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Well things have improved a little yet things were really terrible a few years ago. Mugabe is still in power and I know a Black Zimbabwean who left his country a few years ago and would not consider to live there again until Mugabe dies.
I also know a Black Zimbabwean who has left too. He is a citizen here in the USA now. I understand why he is here, and I welcome him. He is a recent college graduate and I applaud him on being driven.
The sad fact of the matter is that while Mugabe doesn't have a lot of support within Zimbabwe, for very good reason, a lot of continental Africans do admire him because of how he kicked out white farmers. He is still idolized in many countries because of this. I am Ghanaian and know many Ghanaians who admire and respect this man in spite of his dictatorial ways.
The idea of land redistribution was welcomed, but in reality the land was seized, and in most cases in now owned by Mugabe's cronies. By far the majority of all races in sub-sharan Africa know this, and certainly do not idloize him for it. The farms were vandalized, crops burned, and livestock slaughtered. In what way is that to be admired? By far the majority of these farms are now non-productive, it makes no sense at all. He was lauded for his political work in the 60's and 70's, but became corrupt very soon after independence. There are many great leaders in Zimbabwe that deserve support and admiration, Mugabe is not one of them.
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Originally Posted by chilaili
I don't mean to sound naive but if colonialism was so evil and 100% responsible for all the ills that the African continent now suffers, how come colonialism in other parts of the world has NOT resulted in this same situation? You don't see these kinds of problems in Hong Kong, Singapore, the Caribbean or parts of the Mediterranean. What is so different about Africa? And why is it always someone else's fault? Did anyone hold a gun to Mugabe's head and force him to be the dictator he is? Did anyone force Idi Amin or the Hutu in Rwanda? You can say these were a result of colonialism but those people could just as easily have decided NOT to behave like monsters. At what point do these oppressors take responsibility for their own actions and choices?
Because in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and to some extent Namibia, Angola, Zambia, and Mozambique the colonists instituted legalized racism and servitude.
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Originally Posted by green_mariner
It is a weird catch 22. On the other hand, the land divide was disturbing. Whites owned 87 percent of the land and Blacks owned 13 percent of it, and Blacks got the worst land. On the other hand, kicking White farmers out of Zimbabwe isn't helping anything either. I know where the resentment comes from. However, letting this resentment fester and turn into something horrible is no good for Zimbabwe. Now Mugabe is in a position where he can do anything he wants, and it's disturbing.
If these farms were now productive the Zimbabwean people would have a very different attitude to the land redistribution.
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Originally Posted by DahomeyAhosi
The re appropriation of Zimbwawean land happened quite a while ago. This has nothing to do with the present as two or three elections have taken place since that took place.
This is not true. Farm seizures are still occuring, despite a government "pledge" to stop, and despite assurances that many of these farms would not be invaded.
The idea of land redistribution was welcomed, but in reality the land was seized, and in most cases in now owned by Mugabe's cronies. By far the majority of all races in sub-sharan Africa know this, and certainly do not idloize him for it. The farms were vandalized, crops burned, and livestock slaughtered. In what way is that to be admired? By far the majority of these farms are now non-productive, it makes no sense at all. He was lauded for his political work in the 60's and 70's, but became corrupt very soon after independence. There are many great leaders in Zimbabwe that deserve support and admiration, Mugabe is not one of them.
Because in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and to some extent Namibia, Angola, Zambia, and Mozambique the colonists instituted legalized racism and servitude.
Then why not make every effort to change it instead of living with it, blaming it on everyone else and using it to justify actions and choices? The Belgians might have caused the rivalry and hatred between the Hutus and Tutsi but nobody forced them to massacre each other - that was their own choice.
Then why not make every effort to change it instead of living with it, blaming it on everyone else and using it to justify actions and choices? The Belgians might have caused the rivalry and hatred between the Hutus and Tutsi but nobody forced them to massacre each other - that was their own choice.
The Belgian government didn't causes Hutus and Tutsis to murder one another. However, a Belgian radio DJ helped to inflame tensions.
The idea of land redistribution was welcomed, but in reality the land was seized, and in most cases in now owned by Mugabe's cronies. By far the majority of all races in sub-sharan Africa know this, and certainly do not idloize him for it. The farms were vandalized, crops burned, and livestock slaughtered. In what way is that to be admired?
What is admired is that at least one African leader reclaimed what is ours. You would certainly never understand that Africans don't appreciate eeking a living while seeing Europeans live comfortably and with impunity. Yes Mugabe used the land seizures as a last ditch effort to hang out to power and gave the land to questionable allies but the image is still of reclamation.
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This is not true. Farm seizures are still occuring, despite a government "pledge" to stop, and despite assurances that many of these farms would not be invaded.
I will honestly admit I don't care. Reap and sow....literally and figuratively. Zimbabweans will eventually get back to pre-reclamation farming output. The only thing that will be missing is some blondes, redheads, and other misplaced souls.
Last edited by DahomeyAhosi; 07-25-2012 at 09:35 PM..
What is admired is that at least one African leader reclaimed what is ours. You would certainly never understand that Africans don't appreciate eeking a living while seeing Europeans live comfortably and with impunity. Yes Mugabe used the land seizures as a last ditch effort to hang out to power and gave the land to questionable allies but the image is still of reclamation.
I will honestly admit I don't care. Reap and sow....literally and figuratively. Zimbabweans will eventually get back to pre-reclamation farming output. The only thing that will be missing is some blondes, redheads, and other misplaced souls.
Oh yes and now Zimbaweans are celebrating the reforms Mugabe actions such as: Over the past decade, Zimbabwe has accrued the largest public debt in the world, amounting to 240 percent of their GDP6. As the deficit has grown, the government has been
paying it off by continually printing out money, leading to an exponentially increasing inflation rate.Africa Economic Institute : The Failing Economy of Zimbabwe (yet that report was a few years ago) things are not as bad now but they are horrible still.
In addition Zimbabwe sent its military to the Congo in a very expensive war and it further created Debt problems.
Plus the Zimbabwean person I know that fled the country with his wife. They were highly skilled people and for them the job situation even for high skilled people is not good in Zimbabwe now. Even jobs for skilled people are real hard to get. It is a country that has a estimated 85% unemployed. allAfrica.com: Zimbabwe: What Value is Education to Zimbabwe and Her People?
The only people that are paid well are the secret police and the Military who role is to protect Mugabe. They get much of their money from the mines which are in partnership with a Chinese company. In addition the secret police used violence and intimidation on dissidents of Mugabe esp during the 2000, 2004 and 2008 elections. that would likely to happen again in the next elections middle of next year. http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/comme...ntent=textlink
Africans are, in general, the least racist of all people. If not Europeans would've never gotten a foothold as they would've been slaughtered upon contact. Instead we always trusted Europeans even though they've shown time and time again to not be trustworthy.
Now the vice president of Zambia is a European and Hellen Zille, a Euopean, holds considerable power in post-apartheid South Africa. Show me a European country that can boast of a high ranking non-white! In spite of the fact that Africans and Asians live there in much greater numbers and have no track record of racist, genocidal practices Europeans largely have yet to treat us like human beings. Unable to see past colour.......wow!
Your ignorance is astounding.....I assume you're American! Your arrogance also prevented you from reading what I wrote. I said that continental Africans admire Mugabe, not Zimbabweans. Ghanaians like me are not starving in Zimbabwean streets.
The sad fact is that most countries have been colonized at one point or another. Africa's biggest problem with colonialism IMO stemmed from the fact that they were colonized by the worst countries to do so while other parts of the world had it much much better with the British. (Not to say the Brits were wonderful)
Keep in mind of course that the British were invaded, colonized and largely oppressed for centuries by the Romans and various European countries. Boudicca is an interesting historical figure from that dark past.
The problem with Europe in reference to your comment about high-ranking non-whites is that they have a much much more rigid class structure. For example, Tony Blair once commented that Collin Powell would never have risen so high in England where "who you know" or are related is critical. Yes there is racism in Europe like everywhere but you just don't commonly see *nobodys* rising to power like in the US where Reagan, Clinton Obama and others whom grew up poor and without connections.
What is admired is that at least one African leader reclaimed what is ours. You would certainly never understand that Africans don't appreciate eeking a living while seeing Europeans live comfortably and with impunity. Yes Mugabe used the land seizures as a last ditch effort to hang out to power and gave the land to questionable allies but the image is still of reclamation.
I will honestly admit I don't care. Reap and sow....literally and figuratively. Zimbabweans will eventually get back to pre-reclamation farming output. The only thing that will be missing is some blondes, redheads, and other misplaced souls.
If by "other misplaced souls" you mean hundreds of thousands of blacks killed by mugabe and his policies then yes.
.....and now you have the Chinese there.
Now they just have to wipe out the ndebele. Oh, and anyone that isn't pure black ....and catholics....then they need to look at thier historic tribal lands and reclaim those from the blacks that are occupying it across "imaginary" borders.
For example, the Akan pushed into Ghana from the Sahel hundreds of years ago, should they not be killed or at the very least expelled? That's not their land any more than Britains.
Africans are, in general, the least racist of all people.
I guess you never heard about the Rwandan genocide between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes in 1994.
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Your ignorance is astounding.....I assume you're American!
Sweet Jesus... I can't believe the irony of that last statement.
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Your arrogance also prevented you from reading what I wrote. I said that continental Africans admire Mugabe, not Zimbabweans. Ghanaians like me are not starving in Zimbabwean streets.
Judging by the revisionist history and sheer ignorance of your comments here, I take it the education system in Ghana leaves a lot to be desired.
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Boudicca is an interesting historical figure from that dark past.
