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Colonialism In Zimbabwe

Perspectives

Social Actions taken

Big Idea and Importance to modern society

Consequences

Causes

What was the Social Action taken?

Ian Smith - Prime Minister

Many different people had many different ideas and thoughts on the situation and power in Zimbabwe despite if they were there and being effected by it or seeing the chaos unfold from afar

Robert Mugabe - Prime Minister

Two main and Influential perspectives

Who and What was involved?

What is our Big Idea?

Why is this Big Idea important now?

As there were many causes, there are many consequences.

  • The loss of life.
  • Black power majority being won.
  • Unfair and cruel leaders being overthrown.
  • Sense of belonging to groups e.g ZANU-PF
  • A country gaining it's independence back.
  • A race believing in itself again
  • Fighting back after they had been fought against for so many years.

Ian Smith: Prime Minister 1964-1979

Two groups formed from the politics surrounding black majority power in Zimbabwe. They are called ZAPU (Zimbabwe African People's Union) and the previously mentioned ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union). These groups had a certain animosity towards each other, but in 1980, when Zimbabwe gained independence, they joined forces to make the ZANU-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front). The ZANU-PF was created because they wanted to have a united front and because they had the same plans and ideas for Zimbabwe's 'greater good'.

The causes leading to the final ZANU-PF were one of many, but here are a few that really stood out.

  • The mutual concern for Zimbabwe's well-being.
  • The thirst for wanting to do something when their country's politics were heading southwards.
  • The fight they felt needed to be fought because of the hardship and strive their ancestors had gone through.
  • The obligations that many felt because their fathers had fought for the cause and many had laid down their lives for it also.

Robert Mugabe: Prime Minister 1980 - 1898

Colonialism is when a powerful country seizes political power in a lesser country. This country may be lesser in people, power or resources. Colonialism is not a modern idea, as it was around before the Roman Empire, and back before the Greeks. Although it was increasingly popular for the British, French and Spanish during the 1600's, 1700's and late 1800's. Few cases have happened after this period but their effects are still being felt today.

An example of this is Zimbabwe.

Colonialism is increasingly important in today's society due to it's impact on us as a whole, how we live our lives, and along with our perceptions of the world we live in. This is because when a country or a group of people take over and colonize, they diminish the independence the natives have or have had. This feeling is passed down from generation to generation and the feeling of being 'lesser' or worthless is ingrained in the community to come. This is one of the reasons why Colonialism is so successful, yet why it has so many flaws. The colonized country presents itself to the outer world as being weaker through no fault or want of their own, because since they could not fight the force, they lost their independence. This also reflects on the colonizing country. It makes them look powerful and rich in everything. For example, why do we think of Britain as being powerful or rich in resources? It's because this attitude has been passed down from previous generations. The attitude is that Britain is powerful and rich because they invaded and took over many countries outside of their area.

In 1889 Cecil Rhodes, a major British empire builder in Africa formed the BSAC (British South Africa Company) to colonize the land we now call Zimbabwe. When colonized, it was named South Rhodesia, in honor of Rhodes' 'victory'. They oppressed the black natives with force and laws. South Rhodesia was governed by a white government, which in turn was ruled by Britain until 1965. This was when South Rhodesia declared itself independent from Britain, and this upset a lot of influential people and countries. The government did this in order for the minority of whites to maintain control, due to the changing attitudes of the British towards Colonialism. In the late 1970's, ideas were emerging that South Rhodesia could be governed by black majority. This idea became a reality in June, 1979, with Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa becoming their first black Prime Minister. After this conquest, the land was named Zimbabwe.

Robert Mugabe is one of the most influential figures in Zimbabwe's movement against white-minority rule. He fought in the ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union) against Ian Smith's rule, so the way he lead was one of experience and remembrance of the struggle he and many others went through. Mugabe's speech after Zimbabwe gained independence was one to remember because it was full of kindness and empty of any old hate against the white-minority.

"If you were my enemy, you are now my friend. If you hated me, you cannot avoid the love that binds me to you and you to me."

This shows that the country was going to be under the rule of a man that was fair and kind. A mind-boggling thing is that Mugabe had such a following. He was so followed that 4 out of every 5 Zimbabweans followed Mugabe in the 1990's, even when he was out of the Prime Ministerial role.

Ian Smith was a man that believed in white and British power strongly. It was in his rein that he declared independence from Britain, so that he and his colleagues could remain in power. When asked what he thought of black majority rule, when the idea was progressing, he replied with.

"I don't believe in black majority rule in Rhodesia. Not in a thousand years."

As you can see, he believed that he would not be overthrown and that the blacks could not pull together to achieve this level of ludicrousness. Ian Smith, near the end of his rule, was desperately trying to come to agreements between the leading blacks and their followings, so that he may remain in power. This was to no prevail because in a couple of months he was succeeded by Muzorewa.

Where can this Big Idea lead to?

Colonialism will die out

Zimbabwe gaining itself back

Colonialism for Zimbabwe can lead to one or either of two things

Since there has been so much publicity and public education surrounding Colonialism, it is in the hopes of the colonized countries, and the outer world/society will start to change their attitudes and redeem what they have lost due to their experiences with Colonialism.

Since Zimbabwe fought back against the white-minority and the oppressing powers, they now have the ability to gain their old independence and spirit back.

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