Zimbabwe an example of what has gone wrong in Africa

By Lance Guma
18 January 2007

Zimbabwean born writer John Holloway, author of the book ‘Saving Africa’ says the crisis in Zimbabwe is a mirror that reflects in general what has gone wrong on the African continent. Holloway says much of Africa is, ‘anarchic, corrupt, tyrannical and above all poor,’ and that the big challenge for all it’s people is to replace poverty with wealth. He argues this is only possible if African countries have their house in order by having a, ‘representative government, a literate electorate and strong institutions.’ He uses his book to show how dictators like Robert Mugabe have thrived, ‘in a spiral of decay and corruption,’ that has left ordinary citizens poorer than forty years ago.

He describes Mugabe as, ‘a brilliant villain from the start, a master manipulator, who destroyed or circumvented every obstacle in his path to acquiring and retaining power while still retaining the halo of a freedom fighter and liberator of the oppressed.’ He points to what he sees as an unacknowledged phenomenon, that ‘the white man is only acceptable as a permanent presence on the continent if he is politically and economically insignificant.’ He uses the book to show how Mugabe started endorsing farm invasions only when he felt the white farmers were now supporting the opposition.

Of concern to freedom loving Zimbabweans is the fact that Holloway does not see how Mugabe will be removed from power at the moment, given the state of the opposition. He argues the task facing any new government in Zimbabwe will be enormous and that radical policy shifts will have to be implemented if prosperity is to return. The respect for property rights is going to be key in building confidence in the economy and encouraging any investor, local or foreign, after Mugabe leaves office. He said the Zimbabwean diaspora has a great role to play in developing the country, but that Zimbabweans outside the country needed to develop a focus in that direction to make it work.

Turning to Africa in general he said attempts to help the continent with aid have failed and that, ‘a trillion dollars since 1960 have not made a detectable difference to the life of the ordinary African.’ He believes the continent has enough resources to shape its destiny but that the culture surrounding its ‘survival mechanisms’ needs to change and put people first, over leaders.

NB: The full interview with John Holloway will be broadcast on Behind the Headlines next week Thursday.