Bourne - Catastrophe: What Went Wrong in Zimbabwe?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

RICHARD BOURNE is Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, London University, and a former journalist. In 1998 he founded the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit; before that, in 1990, was the first director of the nongovernmental Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative. He has written and edited ten books and numerous reports, including a biography of President Lula of Brazil (2008) and a collection of essays in honour of the eightieth birthday of Shridath Ramphal (2008). As a journalist he was education correspondent of the Guardian and deputy editor of the London Evening Standard.

CATASTROPHE

WHAT WENT WRONG IN ZIMBABWE?

RICHARD BOURNE

For Panashe, Tadiwanashe and Summer, and the next generation of Zimbabweans, who will have many questions for their elders

Catastrophe: What Went Wrong in Zimbabwe? was first published in 2011 by Zed Books Ltd, 7 Cynthia Street, London N1 9JF, UK and Room 400, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010, USA

www.zedbooks.co.uk

Copyright Richard Bourne 2011

The right of Richard Bourne to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988

Designed and typeset in Monotype Bulmer by illuminati, Grosmont Index by John Barker

Cover designed by Rogue Four Design

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of Zed Books Ltd.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data available

ISBN 978 178032 107 3

CONTENTS

GLOSSARY

AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS Principal liberation movement in South Africa, in government from 1994.

ANC African National Council, body headed by Bishop Abel Muzorewa which became the United African National Council.

BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA COMPANY Company formed by Cecil Rhodes, responsible for colonisation of Rhodesia.

CFU Commercial Farmers Union in Zimbabwe.

CIO Central Intelligence Organisation, Rhodesian intelligence agency, then indigenised as security service for ZANUPF government after independence.

COMMONWEALTH International association supporting Lancaster House negotiations, 1979, oversight of elections leading to majority rule, 1980.

DABENGWA, DUMISO Born 1939, head of ZIPRA intelligence in civil war, charged with treason in 1982, minister of home affairs, 19922000, helps revive ZAPU after 2008 elections.

DETENTE Period of negotiation, 19745, promoted by Presidents Vorster of South Africa and Kaunda of Zambia, and US Secretary of State Kissinger.

DFID Department for International Development, set up by Blairs Labour government in 1997 to replace the Overseas Development Administration within the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

DISSIDENTS Armed opponents of ZANU government in 1980s.

ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States.

FEDERATION The Rhodesia and Nyasaland Federation, also known as the Central African Federation, 195364.

FRELIMO Frente para o Libertao do Mocambique, liberation movement which formed Mozambique government after independence in 1975.

FROLIZI Front for the Liberation of Zimbabwe, short-lived 1970s grouping.

GUKHURAHUNDI Repression spearheaded by Fifth Brigade in Matabeleland, in 1980s.

HUGGINS, GODFREY (18831971) Prime minister of Southern Rhodesia and then Federation for twenty-three years, created Viscount Malvern.

IMF International Monetary Fund.

LANCASTER HOUSE London location for 1979 talks leading to end of civil war and majority rule in Zimbabwe, giving its name to independence constitution.

MAKONI, SIMBA Born 1951, formerly SADC secretary general and minister of finance, and independent presidential candidate 2008.

MDC Movement for Democratic Change, opposition party formed in 1999.

MDCM Smaller MDC faction, following 2006 split, led first by Arthur Mutambara, then by Welshman Ncube.

MDCT Larger MDC faction, following 2006 split, led by Morgan Tsvangirai.

MK Umkohonto we Size, literally Spear of the Nation, the armed wing of the ANC during the liberation struggle.

MNR/RENAMO Armed insurgents against FRELIMO government, which became an opposition Mozambican political party as RENAMO after end of civil war, 1992.

MUGABE, ROBERT Born 1924; leader of ZANU and ZANUPF; imprisoned 196474, prime minister of Zimbabwe, 198087, executive president from 1987.

MUTAMBARA, ARTHUR Born 1966; leader of smaller faction of MDC known as MDCM until ousted in 2011, deputy prime minister in inclusive government formed in 2009.

MUZOREWA, ABEL (19252010) Methodist bishop who coordinated opposition to provisional agreement between British and Ian Smith in 1971, then was prime minister of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia as result of internal settlement with Smith in 1979.

NATIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY Coalition of civil society, union and church bodies which campaigned for a new constitution and a No vote in 2000 referendum.

NCUBE, WELSHMAN Born 1961; one of founders of MDC; elected leader of Mutambara faction in 2011; minister of industry and commerce in unity government.

NDP National Democratic Party: African nationalist party which succeeded the Southern Rhodesian African National Congress; banned in 1962.

NKOMO, JOSHUA (19171999) Trade unionist who successively led Southern Rhodesian ANC, NDP and ZAPU; home affairs minister 198082, then vice president 198799.

OAU Organisation of African Unity, superseded by African Union.

OPERATION MURAMBATSVINA Government-promoted clearance of informal urban dwellers in 2005, leading to displacements and human rights abuse criticised in a UN report.

RHODES, CECIL (18531962) Businessman and prime minister of Cape Colony, responsible for white colonisation of Southern and Northern Rhodesia.

RHODESIAN FRONT Rhodesian settler party which won 1962 election, led successively by Winston Field and Ian Smith, responsible for UDI.

SADC Southern African Development Community.

SITHOLE, NDABANINGI (19202000) Formed ZANU with Robert Mugabe and others; imprisoned 196474; overthrown as ZANU leader and joined Bishop Muzorewa in internal settlement in 1979.

SMITH, IAN (19192007) Prime minister of Rhodesia, 196479.

SOAMES, CHRISTOPHER (Lord) (19201987) Last governor of Rhodesia, who oversaw transition to majority rule in Zimbabwe in 1980.

SOUTHERN RHODESIAN African National Congress Early nationalist movement, led by Joshua Nkomo before it was banned.

TODD, Garfield (19082002) Prime minister of Southern Rhodesia, 195358.

TONGOGARA, Josiah (19381979) ZANLA commander, popular with his troops, who died just after Lancaster House agreement.

TSVANGIRAI, Morgan Born 1952; secretary general of Zimbabwe Confederation of Trade Unions, 198799; then founder of MDC and leader of larger faction (MDCT) after 2006 split; prime minister of Zimbabwe in inclusive government from 2009.

UANC United African National Council, body led by Bishop Abel Muzorewa which coordinated 1971 opposition to deal between Ian Smith and British, then partnered Smith in Zimbabwe-Rhodesia in 1979.

UDI Unilateral Declaration of Independence by Smith government in 1965.

UNDP United Nations Development Programme.