via ‘Smith’s Rhodesia was better’ – Sunday Mail — Nehanda Radio by Gift Kugara OCTOBER 8, 2013
Zimbabweans on Sunday woke up to a shocking admission by the state weekly newspaper, The Sunday Mail, that the colonial government of Ian Smith had fared better at managing the economy that the ZANU PF government which has been in power since independence.
The Sunday Mail is widely regarded as a ZANU PF mouthpiece. It has been the chief propaganda platform for ZANU PF, the party led by President Robert Mugabe and has ruled Zimbabwe for 33 years.
In Sunday’s refreshingly honest editorial, The Sunday Mail wrote comparing the post-independence and the Rhodesian governments, “The racist Rhodesian regime had its many blemishes but you have to acknowledge its ability to identify quick win economic solutions.”
The implication is that the ZANU PF government has not shown the same capacity over its 33-year rule.
Observers have said this direct attack on Robert Mugabe’s government which is made worse by comparing it unfavourably to their traditional punch-bag, the colonial government, is unprecedented.
“It is unthinkable that of all papers, The Sunday Mail would acknowledge and give credit to the colonial government and in the process attack ZANU PF by showing that the latter has fared worse”, said a commentator who wished to remain anonymous.
In the same editorial, The Sunday Mail castigated Robert Mugabe’s 33-year rule with brutal honesty regarding its poor record of policy implementation.
Commenting on the widespread power outages that have left domestic and industrial users without electricity for up to 15 hours per day, The Sunday Mail criticised Robert Mugabe’s government for failing to take pre-emptive measures to address the power deficit.
“Zimbabwe’s power deficit is not a new challenge”, wrote The Sunday Mail. It went further, “In the 1980s and 90s , the nation should have taken significant measures to address the power deficit. How we failed to do this is mind-numbing.”
This confirms criticisms that have been levelled against Robert Mugabe’s rule over the years, an observer noted. “Finally, we have a state newspaper that is rabidly pro-ZANU PF, admitting failure.”
The paper went on to describe Mugabe’s government record of policy implementation as “dismal”, further cementing criticism of the opposition MDC formations.
“There were all manner of high-sounding blueprints and well-articulated strategy documents, but all the plans came to naught because policy-makers and bureaucrats are good at policy formulation but dismal at implementation”
Mugabe was recently retained as President of Zimbabwe in controversial circumstances, for the seventh term since he was first elected as Prime Minister of newly independent Zimbabwe in 1980.
The MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai, former Prime Minister in the Inclusive Government, has refused to acknowledge the results, arguing that the electoral process was manipulated in ZANU PF’s favour.
Although SADC and the AU have said the elections were peaceful, they have stopped short of describing them to be “fair”. The US, EU and other Western countries have not endorsed the results, further isolating and frustrating the Mugabe regime which is desperate for Western acknowledgement.
Throughout the campaign, Tsvangirai and the MDC argued that Mugabe and ZANU PF had failed dismally at managing the economy, which has shrunk drastically from a strong and diverse economy inherited from colonial Rhodesia at independence in 1980.
Julius Nyerere, Founding Father of Tanzania and strong supporter of Zimbabwe’s liberation efforts in the 1970s, is said to have told Mugabe at independence that he had inherited a jewel economy and that he should not destroy it. Nyerere’s words seem to have gone unheeded.
Facing serious economic challenges under Mugabe’s rule, ordinary Zimbabweans have often been heard to say, it was better under Smith, much to Mugabe and ZANU PF’s chagrin.
Although the recent election was supposed to usher a new era of hope, Zimbabwe is going through a period of gloom and uncertainty, with local and international confidence at its lowest levels.
COMMENTS
I grew up during the Smith Regime surely it was paradise not only economicaly but in terms of security, health cover disease control,employment, education standards, life standards, happiness, hope and self dignity. ZANU marara its not fair to even compare nana mudhara Iain.It was better when we were colonised by reasonable Westerners unlike now where we have handed ourselves over to the little devils the Chinese and the Koreans with the assistance of our own gullible sellout brothers and sisters vana Robert nana fuzi vake.These are the worst racists, most corrupt, exploiters, who do not have a clue about human rights.
That pretty much covers it,thank you for an honest statement…….
Apa wataura chokwadi shamwari. Zvorhwadza hazvo, asi ndozvazviri.
I too was in my teens in 1979. But I saw Smith build all the roads riss crossing the country; from Chirundu to Beit Bridge, Nyamapanda to Vic Falls. All the rail lines. All the telecom infrastructures. Schools hospitals etc. Smith built Salisbury, Bulawayo Umtali Gwelo Kwekwe, Kariba, etc with no computers, no mobile phones and no internet. He also did it without educated cabinet (there was only one doctor in his cabinet)
Then came Robert the educated one. He built only one road to his village in Zvimba. The road has no economic value. It is just a basic paving and enabled him to go to his rural home whenever he wants. No other road like that was built anywhere else.
His growth points (Murombedzi is just in his rural backyard) is a haven for prostitution and gochi – gochi. Here, women with large back sides sell their behinds to beer drinkers roasting game meat hunted from the farms that lie fallow.
In Rhodesia, DMB would deliver milk at 5am at the gate and no one touched it. Lobels and London bread was the same. Transport: Salisbury United would take me to my school doorstep or my father to his work place (Light Industry; Msasa; City; Schools they would be insribed) in dignity. In Mugabe’s doctorates run Zim, school children are being impregnated by Hwindis in exchange for free rides in dilapidated combis. NXAAAAA!
Wars are fought whether for liberation or for ideology. The country under Smith economically was well managed.Peasants in Gokwe produced enough to feed their own brothers. A blocked public toilet was a national crisis, no constable asked one for a drivers licence at a road block and there was no diorrherea of PHDs in the civil service.
Congratulations to The Sunday Mail for having the integrity and guts to finally tell it as it is. If the journalist responsible, and the Editor, don’t go into exile, however, I fear there may be a few more ”motor accidents”!!
AM OVER 60 AND I CONCUR!
I will not be driving my car in the forseeable future. Better catch a bus.
Oh yes.life was much better then, and also lifewas better before MDC was formed.
Even a ZANU PF mouthpiece is admitting that they have failed but u still say otherwise. You ar a fool. You are obssessed with denouncing MDC. Who do u want to fool. Before 1999 the economy was already ruined. Wake up and smell the coffee you idiot.
Di diff between Rhodesian Front and Zanu Pf is RF managed to protect its own pple (whites) whilst Zanu Pf is doing di opposite
I totally concur. Gukurahundis are the worst two-legged devils that have ever walked the earth.
Relatively speaking, there was virtually no tribalism to the extent we have today. Everyone respected each other’s cultures and languages in their areas and regions. People did not just come into other cultures areas and impose themselves on the basis of majoritarianism.
We did not have an African President or Prime Minister who disrespected other cultures and languages. The Prime Minister always addressed the nation in English and the nation was expected to understand English as the lingua franca as it was used in business, education, government and commerce.
African nationalist leaders then were far more NATION BUILDING leaders than we have today. They were careful of divisive language and very sensitive to the feelings of fellow African cultures and languages.
We had a thriving economy built on resilience, import substitution to bit the UN trade and economic sanctions and we survived and overcame.
RHODESIA WAS THE JEWEL OF AFRICA AND RHODESIANS/ZIMBABWEANS NEVER DIE!!
Rhodesians never die
Here’s the story of Rhodesia, a land of fair and great.
On eleventh of November, an independent state.
That was much against the wishes of certain governments,
whose leaders tried to break us down and make us all repent.
R: But we’re all Rhodesians and we fight through thick and thin,
we’ll keep our land the free land, stop the enemies coming in.
We’ll keep’em north of the Zambezi, to that rivers running dry,
and this mighty land will prosper, for Rhodesians never die.
They can send their men to murder, and they can shot their words of hate,
but the cost of keeping this land free can never be to great.
All our men and boys are fighting, for the things that they hold dear,
and this land and all his people will never disappear.
R: ‘Cause we’re all Rhodesians and we’ll fight through thick and thin,
we’ll keep our land the free land, stop the enemy coming in.
We’ll keep’em north of the Zambezi, to that rivers running dry,
and this mighty land will prosper, for Rhodesians never die.
We’ll preserve this little nation, for our children’s children too.
Once you’re a Rhodesian, no other land will do.
We will stand all in the sunshine, with the truth on our side,
and if we have to go alone, we’ll go alone with pride.
3x R: ‘Cause we’re all Rhodesians and we’ll fight through thick and thin,
we’ll keep our land the free land, stop the enemy coming in.
We’ll keep’em north of the Zambezi, to that rivers running dry,
and this mighty land will prosper, for Rhodesians never die.
Its all in the economy, no need to reinvent the wheel!Debt and credit thats all!
Those days the rich and the upper middle class did not generally build huge mansions for cash, or own fleets of cars paid for cash. The middle class could only afford used cars – and on HP. But there was service delivery and Govt had money. Now everything is the opposite. The rich have lots of money but govt is broke and service delivery is in ICU. And corruption was there but not widespread. If you tried to bribe a traffic cop you could get an additional ticket!
Mugabe have turned our country into his own toilet , i wish Smiths could wake up from the dead and take us back to colonalism , those were FAR MUCH better days .What such a rubbish from ZANU PF .
Thank you Sunday Mail for stating fact, not fiction. Well done but now you need to watch your backs.
My my is this a revolution from within ZANU. We were all one nation black and white but now the am Chinese fly out with our diamonds and abuse our workers. Where is your patriotism zanoids.
Look, I’m a white Zimbo who grew up pre-independence and there were a lot of bad things, like segregation etc, in Smith’s era (it was better before Smith like when Garfield Todd was Prime Minister, he was a good guy). Also there was the war and we all lost loved ones during that time and it was terrible for the rural people caught between two opposing forces. No, it’s just a pity that liberation leaders cannot become proper democratic leaders and put the welfare of the people put first rather than entrenching their power and wealth.
I departed my Zimbabwe in 1998 for opportunities in SA, which were becoming limited under ZPF, but these mampara’s here are probably going to be worse than Sekuru Bob.. at least Bob is educated, unlike the bafoons.. JZ and Company of the ANC..just plain STUPID.
They might not be educated but their economy is holding. We don’t eat Mugabe ‘s education. Pliz give us a break
Much well said. “Better a benevolent king than a corrupt democracy”. In the case of Zimbabwe, there were so many opportunities, before and since independence, to have done things differently and not have such a complete digression of the nation. But, today is simply a government of anarchy. And every problem can be traced to the self-interest of a few who have no interest in others.
It’s my belief that all these sudden pronouncements is nothing more than an attempt to give people hope, and confuse the issue, in preparation to steal the next election without Bob’s help. They know the ploy used in this election will not work next time.
Those of the ZANUPF will always be terrorists, no matter what banner they fly.
Too bad Zimbabwe has a corrupt king.
During the smith regime farmers could get money for their produce,education was one of the best in Africa ,the health sector was so good, not inICU like now.there was the rule of law now mbavha dzoga no laws .umbavha hunototanga ikoko kumusoro .transport system marubbish.roads are now potholes no wonder why mr chinotimba complains .anoonawo huori hweparty yake.Zanu yaora.If Smith were to be risen from the dead aiseka.zvaiva naani kudzwanyirirwa nomunhu worumwe rudzi pane wak.vaMugabe gadzirisai
As if we didn’t know already. The only who were being fooled by Zanu PF propaganda were the people spouting the propaganda.
Zimbabweans, I don’t think by just moaning without action is going to help. We need to take the devil by the horns.
Zvaiva nani kudzvanyirirwa nemuchena asi tichiguta pane kudzvanyirirwa nemutema uye tichifa nenzara.
While the President, Robert Mugabe, cradles his well-fed belly, he offers little comfort to the nation, reminding us in speeches and interviews that like most of the problems faced by Zimbabwe; hunger is a result of actions sanctioned by others. Mugabe has crippled Zimbabwe, reducing most of its people to beggars or barterers and black marketers. The ultimate irony is that, whether by accident or design, it has taken 28 years for them to prove the racist detractors correct when they prophesied that the incoming Zanu-PF government would be incapable of governing the country. “It makes absolute nonsense… that most of our arable land is still in the hands of our erstwhile colonisers,” he declares. Harvests plummet and Zimbabwe has to rely on food imports and aid supplies. Seven million people are at risk of starvation.
Zimbabwe’s road to ruin continues. Fresh off his rigged reelection victory, President Robert Mugabe recently announced that foreign companies would have to cede majority ownership to black Zimbabweans. What Mugabe did to the country’s white farmers–violently and unlawfully seizing their land and handing it over to political cronies with no farming experience–is about to be repeated with the country’s business firms. China is Zimbabwe’s new best friend, trading its support of Mugabe for access to the country’s abundant raw materials–its diamonds, chromium, gold, nickel, copper, vanadium, lithium, and platinum. When China’s election observers arrived in Zimbabwe, the head of the delegation, Lui Guijin, predicted a “smooth election.” After the balloting, he declared the voting had been “peaceful, orderly and credible” and asked “the international community to respect the choice of Zimbabwe’s people.”
Trevor Southey was a major influence on me and my art when I was at BYU. Even thoguh he had long since left BYU, the faculty there had great respect for him and his work is all over the BYU Museum of Art. I think he paved the road in the art department that allowed me to come out of the closet as a student, so I am indebted to him in more ways than one.
Pass this around the “social justice” segments of the western internet. For good laughs, tag in things like “colonialism” and “democracy” and “racism” and “white supremacy”. ROFLMAO!
Now is the time for the UK to correct it’s embarrassing handling of Rhodesia. The country is in such turmoil and downspin, and the treatment of white farmers, and now foreign businesses, Shows what happens when a working, viable country, is abandoned and turned over to terrorists and madmen