Wake up Britain – it’s pay-back time

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Part II of a three-part series in which PETI NYEMBA questions the extent of Britain’s past responsibility in the evolution of Zimbabwe and its present duty to its former colony.
A new political challenge developed. Ian Smith, a man of distinguished Air Force service in the Second World War, was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1948 as a member of the Liberal Party. In 1953, he joined the United Federal Party from which he resigned in 1961 to form the RF, the Rhodesian Front. He boldly questioned Britain's right to rule over Rhodesia.
There was also a growing outcry against Britain's control of primary goods exported from Rhodesia. Their demands made no economic sense.
After failed attempts at talks with the British, Smith declared the UDI - Unilateral Declaration of Independence from Britain on 11 November 1965, a move that marked the beginning of a civil war that lasted for 15 years and cost many lives.
On the 28th April 1966 the Battle of Chinhoyi sparked the second Chimurenga. It lasted for 15 years and marked the end of the road for white rule.
In 1979 the Lancaster House agreement was signed and Independence quickly organised in 1980.The word spread across Bush Camps with the drums beating the name Mugabe. Who was this man? How had he risen from obscurity to leadership?
Mugabe had been involved with the NDP and ZAPU. After being arrested in 1963 he escaped to Tanzania where he helped to form ZANU. Returning home he was arrested and imprisoned for 10 years at Wha Wha Detention where he obtained a BSc, LLB, BA and a BEd. He was released in November 1974 and escaped to Mozambique to lead ZANU's armed struggle. While in Mozambique in Mugabe was elected President of ZANU and Commander in Chief of ZANLA forces.
Mugabe served as joint leader, with Joshua Nkomo, of the Patriotic Front at the Lancaster House Conference; he successfully negotiated Independence for Zimbabwe and an end to the Liberation War. It seemed Zimbabwe was inheriting a well-qualified man to run the country. What went wrong?
There is no single element that sparked off the ultimate failure of Mugabe's rule. However, it was marked by a number of irreversible danger signs; from the breakdown of the economy and senseless violence, to the unbelievable rise in inflation which stands today at 1500%.
“There will be no more talk of white and black, we are all Zimbabweans,” the president said at Independence. When did he change his mind? What went wrong? How can 26 years of violence, corruption and misuse of funding be justified? More significantly, why has Britain turned its back and refused to accept the responsibility of the colonial take-over of Rhodesia by Rhodes and the British Government in 1890? It is a question that has to be answered.