Perhaps it is time to revisit Rhodesia's history going back to colonialism and comparing it to present-day Communist rule. While Rhodesia was controlled by the evil white man and his evil colonial rule Rhodesia was known as the "Breadbasket of Africa." Rhodesia made enough food to feed both everyone in Rhodesia and many countries in Africa. The trade situation in Rhodesia was excellent and the country balanced its budget every year.
During ten years of communist aggression and Civil War during the 1970s, Britain decided enough is enough and in 1980 passed leadership to Mugabe and his Communist party that was being supported by Castro and the ANC in South Africa. What has 37 years of black, communist rule given the Zimbabweans? A hyperinflation that is the joke of the world. The Breadbasket of Africa is now a place that can't feed its own people let alone anyone else. Driving or murdering white farmers out of Zimbabwe is one of many disastrous racist policies courtesy of Mr. Mugabe, Nelson Mandela, and the ANC.
I recently read an NYT article written by the leader of the military junta asking whites and their money to let bygones be bygones and come back to Zimbabwe and act like nothing happened. Really? What he really means is that Zimbabweans need the farms to be productive, electricity to work and to make sure piped water flows again.
I guess the Communist Chinese overlords that currently run Zimbabwe are showing themselves to be harsh taskmasters. I wish you well.
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Perhaps it is time to revisit Rhodesia's history going back to Cecile Rhodes. The evils of colonization are very clear, driven by money and personal enrichment of many and in particular Cicile Rhodes, the diamond trader and founder of Rhodesia. I hope the best for Zimbabwe's future.
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I have hope for Zimbabwe, it is a beautiful country with wonderful people. But the Crocodile is not the answer. I spent time in Zimbabwe in 1995 when urban areas at least, were full of commerce and industry, there was a healthy tourism economy and a burgeoning middle class. Whites owned the majority of farms, but ,like most huge agricultural operations these farms relied on massive fertilization and powered water pumps for irrigation. After the land grab, when the Gov't and cronies stole all the non arable land and just sat on it without starting up agricultural endeavors the huge tracts of land that had been massive farms were split between farmers without the resources available to sustain viable crops. I hope that Zimbabweans can get a chance to experience a better life soon with democratically elected leadership. BUT Mugabe is just the figurehead of a terrible ruling party. A party that does not want to relinquish or share power. So, here's to hoping for change with the tiny bit of beaten down optimism that I still possess after what has gone on in the US since Trump's election. UGH. Good luck to us all.
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I fail to see the difference between white rulers and black ruled, or Shona rulers and Ndebele ruled. Every colonialist has been colonized at one time or another. Through history man lorded over man.
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Mugabe became a disgrace like many ex freedom fighters who became corrupted by unchecked power. He abused the trust of his people.
However, I do not except that white minority rule was better.
In 1980, Zimbabwe then Southern Rhodesia was home to about 120,000 whites and more than 7 million blacks, but whites owned about half of the arable land. Blacks worked the farms as low-paid laborers.
Land reform was very necessary but Mugabe abused this by distributing it to his cronies.
A lot of looting of diamonds and other resources enriched some while reducing the country to a basket case. The generals not turning against Mugabe looted as well. But any change is better. Fear is the most potent weapon at the disposal of dictators. With Mugabe gone, Zimbabweans will lose their fear and stop acquiescing to his successors. That's my hope.
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There are lessons the world of today can learn from the story of Zimbabwe and Rhodesia. When virtues of a good society are disregarded and allowed to erode we ALL pay a greater price. Rhodesia was a paradise for a select few but it was a paradise that was unjust and flawed in that it systemically limited a majority of it's citizenry. It was a segregated society and one where the native majority were restricted in their economic and political participation. This created a wealth gap that led to a revolution where people would have rather died than continue to live in those conditions. Unfortunately, the revolutionaries of the 60's and 70's adopted a Marxist-socialist ideology that was doomed to fail when they came into power and it did. The corruption in Zimbabwe cannot be overstated and it is the root cause of most of the counties problems. When trust in the rule of law diminishes, people leave for opportunities elsewhere, starting with the individuals with the resources and the most marketable skill sets. These individuals are prospering across the globe regardless of race. Mugabe has held power for so long by catering to the populism and nationalism of the rural population who have suffered the worst from his policies.
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I have indirect ties to Zim and visited during the "good" period between 2008-2014. I'm white. I was appalled by the behavior of the white South Africans and Zimbabwean's - they were loud, rude and usually drunk. While waiting to catch a plane back to the USA I watched as a white toddler screamed, ran around, and generally behaved very badly in the waiting area while the black toddlers behaved beautifully - they were quiet, played together well and minded their parents.
I've also read the book "Let's Not Go to the Dogs Tonight," a memoir about a young white English girl and her alcoholic, racist parents who move to Zim in the late 1960s expressly to fight for white rule. Based on my observations, the book, many of the comments here, my knowledge of European history (2,000 years of ethnic cleansing and religious wars), Indian history, Chinese history, and American history (north and south) it's clear that no group of humans is superior to another.
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Time to cut being politically correct. When Zimbabwe was Rhodesia life was better for everyone. After the white settlers were driven out, the infrastructure and businesses fell apart, largely due to inability of native Africans to maintain things. That and corruption.
Now South Africa looks to follow in this path, as scores of white farmers are murdered in the most gruesome ways imaginable. The mainstream media chooses to ignore this disturbing truth, largely because it does not follow the traditional narrative of solely demonizing European colonization.
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You can't run a country without a culture. You can't transport European/American democracy to an African country and expect good results.
Athens wasn't in Africa.
African countries, and Africa, need to develop their own cultures suitable for governing their many large, multi-ethnic post-industrial nations. To do this, it would be a fine idea to treat the colonial past as past, not an eternal go-to excuse whenever anything goes wrong, and get on with things.
Easy to say, but very hard to do; here in our prosperous, democratic and enlightened US, we just elected an ignorant, coarse fellow based on a mighty list of grievances, mostly imagined, many invidious, a few real but given magical explanations.
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Athens wasn't in France or England.
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Just out of curiosity, what continent was the Greek city of Alexandria in?
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Alexandria was founded by Macedonian imperialists.
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I fear the Crocodile who got his name through ruthless killings will not make things better. Hoping there is a Kigame model of government so tribal disputes don’t spill more blood. Hopeful there are more opportunities for better lives. The people deserve more.
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The America of my youth is no more.
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In the begging of this article, the writer makes is sound as if Zimbabwe became known as “Breadbasket of Africa” as a result of its transition to Black rule. That a good sign for me to stop reading.
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None or almost none of the commenters here have any idea of what it was or is like to live in Zimbabwe/Rhodesia or any of these struggling African countries. Nor do I. It's so easy to toss off a shoulda-woulda-coulda sentence or two.
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You might be surprised how many ex Zimbabwean whites have relocated to America - but then again - you probably don't think any white could possibly claim to be African.
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A rather sanguine view of a systematic and racist ethnic cleansing of whites in the country that reached a crescendo in 2001 and continues in 2017.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/zimbabwe/...
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I lived in Bulawayo in the 80s, despite the unrest my experiences were much like Wadzania's.
I returned to England in 87 and I have gone back to Zimbabwe once since then.
I struggled to reconcile the sense of hope I felt when I lived there with what Zimbabwe became, like a terminally sick parent I'd rather remember them as they were then see what they'd become.
After 30 years of disappointment I'm finding it hard to see the opportunity presented by this change in leadership but I'm trying...
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40 years ago, Rhodesia as the country was called then was a Jewel of Africa. Land of plenty with the strongest currency. Revolutions always bring victory for few and misery for the rest. Perhaps this time it will actually serve people for the better.
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Free countries don't "silence" opposition parties or minority ethnicities.
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Wait, which country are we talking about?
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From 1970 to 1990 the population went from 5 million to 10 million. It will hit 20 million by 2020. It was a rich country with 5 million people.
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What I’m about to say could be politically incorrect, but hear me out:
1. Does it seem to you that a prosperous Rhodesia built by white colonists were destroyed in the hands of native Africans, who couldn’t figure out how to govern their own country?
2. The “land reform” that led to disaster looks like a terrible policy based on “political correctness”. Now some are advocating one in South Africa. NYT columnists included.
3. If “democracy” is truly the “one-size-fit-all” governing system claimed by the West, then why is Zimbabwe, a democracy, falling? Why have so many other African nations following democratic doctrines failed? One example would be Liberia, which copied the magical American constitution. How does she fare now?
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How can you possibly say that Zimbabwe under Mugabe, and now with a military takeover is/was a democracy?
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The civil war was fought between the white settlers and the black majority. The British were kicked out in 1965. The white settlers lost, and unlike South Africa they left. Mugabe was once viewed favorably by the press.
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Given who is gaining power, I don't see a fundamental change in the offing. But the old generation of Mugabe's (up till last week) confederates is old; maybe they won't last very long.
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The most profound shift for me is how people have found their voice and are using their newly found freedom of expression to shout and sing and dance and express what it is that’s they could not for so long.
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Not an attractive country then or now...l.
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@Crossing Overhead, You clearly have not been to Zim. If you have, you have not opened your eyes. It is one of the the most beautiful countries in Africa and the world, if you look beyond the recent infrastructural decay. Not only is the landscape beautiful, but the people are too. I know, I had the same life experience as the author of this article, my stock being from 'white settlers'. It is an accurate picture of the story, and she shares the same emotions that many of us in the diaspora feel. It is sad to read such ignorant opinions, like yours, expressed in the comments above.
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