Zimbabwe: A True Independence?: The First Chimurenga

Thursday, March 1, 2012

The First Chimurenga

In 1896, a growing number within the Shona rebelled against Rhodes, and a combined force of Ndebele and Shona rose in revolt called the First Chimurenga, which means "war of liberation." (C) Unfortunately, Rhodes annihilated the Shona with the extensive use of Western weaponry such as…

· Dynamite

· Auto Maxim guns

· Hand cranked Gatling

Helpless under these advanced machinery, the Shona faced immense loss of land and cattle, which was a foundation in the means of livelihood and a symbol of prestige (D).

In 1990, the British South Africa Company established complete control over Bulawayo (B). As they entered into war, the people of Ndebele were forced to set their homes on fire and flee. During this time, Cecil Rhodes compromised an alliance with the Shona, the ancient rivals of Ndebele, for mutual protection (B). When the Ndebele was brought down its knees, there was nothing to stop the impeding European progress and settlement that soon formed the country Southern Rhodesia.

Flag of Southern Rhodesia from 1968 to 1979

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Robert Mugabe

Robert Mugabe is both Zimbabwe’s first prime minister and has dominated the country’s political system as the only president since independence (A). Extreme tactics such as forced land distribution appalled both the natives and the white farmers, destroyed the economy, and allowed for a widespread shortage of basic commodities (A). Despite several warnings from other countries, Mugabe rigged the 2002 presidential election for another round of monarchy (A). In March 2005, his ruling party, ZANU-PF, won a two-thirds majority in the parliamentary election, leaving the constitution open to change and recreating the Senate (A). However, by March 2008, the opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, was able to win the most votes in the presidential polls. After extensive violence and negotiations on a power-sharing government, Mugabe remained as president with Tsvangirai as prime minister (A).

1980 Invasion

Rhodes led the Pioneer Column and established Fort Victoria. This was called the 1890 Invasion (A). After, Rhodes trespassed onto Lobengula’s territory. Lobengula, the wise king of Ndebele, realized that the foreigners had come to his country in order to exploit its gold. Although he struggled to contain their ambitions and greed, the Europeans tricked Lobengula into signing an exclusive treaty that signed away the valuable rights of Ndebele people and granted European access to all raw minerals (A).

The Pioneer Corps

Europeans tricked Lobengula into signing an exclusive treaty that signed away the valuable rights of Ndebele people and granted European access to all raw minerals (A). The BSAC funded the Pioneer Corps and Rhodes in their goal to annex Souther Rhodesia (E). Fueled by competition from the Germans, Portuguese, and Boers, Rhodes hurried to secure the land under British control. Equipped with 2,500 men and about one million pounds, the effects of the Pioneer Corps were astounding. From a poorly developed, neglected area, Southern Rhodesia bloomed under the control of a new elite class. From the Iron Age monarchy, the white leaders possessed the country through superior European technology and complete confidence in its abilities. Along with the introduction of advanced weaponry, the Pioneer Corps ushered in a new culture and new beliefs into Southern Rhodesia, resulting in a new moral order within the indigenous people.

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