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The Chimurenga/Umvukela was a direct result of the settler invasion of the indigenous people’s land. The word “Chimurenga” was also a reflection of the struggle between the dark forces of colonialism and the aspirations of the indigenous people that of owning the ancestral land that had been grabbed by force by the white settler.

 

The white settler was defeated despite the belief by the British South Africa Company that the indigenous fighters possessed no tactical acumen when it came to the art of war. The white settlers, however, in the end suffered the same fate as that of Sergeant Allan Smith Wilson and his 32 men in 1893.

Sergeant Allan Smith Wilson and his men had gone on an ill-fated pursuit of Lobengula in the hills beyond the Shangani River. Their reinforcement crossed the swollen river several days later, only to find that Lobengula’s men had thoroughly routed Wilson’s detachment.

Though white settlers despised the indigenous people’s integrity, literacy level and prowess, they were defeated.

The white settlers still argued in terms of their supremacy over the black people and still regarded Africa as a dark continent. Even today, America’s effort to derail the land reform process and to undermine Zimbabwe’s sovereignty has failed writes Nyaradzo Mtizira in his book Chimurenga Protocol.

It is high time then that the Western countries realise that their efforts to determine the destinies of former colonial states have failed. They should leave Zimbabweans to determine their own destiny.

Men and women fought side by side. It is estimated that 10 percent of Zipra’s 20 000 guerillas were women. Estimates of trained and fighting women in the Zanla forces ranged from 1 000 to 2 000. Refugee camps held many other women. Thousands of female supporters of the guerrilla armies also lived inside the country. Others played an important part as chimbwidos and young men played the role of mujibhas.

The Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) period also witnessed Britain imposing sanctions on Rhodesia. The sanctions included the cessation of trade with Rhodesia, her removal from the Pound Sterling area and the Commonwealth preference system and denying the country access to London’s capital market. Britain banned the purchase of Rhodesian sugar and tobacco.

The 1965 book Becoming Zimbabwe postulates that Britain extended the ban to all minerals and foodstuffs which made up 95 percent of Rhodesian export to Britain. In January 1966, it imposed an embargo on Rhodesian trade.

The UN further imposed an oil embargo in April 1966. This was followed by mandatory sanctions on 29 May 1966.

At that time, it was hoped that sanctions would achieve the intended goal of pressuring the Smith government to quickly reverse the declaration of independence.

The issue of illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe is therefore not a new phenomenon. Today, despite the punitive sanctions imposed against sovereign Zimbabwe, the nation of Zimbabwe has remained a stable democratic country.

Indeed, the people of Zimbabwe have shown such determination that without sanctions; they can still prosper and manage their own affairs. It is generally believed that African states heavily depend on external economic relations particularly with Britain and America, failure which may lead to the collapse of the African state.

Zimbabwe, however, has a number of success stories. Real Gross Domestic Product which had shrunk every year since 2000 and contracted by further 14 percent in 2008, managed to grow by four percent in 2009. Schools and hospitals that had closed in 2008 opened again.

Government grants jumped by four percent of GDP in 2008 to about 22 percent in 2009. The new multi-currency regime also resulted in price stabilisation.

Apart from that, we should not forget that Zimbabwe is endowed with mineral wealth that includes huge deposits of diamonds, gold and platinum. In terms of agriculture, the government had anticipated a growth of 18 percent but it has risen to 34, 1 percent on the back of a strong performance by tobacco. The country’s strength lies in its ability to attract direct foreign investments.

With all this to write home about, it is high time African nations learn to appreciate the leadership of our African leaders and the sacrifices they have made despite the economic challenges.

It is disheartening to note that African leaders who rise to political leadership have to endure daily insults and criticism from the very people they are trying to serve.

On the other hand, there is an assertion that former colonial states are continually able no matter what recent massacre their leaders might be responsible for to turn the moral table against black leaders in spite of how small the offences might be in comparison with theirs wrote Andrew Wutawunashe in his book Dear Africa.

It must be remembered that poverty in most African states is a result of the slave trade and its slave masters yet after four centuries of plundering African states, the colonial states use the same poverty to incite the entire African populations against their political leaders.

It is high time black people learn to appreciate that their political leaders are not worse than those of the so called powerful nations who stand as judges over them.

During this Zimbabwean Independence period, let us not forget the gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe who fought during the war of liberation.

Their efforts and sacrifice should not be taken for granted or undermined.

During this period, it is important to pass on the achievements of these heroes to the children and youths so that they grow up to appreciate the historical background of this beautiful nation of Zimbabwe.

This independence period we must also not forget most African leaders who endured years of imprisonment to liberate their countries such as Jomo Kenyatta, Hastings Kamuzu Banda, His Excellency President Robert Mugabe, Joshua Nkomo and Nelson Mandela just to name a few. Then there are also legends like Dr Martin Luther King, Malcom X, Patrice Lumumba of Congo, Bantu Steven Biko all must be remembered for their dream to see liberated African people.

The writer is Vaidah Mashangwa, Provincial Development Officer in the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development. She can be contacted on 889224 or 0772111592