like the great hero of the revolution was losing, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission reclaimed its reputation for efficiency by counting all of the ballots and verifying the results of the presidential run-off election in one day. So it is back to business-as-usual in Zimbabwe.

Bishop Jefferts Schori on Zimbabwe

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church, issued a statement May 6 on the political and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. The full text of the Presiding Bishop’s original statement follows:

Together with millions of people around the world, my heart has been drawn in recent months to the political and humanitarian crisis unfolding in Zimbabwe. The tragedy of that nation’s descent into internal chaos is magnified by the high sense of purpose and prosperity that a newly independent Zimbabwe brought to Africa and the world nearly three decades ago. Sadly, Robert Mugabe’s government has undermined that promise beyond recognition with its systematic repression of human rights, democracy, and economic opportunity for the people of Zimbabwe. The turmoil in the wake of Zimbabwe’s recent elections signals an urgent need for governments and other leaders in the international community to stand in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe, and call for an end to this long hour of human suffering and the beginning of a new era of promise and opportunity.

Peter Godwin on Zimbabwe Elections

February 29, 2008

“The chances of a free election are minimal.”

One of the flood of Zimbabweans to have fled the chaos of his homeland, author Peter Godwin tries to find some hope in the wreckage. Original article here.

So, I’m on the train from Perth to Fremantle, trying to stay awake after a 30-hour flight from New York, where I now live, via Stockholm and Kuala Lumpur, when I hear the two young black guys in the seat behind me speaking in Shona, one of Zimbabwe’s home tongues. I greet them in my rusty Shona, and soon we are chatting about home and how bad things have become there. And then the train pulls in at a suburban station and a middle-aged black lady in a nurse’s uniform gets on and sits down next to me. As soon as she picks up that we are Zimbabweans, she joins in – she’s from Harare, it turns out.

Simba Makoni takes on Robert Mugabe

He’s been branded an “opportunist” by some, and a “saviour” by others. A few suspect him of being in collusion with Mugabe to water down the potency of the MDC; others see Makoni’s move to fracture Zanu-PF. Zimbabwe’s state-controlled media dismisses his ambition as nothing more than “a loud fart” casting the former finance minister and businessman as having being planted in the election by Western governments to overthrow President Robert Mugabe and install a regime of “Western puppets”. Mahon’a-hon’a indeed. kuState House kure.

Simba Makoni, who is looking to topple President Robert Mugabe next month, has never been afraid to speak out against Zimbabwe’s long-term leader despite once serving as one of his chief lieutenants.

South Africa: A Lesson of Freedom

 

From the Pacifica Radio archives, this archival audio gem:

“Rhodesia came into existence as a colonial slave state, established during the halcyon days of the British Raj. A quick glance at a modern world map, however, attests that the powerful colony would eventually assert the right of self-rule… that from the belly of Rhodesia, the independent nation of South Africa would be born.

LISTEN to this episode.

“National independence, however, is not synonymous with freedom. Was it possible that the oppressed could set a new standard for freedom-fighters the world over? In the face of modern technological warfare, could they succeed? And if so, how without the gutters of Johannesburgh running red with blood?

“Stephen Biko, a soon-to-be martyred activist,

 

Desmond Tutu – an Anglican priest from a township parish,

 

and Nelson Mandela, an imprisoned social activist,

would inform history of a new process of emancipation. Together they would prevail upon the state and the world to recognize humanism as the true basis for national sovereignty, and demonstrate a method whereby, for the first time in history, the slaves would free their masters.

“This week, From the Vault explores the stories of three heroic South African leaders, woven together by the songs of Mama Africa, Miriam Makeba, and the recollections of Pacifica’s own Eva Georgia and Bridgette Ramasodi, women who grew up in South Africa under Apartheid.

“From the Vault brings you the inspiring story of South Africa’s struggle for freedom and social justice – South Africa: A Lesson of Freedom”

LISTEN to this episode.

Cockie Lobin: Ena zwili ena fili

Do you remember this ditty? Please tell about it!

Cockie Lobin in Chilapalapa

Zonke nyoni lapa moya ena kala ene kala,
Ene zwile ena file lo nyoni Cockie Lobin,
Ena zwili ena file ena zwili ena fili Cockie Lobin

Kubani ena blalile cocky lobin,
Mena kluma lo fly,
Na lo piccanini astromomical microscope,
Mena blalile cocky lobin.

Zonke nyoni lapa moya ena kala ene kala,
Ene zwile ena file lo nyoni Cockie Lobin,
Ena zwili ena file ena zwili ena fili Cockie Lobin

Kubani ena blalile cocky lobin,
Mena klumu lo sparrow,
Na lo picannini intercontinental ballistic missile
Mena blalile cocky lobin.

Zonke nyoni lapa moya ena kala ene kala,
Ene zwile ena file lo nyoni Cockie Lobin,
Ena zwili ena file ena zwili ena fili Cockie Lobin

Kubani ena digga lo grave,
Mena klumu lo owl,
Na lo earth moving equipment kamina,
Mena digga lo grave.

Zonke nyoni lapa moya ena kala ene kala,
Ene zwile ena file lo nyoni Cockie Lobin,
Ena zwili ena file ena zwili ena fili Cockie Lobin

Kubani ena klumu lo prayers,
Mena klumu lo vulture,
Ndaba mena kona maningi culture,
Mena klumu lo prayers.

Wrex Tarr