As a young policeman in Rhodesia in the mid seventies I was given the opportunity to see a large part of the country from the cities to the most rural of areas (TTL's or Tribal trust lands) where I was stationed for a number of years. With a few exceptions, I was afforded nothing but respect from the local population and I in turn respected them, often sitting within a group of men at their kraals, drinking their local beer or chibuko, as it was passed around in a large plastic container. On a number of occasions whilst on patrol I would sleep in one of the huts within the kraal area. I truly miss those days, just so sad it had to turn out the way it did.
I enjoyed watching this video, if only the issue of land was resolved amicably among the people concerned in the nation at the time, we all would have been enjoying this beautiful country together. The Zimbabwe we are living in today needs a lot of work to restore and bring back to normalcy. It's only a matter of time, and everyone will be welcome in the new dispensation. Thank you Colin Weyer for this upload.
And that was what Ian Smith warned everyone at the time. Black majority rule lacked capacity and skill at the time, to govern or manage a system of government brought upon Africa by foreigners. The plan was to eventually and gradually create a harmonious diverse and responsible society over time. But Robert Mugabe like Jomo Kenyatta wanted instant total independence, a good thing, but they underestimated the responsibilities of democracy and effective government. Theirs were lavish lifestyles for themselves and their families, enjoyed their countries' the little wealth which the British left behind, forgot about their people, leaving behind nothing but poverty, desperation and ruin after their reign.
Absolute heaven. Of course there were darker things at play behind this dream like footage, but even with that said, Rhodesia seems like it was the cultural high point of the legacy left over from Britains empire. These were brits at their best, thriving and prospiring alongside native Africans in this rather beautiful fusion of Afro-Anglo culture. The native Africans went on to absorb a western sense of civility, social planning and general education whilst still maintaining their own cultural heritage and demographic abundance. The land was respected by both parties, conservation was a national duty and there seemed to be a real synergy between the land and its peoples. In many ways the system worked for all. Yes there were structural inequalities with Whites and Blacks of course. Politically, socially, economically. However, I don't believe those structures were in place because of a purely evil White supremacist doctrine. They were there because the Native Africans had not yet proven themselves to be capable of handling the nation in the event of a majority rule policy being enacted. And this was proven completely true under Mugabes regime, whereby Africas glorious bread basket transformed into a basket case. Comparitively Blacks were far better off underneath Ian Smith's 'Racist', 'Supremacist' and 'Oppressive' regime as opposed to Mugabes 'liberating' (Communist) one. For shame.
Bankrupted by the cost of involvement in a war in Congo or Zaire. Also about 80% of Europeans took the gap in the 1970s-1980s leaving an administrative knowhow vacuum. Also land reform perverted by corruption crippled agricultural production. Portugal de-colonising Mozambique and Angola also played a part vis-a-vis the bush war. Could be other factors.
How did it all go so wrong? Politics of expediency with little or no consideration for those who would lose their country. Such short-sightedness continues today around the world, leaving it a much more sad place for future generations.
I am glad Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugape has lived to be well past his sell by date . Just think if he had pegged out twenty years ago we would be hearing all the lefty crap "Oh if only president Mugabe had lived longer Zimbabwe would have been a wonderful country today" .
I have got lots of time for the Rhodesian white guys and respect their nostalgia but what I don't get is how some guy in Europe or America who has never been to Zim or Rhodesia having an opinion on it. It's like me having an opinion about the american civil war and it's results. I have never been to America