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Lawson Mabhena, [email protected]

Just as the Battle of Pupu symbolised defiance against colonial forces, Zimbabwe’s fight against illegal Western sanctions represents a modern struggle for sovereignty, economic stability and dignity. 

Although there have been efforts to distort Zimbabwe’s liberation war history, the Battle of Pupu which occurred on December 4, 1893 — like a sore British thumb — continues  to stick out as one of the worst defeats in English colonisation history. 

The story starts with the British quest for gold and minerals. The Pioneer Column had already occupied Mashonaland in 1890. Their attention then turned to Matabeleland for two reasons: to occupy the rest of the territory and to get control of even more gold reserves.

Because King Lobengula, ruler of the Ndebele Kingdom, fiercely resisted the colonialists’ encroachment, they needed more men or alternatively much more sophisticated weaponry, in this case, the world’s first fully automatic machine gun.

This was the Maxim gun, a recoil-operated machine gun invented in 1884 by Hiram Stevens Maxim.

All odds were against the Ndebele warriors who were only armed with spears, cow-hide shields and a handful of riffles. What were the chances of victory when fighting an enemy that could kill hundreds in seconds?

The Maxim gun was used against the Ndebele 21 years before its famed showing during World War I (WWI), a period in which, according to The New York Times, “all the combatant armies were armed with Maxim’s gun”, hence WWI is also known as “the machine-gun                                                         war’’.

The fighting spirit of the Ndebele shocked the British, defying even the weapon that revolutionised warfare.

King Lobengula’s Imbizo Regiment, led by General Mtshana Khumalo, clashed with the colonialist Allan Wilson Patrol at Pupu. The Ndebele forces rallied, leading to the complete annihilation of the 34-strong colonial party. There were no survivors.

This battle effectively ended the Ndebele Monarchy’s reign and set the sun on one of Southern Africa’s strongest monarchies.

Fast-forward to the present day and Zimbabwe faces a different kind of battle: the fight against Western sanctions. Here’s how the two struggles intersect.

In December 2001, the United States Congress enacted the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (Zidera), imposing punitive measures against Zimbabwe, claiming “undemocratic practices and rights violations” but in reality, punishing the country for embarking on a land redistribution exercise.

The European Union and Australia followed suit, imposing similar sanctions on Zimbabwe.

These sanctions have persisted for over two decades, impacting the economy, health system, international trade, ability to borrow from Britton Woods Institutions and basically everywhere where it hurts most.  

The fight against sanctions has since become a rallying point for Zimbabweans, echoing the spirit of resistance seen in historical battles like Pupu.

Just as Zimbabwe was occupied for its mineral wealth and land, leading to the victorious battle in Pupu; illegal sanctions were imposed to control Zimbabwe’s land and God-given mineral wealth. 

Like the Maxim gun, economic sanctions have revolutionised warfare. In his book The Economic Weapon: The Rise of Sanctions as a Tool of Modern War, Nicholas Mulder notes that “economic sanctions dominate the landscape of world politics” and have become a tool of modern war, influencing state behaviour, diplomacy and power dynamics.

US President Woodrow Wilson boastfully described sanctions as “something more tremendous than war,” emphasising their potential for absolute isolation. This is why the US foreign policy is grounded on using coercive economic measures to advance American interests.

Put simply, economic sanctions have revolutionised warfare by blurring the lines between peace and conflict, leveraging economic interdependence, and offering an alternative path to exert influence on the global stage.

As an alternative to military conflict, economic sanctions are sold as non-violent, but in reality — just like the Maxim gun — they ruthlessly kill the less privileged.

US illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe perpetuate hunger, poverty, poor health, skills flight, unemployment and death. 

But like King Lobengula, Zimbabweans have fiercely resisted America’s encroachment. Like the brave Ndebele warriors, Zimbabweans have fought with all they have. Those who have died have not died in vain.

The war against sanctions is a long and painful one. Sometimes it feels like a hopeless effort. It’s like running towards a Maxim gun spitting 600 rounds a minute while hiding behind a cow-hide shield. 

The “sanctions war” is, however, one that Zimbabweans cannot afford to lose. The Battle of Pupu was also a war Zimbabweans could not afford to lose.

The fight against sanctions will forever be remembered for defying all odds and shaping the future of Zimbabwe, just like the Battle of Pupu.

Both episodes reveal the resilience and determination of a nation facing external pressures.