Anarchy to Zimbabwe!

Following on from our London to Paris ride, I'm pleased to say we raised over £10,000 for the British Heart Foundation. Thanks to you all for your support and also the amazing page hits I have received.

But with the ride over, so are the ride updates and

L i f e G o e s O n. So I'm going to talk about Zimbabwe.

I've become rather fascinated by this Republic, and since the demise of 'the Robert', I have the perfect chance to give my opinions. This was a nation which since 1923 had endured colonial rule inspired by early white supremacist Cecil Rhodes who the nation was named after. It was in the 1960s however when things became interesting. Tension with the British over black integration into current affairs led to prime minister Ian Smith declaring independence, not that any country took notice. Only Portugal and pro-apartheid South Africa supported them secretly. This was a year into what became a 15 year Bush War ending in a stalemate, sacrificing 20,000 people including 8000 civilians.

Then began our journey as Zimbabwe. And also begins our journey into the power of Robert Mugabe.

Beating both his former ally in the war (Joshua Nkomo for those of you wondering), and Smith (restricted by his white-only interests and limited white roll seats), he assumed the role of Prime Minister with a man named Canaan Sodindo Banana becoming a ceremonial president under a constitution devised by the British. However the Robert grew restless so in 1987, changed the constitution - how exactly I'm not sure. He ousted Banana and left him to rot in the worlds of diplomacy and later prison. He became president, with control of the army, government and could even choose his own MPs, abolishing the white roll in the process, saying "sara mushe" to Smith in the process.

Mugabe's presidency could be best summarised by his description of himself as a Marxist, becoming president in 1987, just as the Eastern Bloc began to collapse. Out of his era, Mugabe turned to revenge on the white descendants, ordering persecution and reclamation of all of their farmland. Naïve, this cut Zimbabwe's main form of income and in the coming years came hyperinflation. 240 million%. I want to repeat that so I will. 240 million %. The Guardian are currently running titles about the possibility of UK inflation hitting 3%. They issued a Z$100 trillion bank note. That could buy a weekly bus ticket. At its worse, Z$35 quadrillion equalled US$1. Jeez.

It was his successor rather than his policies which has brought his leadership to a rightful end.

This is Grace Mugabe - the Robert's former secretary and now wife. Dubbed 'Gucci Grace' for her love of spending in a country of poverty inflicted by her tyrant husband. She was being groomed for the presidency, gradually rising in the ranks of her own party, representing the status quo and its future.

But people didn't want the same, fed up by years of tyranny. They voiced their discontent against the government. So did the army. They didn't like Grace's appointment to the vice presidency, so they intervened. 

The reasons for Mugabe's house arrest were never clarified. However, parliament could finally voice their concerns and launch impeachment proceedings against him. And with the realisation that his own kind had turned against him. He 'did a Nixon' and jumped before he was pushed. His successor, is a certain Emmerson Mnangagwa, dubbed 'the Crocodile' for his machiavellian. Does this bode well for the republic? I doubt it. This is Zimbabwe's chance for the people to have their say. Their are elections next year which must be scrutinised by the world. For it is a referendum by the people for the people's future. And if their voice isn't heard, it could be another 37 years until they the chance arises once more.

FACT of the IPOT: a law was passed in which Zimbabweans were forbidden from making jokes about Canaan Sodindo Bananas name.