Zimbabwe

Saturday, 22, Nov 2008 04:03

What is Zimbabwe?

The Republic of Zimbabwe is a landlocked state in the south of the African continent and was formerly the British colony of Southern Rhodesia.

Once one of the most prosperous countries in Africa, Zimbabwe has experienced a turbulent history in the second half of the 20th Century, and since 2000 has descended even further into repression, disorder, economic decline and famine. Today, Zimbabwe is something of an international pariah.

The country is headed by President Robert Mugabe, leader of the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF).

Background

The British South Africa Company (BSA) colonised what became Southern Rhodesia in 1889. The colony was annexed by the UK in 1923.

In 1953 Britain created the Central African Federation (CAF), consisting of Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) and Nyasaland (Malawi). The CAF dissolved when Zambia and Malawi were given independence from Britain in 1963.

While seeking independence, Southern Rhodesia's white minority was strongly opposed to black participation in government. Unable to reach agreement, the Rhodesian Front, led by Ian Smith, made a Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965 and instituted white rule.

The UK refused to recognise the Declaration and the country - now called Rhodesia - was subjected to economic sanctions. These sanctions, pressure from the UK and the international community, and a campaign of guerrilla warfare, finally led to a constitutional conference and free elections in 1979. The country became a recognised independent state, as Zimbabwe, in 1980. It was the last of the UK's African colonies to gain its independence.

Robert Mugabe became Zimbabwe's first Prime Minister in 1980, following the victory of his Marxist-nationalist ZANU-PF party. He has dominated the politics of the country ever since, becoming President and Chief of State in 1987.

The Zanu-PF party retains power in Zimbabwe.

Controversies

Zimbabwe was once one of the most prosperous countries in Africa, but today it is wracked by economic chaos with inflation running at 400 per cent and 70 per cent unemployment. Much of this was caused by the country's involvement in the war in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) from 1998 to 2002, and budgetary mismanagement that led to the International Monetary Fund withdrawing aid in 2002.

Furthermore, the country has a visible convergence of class and race division. Land distribution from whites to blacks had been an avowed aim of ZANU-PF from the beginning, but progress was slow, despite receiving £44 million in aid from the UK since the 'Lancaster House' agreement.

In order to help sustain his regime, in 2000, President Mugabe embarked upon a 'fast track' programme of land reforms, in contravention of international agreements, and caused the UK to withdraw its aid.

The result - to the horror of the international community - was a reign of terror, as gangs of 'war veterans' attacked and dispossessed white farmers and their black workers.

The same veterans, and the government's security forces, also increasingly harassed members and supporters of opposition parties, and the press was subjected to ever greater controls and threats. Despite numerous attacks and killings, parliamentary elections in 2002 saw ZANU-PF win only a slim majority.

However, electoral irregularities and intimidation led Commonwealth observers to declare that "the conditions in Zimbabwe did not adequately allow for a free expression of will by the electors", and the country was suspended from the Commonwealth later that year - a decision renewed in December 2003. Zimbabwe then decided to withdraw from the Commonwealth.

The main opposition is the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), led by Morgan Tsvangirai. He has twice been accused of treason, following allegations that he tried to overthrow the government. He was acquitted of both charges.

A general election took place in March 2005, resulting in ZANU-PF winning 78 seats to the MDC's 41. One seat went to an independent candidate. The MDC had only reluctantly agreed to take part, saying the election would not be free or fair but insisting it wanted to "keep the flames of hope of change alive". British foreign secretary Jack Straw said afterwards that there was "strong evidence that they [the results] do not reflect the free, democratic will of the Zimbabwean people".

Concerns about poverty, HIV/AIDS, human rights and violence in Zimbabwe are a particular cause for worry in the UK, as the former colonial power, not least because it is the preferred destination of many people fleeing the country. However, President Mugabe often blames the country's current situation on British imperialism and interference. Worldwide, many blame it on the president's determination to stay in power at any cost.

There is also growing international concern over the risk of famine in Zimbabwe. In 2003, 5.5 million people received food aid from international agencies, but in 2004 Mr Mugabe refused all food aid, claiming that more than enough food had been harvested to supply the country's needs. This was disputed by international observers.

Zimbabwe hit the UK news again in 2003 because of the controversy surrounding the England cricket team's scheduled World Cup match in Harare. Pro-democracy campaigners were strongly against the fixture, arguing that the match would convey legitimacy on President Mugabe's regime, particularly since he is also president of the Zimbabwean cricket board.

The England Cricket Board (ECB) said that it was obliged to play the fixture unless the Government ordered them not to. Otherwise it claimed the national game would have faced sweeping fines. The Government, while condemning Zimbabwe in the strongest terms, said it was not its business to order that a match should not be played. Itsstance was strongly attacked by the Conservatives, who said they should have taken a stronger line. In the event, the team decided not to travel to Harare to fulfil the fixture.

But, the issue arose again at the end of 2004 with England set to embark on a one-day tour to Zimbabwe. Again, the Government faced criticism for not doing more, but it said that it could have been sued if it had ordered the tour to be halted.

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