The Rhodesian Front ideology was a racially driven oligarch. Tapiwa Nyandoro
For the colour bar the Rhodesian Front regime was toppled with international support. But its visual representatives did not go away. According to its detractors of colour it simply retreated to commerce, industry and agriculture.
With time the unsustainable burden of vastly increased and increasing social services investment and consumption, in a sea of growing corruption and ineptitude, all in the absence of matching increases in capital investment and exports, became a thorn in the flesh of all, in the process giving birth to the MDC.
The sight of the white landed gentry forking out cheques to the MDC leadership signalled an imminent loss at the polls for the ruling party, and galvanised the cornered warriors into action, especially after the British walked away from funding land restitution.
If Hitler Hunzvi and one Joseph Chinotimba did not exist, they had to be invented.
Soon afterwards the third “Chimurenga” was in full swing. Covert backing may have come from all government arms and institutions. It was of course a false Chimurenga.
All that was achieved, taxation and affirmative action could also have attained, at far lesser cost, if not indeed at a profit. But who, among the conscious people of colour would trust the MDC? Fidelis Mhashu of the MDC, appearing on the BBC, shocked his British interviewer and the BBC’s global audience, by questioning the value of land to the majority in Zimbabwe.
Sustainability of the 3rd Chimurenga on its own momentum has, however, been a problem. As the economy deteriorated, winning a free and fair election for Zanu PF became debatable unless the electorate was “psychologically conditioned” – cover, it would appear for many other shenanigans.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“One man, one vote”, the rallying cry for the second Chimurenga had become a threat, as it does everywhere when an economy is under siege to a party in power.
The solution, it appears, is the seemingly evolving new ideology of creating an oligarch; a state governed by a few, [filthy rich, power backed Zimbabweans of color?] with a voracious appetite for western brands; indeed for all things Western, at the expense of the toiling masses. Russia provides a tempting, but terrible example. Its anaemic economic growth, as for South Africa, may be due to the unnatural selection of patronage beneficiaries. [But some may argue that fair play is not natural; cheating, though inhuman, is.]
China provides an attractive alternative of well managed State Capitalism, FDI, savings and Investment-driven economic growth. But China of course is no democracy.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, communism and or socialism were replaced by a few Oligarchs and capitalism. Ironically this may have had the tacit support of the West, as a good second option besides colonising Russia. Capitalism thrives on an Upper Class and Upper Middle class calling the shots. The absence of such Social classes in Russia, as in Zimbabwe and China could have been viewed as a threat.
The A2 farms, of which an audit on ownership and use is always avoided, represent an attempt to create an Upper class: the New Rhodesians. The Indigenisation drive is willed to produce the same result.
According to recent Press reports, the 2011 $10 million Youth Fund aimed at enabling deserving Youths to fund bankable projects, ended up funding undeserving relatives and offspring of aspiring oligarchs, who are well politically connected, the same ones with multitudes of free A2 farms.
Reviewing the list of the beneficiaries, Justice Mayor Wadyajena the Chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Indigenisation is reported to have noticed that most of the names on a list provided by the banks were “suspiciously” famous.
The Banks responded by saying they “had no control” over the depositors money they had dished out. The RBZ seems to say the same thing on the Farm Mechanisation Programme. The same [in?] famous names may appear on the list of delinquent debtors for operation Maguta. State sanctioned looting may be on the roll.
As no action is taken to recover depositors’ funds and in particular to bring serial culprits to book, credence is given to the theory that oligarchic aspirations is the de facto ideology in vogue.
At some point, an exasperated Professor Jonathan Moyo was driven to wonder why ideology is not the centre of debate in his party’s factions, instead of personalities.
An attempt to provoke the Professor to spell out his party’s contemporary ideology failed to elicit a response. His recent bold attempts to have Indigenisation laws amended may have shown ignorance of a camouflaged agenda.
But is all hope lost? The ideology of a rule by oligarchs, Russian style, may have failed to find financial backing. Moreover some of the aspirants find themselves slowly sinking into debt, though mining still presents a tempting target. Money can be made from selling claims.
The trip to China, led by Minister of Finance Patrick Chinamasa, on invitation by the Chinese, to see their economic model may open eyes. It may also unlock financing for a more civilised, sustainable and equitable development agenda founded on the rule of law.
And lastly of course Jonathan Moyo is still in Cabinet. The pre-emptive attack by the President on Moyo may have been designed to save his job.
That might mean he may be in good company. Even at 90 years of age the old warrior is still a shrewd politician. It is a tough sport riding a tiger.
