31.12.2024
5:13
A
heated
debate
has
unfolded
on
X
(formerly
Twitter)
among
Zimbabweans,
as
many
have
drawn
comparisons
between
the
government
of
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa
and
the
infamous
Ian
Smith-led
Rhodesian
regime.
Some
argue
that
despite
Rhodesia’s
deeply
entrenched
white
supremacy,
the
Ian
Smith
administration
was
more
efficient
and
less
corrupt
than
the
current
ZANU
PF-led
government.
These
critics
point
out
that,
even
under
international
sanctions
following
Rhodesia’s
illegal
declaration
of
independence,
Smith’s
regime
invested
heavily
in
infrastructure,
leaving
behind
well-developed
roads,
hospitals,
and
schools.
In
contrast,
they
claim
that
much
of
this
infrastructure
has
deteriorated
under
the
so-called
“New
Dispensation.”
However,
there
are
strong
voices
on
the
other
side,
staunchly
opposing
any
romanticization
of
Rhodesia.
ZANU
PF
chief
whip
and
Gutu
South
MP,
Pupurai
Togarepi,
has
even
called
for
legislation
to
criminalise
celebrations
of
Rhodesia.
Amidst
the
controversy,
former
CCC
MP
Fadzayi
Mahere,
known
for
her
progressive
views,
has
refrained
from
directly
engaging
in
the
debate.
Yet,
she
did
share
a
powerful
statement
on
X,
saying
thousands
of
Zimbabweans
who
fought
for
the
country’s
liberation
did
not
do
so
for
the
ZANU
PF
elite
to
merely
replace
the
colonial
elite.
Instead,
they
fought
for
the
collective
empowerment
of
all
Zimbabweans,
to
ensure
the
fruits
of
independence
were
shared
by
the
people.
She
wrote:
There
is
a
reason
why
our
esteemed
forebears
called
it
a
War
of
Liberation
and
not
a
War
of
Decolonisation.
The
guiding
principle
was
to
free
the
masses
from
all
forms
of
repression
and
not
simply
to
move
them
from
Jail
A
to
Jail
B.
It
is
not
liberation
if
one
violent
oppressor
is
replaced
by
another.Liberation
means
one
man,
one
vote
–
not
stolen
elections.Liberation
means
freedom
from
state-sponsored
violence
–
not
replacing
a
violent
Rhodesian
Special
Branch
with
your
own
violent
police
force.Liberation
means
gutsaruzhinji
(everyone
must
eat)
–
not
replacing
colonial
elites
who
eat
alone
with
Zanu
PF
elites
who
eat
alone.Liberation
means
respecting
the
rights
and
liberties
of
every
citizen
–
not
replacing
the
repressive
Law
and
Order
Maintenance
Act
with
your
own
repressive
POSA
or
MOPA.Liberation
means
ensuring
every
person
has
a
decent
life
and
equal
access
to
freedom,
fairness
and
opportunity.The
current
state
of
affairs
is
a
slap
in
the
face
to
our
true
heroes
who
fought
and
lost
their
lives
for
the
dream
of
a
better
Zimbabwe.You
may
not
respect
us,
but
can
you
at
least
respect
those
who
died
to
destroy
what
you
now
represent?
It’s
a
mess.
We
need
new
leaders.
Post
published
in:
Featured