COMPARE AND CONTRAST Ian Douglas Smith(b1919),Southern Rhodesias 8th Prime Minister and Robert Gabriel Mugabe(b1924) are peers,and make for some interesting but painful history,while I wish to celebrate their achievements and hit the hammer on their misdeeds,I will dwell on Ian Smith on this article and will dwell on Mugabe on another article! Ian Smith who was born in then Selukwe and was later buried there(Infact his ashes were scattered at his farm) in renamed Shurugwi,was a politician,farmer and fighter lieutenant with Royal Air Force where he suffered facial deformation. He was also Rhodesias youngest ever MP at the age of 29 and rose throught the ranks to serve as Rhodesias Prime Minister under President Clifford Dupont(1970-1975) and later President John Wrathall(1976-1978). His government was responsible for the UNILATERAL DECLARATION OF INDEPENDANCE from the UNITED KINGDOM in 1965 following a prolonged dispute over terms of office.He remainded Prime Minister for 14 years of international isolation and oversaw the fight of the Bush War against the Communist-backed black nationalist guerilla movements led by Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe among other leaders. Smith,a controversial figure was described as personifying white Rhodesia.Supporters hailed him as a man of intergrity and vision.He was a progressive leader who was obsessed with success!On the other hand,critics described him as an unrepentant racist whose policies and actions caused the deaths of thousands and contributed to Zimbabwes later crisises!Smith was a fierce critic of Zanu pf both pre and post independance in 1980 and led the opposition for 7 years after independance. The bloody wasr of attrition not only cost precious lives but created permanent scars among the living which are still fresh both physically and mentally!But it is the ordinary people not Ian Smith who lost the war on reflection 34 years on,as the gains of the struggle have been elusive to many except a few in top echelons of the independant state. Smith,however ponderous,humourless and unsophisticated and his deplorable racist shortcomings ran a successful emerging state that competed with other powers in Africa and the world in general.Smith took years to build the jewel of Southern Rhodesia which was the envy of the world,only to be inherited by Mugabe!Smiths government endured in the face of ECONOMIC SANCTIONS by the United Nations. He managed to keep stability within the country even under international isolation with the help of South Africa. Smith was summoned to Government House by Mugabe a day after Mugabe has taken the oath of office.Smith was surprised to be greeted by a warm handshake and a broad smile,after all the countrys Marxist leader had promised his people that come liberation,he would have Smith publicly hanged at Harares main square! At that meeting,Mugabe told Smith that he was acutely aware of the jewel he had inherited from his old adversaries,the whites and praised its superb infrastructure and modern and efficient economy,of which Mugabe promised to keep that way! Zimbabwe is in shreds because of gross economic mismanagement,corruption,thugg ery coupled with a culture of impunity,lack of accountability,incompetency and a general lack of leadership and direction.The country is on its knees not because of SANCTIONS on Mugabe and his gang of robbers as Mugabe would want Zimbabweans to believe!but because the cow has been milked for too long without being fed! Contrary to widespread misconceptions among many subjects in post-independance Zimbabwe that Mugabes policies were behind the stable economy in the infantile stages of Zimbabwe,it is an undeniable fact that indeed Zimbabweans were harvesting from what Smith had left behind but had no idea of re-generating that wealth until it got finished! As Mugabes reputation has plummeted terrible since he inherited a once vibrant economy,now amid economic ruins,reckoning of Ian Smiths legacy and achievements has improved greatly! Zimbabwes opposition supporters have lauded the late Smith as an immovable symbol of resistance! I hope you have seen the similarities/ differences in leadership style and personalities!This is the Zimbabwean story.... By Brian Tumbo From my rat infested shack!
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 22:02:32 +0000
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