Zimbabwe -- How could we have been so blind?

OPINION: We have, nearly all of us, asked ourselves this question in the past three years. How could we have failed for so long to see that the mess we are in is not an aberration, but a natural development of the ZANU way from the start? How did we let them fool us for so long?

We did hear rumours of corruption early on, but we hoped that, if there was any, it would soon be overcome.

We were disturbed when news of the Nhari rebellion and the killings after it came to us, but hoped the stories were exaggerated - after all, it might be Ian Smith's propaganda.

We refused to believe the evidence of the commission of international jurists on Herbert Chitepo's death. If we heard about it, it was from reports in Smith's newspapers and we knew we couldn't trust them.

When ZANU PF talked about a one-party state and their determination never to give up power once they had won it, those of us who wanted a socialist Zimbabwe accepted, maybe reluctantly, that we could never give power back to anyone who would undo the reforms we hoped to see.

When ZANU PF talked about socialism, we should have been able to see they didn't have much understanding of it, so how could they be committed to something they didn't understand?

After independence, when things, big or small, went wrong, for how long did we try to persuade ourselves that at least ‘He didn't know about this'?

When Smith's state of emergency was kept in force until 1990, we made excuses. Big changes were needed, and parliamentary methods are slow.

One could say that it would be easier to make those changes by executive decree. The trouble was that those changes were not made.

Only a little land was given to landless people and a lot of that was very poor land: bush areas of former State land in agricultural regions 3 and 4.

Power was never given to the people. It was concentrated in the party. Even those genuine war veterans who used their demobilisation pay to buy farms or businesses and run them as co-operatives met with obstruction at every step from officials of the ministry that was supposed to help co-operatives.

Those officials could have been removed, or the rules they enforced could have been changed, but nothing happened.

When Gukurahundi was let loose in Matabeleland, we tried to believe the reports that leaked out were exaggerated, or that ‘surely he didn't know?'

When the disabled comrades in the Ruwa rehabilitation centre were discontented with conditions there, the director of the centre said they could write to the Prime Minister. They did, and the army promptly came to remove them. I, for one, still tried to believe that ‘surely he didn't know?'

Then, in the 1985 elections, the two Gokwe constituencies returned identical figures, Sabina Mugabe was elected with 157 percent of the electorate in her constituency voting. ‘Surely he didn't know?' Chen Chimutengwende, who everyone who had passed through London in the 70s knew as we all know him now, was elected (with 128 percent of his constituents voting).

Then there was the post-election violence . . . And pardons. Surely he knew what he was doing?

And so to Willowgate. When convicted offenders were pardoned and some even retained their place in the party, he clearly did know.

And so, through the 1990s, it became more difficult to believe that ‘surely he didn't know?' as corruption flourished and after every election opposition candidates continued to be beaten, burned out of their homes and their assailants were pardoned.

When every sign of protest from university students, who, in any country, are always the first to protest, was suppressed violently, with a few students dying, he announced that they had to be made to accept discipline.

And yet many of us hoped when the referendum results were announced that we would now see change. Many still hoped the parliamentary elections would bring change. We saw what happened and how many high-up people openly supported the violence and the denying of food to hungry people who didn't vote ‘the right way'.

The gloves and the masks were off. We knew what was happening and who was responsible.

A member of the Electoral Supervisory Commission claimed not to know about the shootings, other violence, unlawful campaigning outside polling stations and barring of voters from voting that marked the Kadoma by-election last year.

When questioned about it, that commissioner only asked where the story was published. Can that person honestly not know what is going on?

We, the voters who elected you, will judge you more harshly than we did ZANU PF. This isn't because we don't want to see you govern, but because we do want to see you put things right and we have learned by hard experience that we must watch our leaders carefully, very carefully and warn them immediately we see them deviating from the ideals they proclaimed before they were elected.

We were blind and deaf for too long. We made too many excuses for what was inexcusable, but we are determined not to make the same mistake again.

You openly proclaim that you will respect our rights, something that ZANU PF was careful not to do. We will hold you to that promise.

Don't be surprised if we protest at the first sign that you are getting absent-minded about our rights.

We respect your courageous stand so far and will do all we can to ensure that you hold to it. We have learned that the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

How Could We Have Been So Blind?

...those of us who wanted a socialist Zimbabwe...

I think he answered his own question...

When ZANU PF talked about socialism, we should have been able to see they didn't have much understanding of it, so how could they be committed to something they didn't understand?

I think Mr. Mugabe understands socialism much better than the author does. It's always been a corrupt system preferential to murderous despots.

Gosh, how tragic. The author didn't get all the "socialism" he wanted and still believes in its endemically empty promises. After 120 million deaths in the last century, he still believes the siren song: expecting a benevolent despot to steal all the wealth and give it to the people in a fair and equitable manner, no strings attached. Then they all live happily ever after.

What an idiot.

Zimbabwe -- How could we have been so blind?

Who's "we", Quemosabe? There were plenty of people in Rhodesia and the US that knew better - but you followed our and your race pimps to get where you are now.

Of course, our race whores and idiot soccer clods now have never heard of the place - and never will acknowledge the results of their handiwork - as the people they so "deeply" cared about succumb to mass rape, murder and starvation.

Could anyone still say that ‘surely he didn't know?'

When Stalin was Stalin, the Left called him Uncle Joe and said he could do no wrong. Others knew he was a monster, and said so, but the Left cried out that Stalin wasn't like that. Today we ask, "Why couldn't they see?"

When it comes to Castro, the Left calls him Fidel and says he can do no wrong. Others know he is a monster, and say so, but the Left cries out that Castro isn't like that. In the future, we will ask, "Why couldn't they see?"

When it comes to Zimbabwe ...

The truth is, the Left sees it. The Left knows it. The Left WANTS it.

I will believe that true political change has happened in Zimbabwe when the government has trust enough to returned the rights to the people to bare arms and defend themselves and gives them the power to overthrow the government.

Until that happens they will get no sympathy or charity from me.

I don't care either way. You reap what you sow.

Kinda wonder at times what would happen if we turned into a socialist country. Remember Vietnam where all the intelligentsia were taken out to fields and "reeducated". University professors and other apparachniks from the democratic south were the first to be reeducated.

Wonder if our college professors know this and what would they say. Wonder what Al Shaprton and other black leaders would say as their constituencies were rounded up and slaughtered under the guise of not being loyal to the party.

The only ones that would be able to stand up to this would be the people with guns.

And now we know why, "From my dead hands" are the most important four words and that our second amendment is the most importnat amendment in the constitution.

It is no wonder that the left want to take it away.

The only ones that would be able to stand up to this would be the people with guns.

The Rhodesian Forces were among the finest that have ever existed. They did things that to this day hold records that our own military can not best. I was lucky enough to have a CO for years that is former RLI. Learned more from him than all other sources combined.

They were sold out by politicans. What exists in the former Rhodesia is the direct result of that sellout. "Peace" through consession. Let that burn in real good.

TLI

Remember reading in the local paper one of the first things done after Rhodesia was turned over to majority rule and renamed Zimbabwe with Mugabe as head that the government NATIONALIZED the railroad. Remember thinking: "That was the beginning of the end."

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