NASS Module PDF
NASS Module PDF
CONTENTS
PAGE
UNIT 10 DIPLOMACY
UNIT 13 REGIONALISM
UNIT 1
1.1 OBJECTIVES
1.2 INTRODUCTION.
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patriotic. In Zimbabwe today the sense of belonging has eluded both young and old and this is due to selfishness, greed and
the collapse of the extended family due to western values. A culture of greed or a mafia and mercenary attitude pervades all
sectors of society in the banking, retailing, manufacturing and civil service. The need to change attitudes and the need to
inculcate correct values is not only urgent but imperative now and in the future.
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1.3.1.2.5 Causes for the Decline or Collapse of the State
The state had become overpopulated leading to a shortage of resources.
There was increased emigration
Shortage of resources i.e. salt
Civil wars
Declining soil fertility
Some dispute that Nyatsimba Mutota left Great Zimbabwe because he had failed to succeed and left and formed the Mutapa
state..
1,3.1.3.THE MUTAPA STATE
The founder of the Mutapa state was Nyatsimba Mutota who left Zimbabwe in search of salt or after a succession dispute
according to oral history. Mutota went to the Zambezi Valley where he defeated some weak communities who were
already settled there such as the Tavara or the Dzivaguru people. Mutota As a result earned the title ‗ Munhu-mutapa‘ a
praise name which means Lord of Conquering.
Before the succession dispute, King Chibatamatosi, Mutota‘s father had ordered Mutota to find salt.
Initially the king had sent his servant Nyakatondo who had returned with salt and reported on the abundance of elephants in
the area.
Prince Mutota traveled north leading a large army. He built his capital a ―Zimbabwe‖ on the slope of Chikato hill near the
Utete River.
Part of this Zimbabwe remains to this day at the bottom of the escapement north of Guruve.
Mutota formed an alliance with the Tavara High Priest, Dzivaguru. Upon the death of Mutota, his son, Nyanhenhwe
Matope took over and co-ruled with his half sister Nyamhita who occupied the district of Handa hence she is often referred
to as Nyamhita Nehanda. The two ruled the Mutapa Empire stretching from the Anngwa and Manyame Rivers, north to the
Zambezi and west to the Musengezi and Mukumbura Rivers.
1.3.1.3.1The Mutapa Language eschatology and customs
The people had the same shona language, customs and culture similar to the peoples of the Great Zimbabwe state. The term
―Shona‖ was not used until the 19th century. The Ndebele people described the Karanga ie. Mutapa language and area of
control as ―entshona langa‖ which means a place where the sun sets or a place to the west.
Nowadays the term Shona is representative of a number of related dialects (in Zimbabwe) one of which is Karanga.
They believed in a god whom they called ‗mwari‘ who is claimed to have spoken through the spirits of the ancestors and
they listened carefully to spirit mediums i.e. the Mhondoros.
Religious ceremonies were held to honour the spirit mediums where music dancing and feasting occurred (Bira). The senior
spirit mediums were Dzivaguru in the north east, Nehanda in the central and Chaminuka in the west.
At the cultural level the society was closely knit with the family being the nucleus of society as well as being the foundation
of the nation. The basis of this arrangement was a high degree of morality with crime, starvation, delinquency,
prostitution, divorce and almost all known present day social ills being unknown. The law was highly developed to deal
with cultural issues and less defined in terms of commerce. Criminals even murderers were rehabilitated with the law
seeking to reconcile the injured and the culprit and compensate the victim or his relatives in the case of murder. When a
person was murdered life had to be paid with life and invariably a young woman from the murderers‘ family had to be
given to the victim‘s family. Inevitably, this created a bond between the two considering that at birth or death there are
things that no one could or can do except the relatives of a woman. This is in stark contrast to equivalent European law
which was and remains punitive and divisive.
1,3.1.3.2 The Mutapa Economy
The state existed for almost 500 years in one form or the other. During its peak it was the heart of a powerful empire which
controlled the Zambezi River trade route and received taxes from foreigners. Not only was the economy based on trade and
taxation, tribute was also part of their economy. The people of the Mutapa provided a variety of goods for trade. Trade made the
Mutapa ruling class wealthy and the state became strong.
The people paid tribute to the Mutapa tax collectors and elephant hunters paid tribute in the form of tusks.
The Mutapa encouraged the gold miners to do the dangerous mine work in return the miners had to sell the gold to the
Mutapa.
He taxed all imports and exports, every trader paid tribute, every visitor gifts, people brought disputes and complains to the
Mutapa and paid fees for his judgement.
1. 3.1.3.3 The Mutapa Political Structures
They had many advisors and ministers to govern the state.
Some of the emperors‘ wives were also officials, greeting visitors and handling their business and as members of his royal
court they became very powerful.
Munhumutapa, his wives and officials wore expensive jewellery and clothes made from cotton and silk. Most people wore
skin aprons.
A large army was maintained which traveled long distances, patrolling and collecting taxes and cattle and brought new
communities into the empire.
1. 3.1.3.4 The Portuguese Factor In The Mutapa State.
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When Matope died, succession disputes arose. In 1494 Chikuyo Chisamarengu became king and was the first to receive a
Portuguese visitor named Fernandes who brought rice, cloth and guns as gifts.
The acquisition of more guns increased Mutapa‘s power such that he was in a position to assist his ally Makombe of Barwe
to take control of Manyika.
In 1530 Neshangwe became the new king after Chisamarengu had died. He took over Mbire province earning the praise
name Munembire.
He introduced the old custom of chiefs sending their ambassador to rekindle fires at the king‘s palace.
In 1550 Chivero Nyasoro succeeded Neshangwe and after him Nzou or Ntemba an unmarried youth, took over and ruled
with his mother Chiuya.
Negomo and his mother Chiuya received a Catholic priest Father Goncalo da‘ Silveira who wanted to convert them to
Christianity. Muslim traders at the king‘s court (vamwenyi) did not like this and plotted to kill Da‘ Silveira. They
subsequently strangled him and dumped him in a pond.
Goncalo‘s death angered the Portuguese and when they sent an army to revenge his death, it was defeated.
In 1607 Gatsi Rusere asked the Portuguese‘s for assistance to fight his rival for the leadership and in return they were given
mines.
The people of Mutapa refused to tell them where the mines were because of earlier experience with Portuguese
Prazeros(land/ prazo holders)(this is where the name purazi comes from) who took their land.
More Portuguese arrived and forced them to work in the fields. The Portuguese formed private armies and became wild and
lawless.
1.3.1.3.5 The Decline or Collapse of the Mutapa State
The decline was precipitated by the Portuguese private armies and this led the Mutapa Nyambo Kapararidze to try to expel
them.
He was unsuccessful in this and was overpowered and in his place a puppet Mamvura Mhande was installed.
After Kapararidze, the Portuguese chose other Munhumutapas who would obey them.
An 18th century Munhumutapa moved his people to Mozambique where new chiefs were appointed to restore order.
Chioko was the last ruler to use the title Munhumutapa. He led a revolt against the Portuguese but was however crashed in
1817 and so ended the legacy of the Mutapa state.
1.3.1.4 THE ROZVI STATE
The state arose from plundered wealth by the Rozvi under Changamire Dombo (1634) believed to having been a powerful
ruler. He was very wealthy and claimed that his father was a mwari and his mother a virgin. The Rozvi capital was at
Thabazikamambo near Bulawayo.
By 1680 he was at his peak and his state was spread between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers and even into areas like
Mozambique e.g. Sena.
The Rozvi Changamire received tribute from smaller chiefs.
By 1830 – 1860 the state existed in name only.
1.3.1.4 .1 Decline and Collapse Of the State
Collapse of the Rozvi state was as a result of Mfecane ‗or time of trouble‖ caused by Nguni tribes who had fled from Tshaka
or broken away from the Zulu state in present day Natal
Zwangendaba crossed the Limpopo with his group and fought the Rozvi ruler Chirisamhuru.
The state was further weakened when Kololo Sebitwane in 1836 fought and defeated the Rozvi. Mzilikazi turned west into
Gaza and then north with his group and finished the remnants of the Rozvi state between 1837 – 1840.
1.3.1.5 THE NDEBELE STATE
The Founder of the State was Mzilikazi son of, Matshobane and grandson of Zwide. Mzilikazi joined Tshaka under Zwide. He
was a chief of a small clan called Khumalo. He suspected Zwide of the death of his father Matshobane.
Mzilikazi was sent to recover cattle and he did not surrender the cattle to Tshaka and fled north.
He left Natal in 1821/ 1822 with 300 men. The name Ndebele was given as a nickname by Tswanas and means people of
long shields. Mzilikazi increased his side through conquering and incorporating weak tribes such as the Tswana and
Suthuland some people voluntarily joined Mzilikazi. He was defeated by the Boers at Enthumbane in the Transvaal. The
Ndebele crossed the Limpopo River in 1837 – 1846 and settled at Inyati near Matopo hills.
They easily routed the weakened Rozvi and brought adjacent Shona areas under their control. They conquered Shonas such
as the Kalanga and Venda.
1.3.1.5.1 Political Structures
King was pre-eminent in the Ndebele state. Mzilikazi was the supreme commander of the army, highest judge with power
over life and death. He was a religious leader who presided over important religious ceremonies such as Incxwala.
King however didn‘t rule alone but with two advisory counsels, the Mphakati and Izinkulu indicating that king was not a
dictator.
The Mphakati was made up of original Khumalo chiefs i.e. those who had left Natal and knew Zulu military tactics.
These made the most important decisions although they could be vetoed by the king.
The Izinkulu was made up of other chiefs especially those who were incorporated in the Ndebele state..
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1.3.1.5 .2The Ndebele Economy.
Many European historians misunderstood or deliberately distorted the bases of Ndebele economy. They argued that the Ndebele
were nomads and therefore had lots of time for raiding the Shona. This was not entirely true. The following were the basis of
Ndebele economy:
Herding –This was the most important economic activity owing to the fact that Ndeng initially were not permanently
established in Matebeleland. The Ndeng kept large heads of cattle, sheep and goats.
They acquired some of the cattle along the way while others were obtained through the conquered Rozvi and others were
received in the form of tribute from the Shona while others were obtained through raiding.
Agriculture- the Ndebele had fields in which they grew crops such as millet, sorghum, water melons etc.
Agriculture was however, not very popular with the Ndebele because of climatic conditions.
Hunting and gathering - Hunting was very popular in the Ndebele state. Their kills ranged from large animals e.g. elephants
and buffaloes to small species e.g. buck and rodents. Men usually hunted while women concentrated on gathering.
They gathered wild fruits, grass seed and insects. Gathering was important in the Ndebele state as far as it supplemented
organised agriculture.
Trade - They traded internally i.e. amongst themselves and externally with the Shona
The Ndebele traded their cattle and gold for grain, corn, cloth, iron, jewellery, beads etc
Mining - The Ndebele occasionally carried out some mining activities to a limited extent. They traded gold with the
Portuguese. Mining was done mostly in winter- after harvest when people didn‘t have much work in the field.
Tribute - in the form of cattle, grain and to a certain extent women from those tribes under their control
Raids/plunder - They raided the unsubdued Shona tribes for cattle, women, young men and grain.
However, it should be realized that the Ndebele didn‘t always raid the Shona. Only those who lived near Ndebele
settlements were raided occasionally such as the Shona in the Masvingo, Mberengwa, Gweru and Kwekwe areas.
1.3.1.5 .3 Ndebele- Shona relations
1.3.1.5 .3.1 The myths and realities.
Many European historians wrote that the Ndebele always raided the Shona and that the Shona were on the verge of
extinction when settler colonialists came to Zimbabwe. They used this as an excuse to influence the British government to
colonize this country and the missionaries used this argument more than the ordinary settlers.
The reason why missionaries encouraged the British government to occupy and destroy the Ndebele Kingdom was because
they had failed to convert a single Ndebele man.
The truth of the matter is that there was co-existence between the Shona and the Ndebele had the occasional raid as a
common feature of this relationship.
In the early stages of the Ndebele settlement i.e. between 1840 – 1870 the Ndebele were pre-occupied with their own
security, internal problems such that they could not always fight the Shona.
It is also true that some Shona people never experienced Ndebele raids up to 1890 especially those Shona people living
north of Harare and Manicaland.
Those Shona chiefs who refused to pay tribute e.g. Chief Chivi or Bere were major targets for raids. Ndebele raids did not
interfere with the economy of those Shona chiefs who paid tribute and moreover some Shona chiefs aided the Ndebele and
some stole or raided the Ndebele to recover stolen cattle.
The Ndebele actually encouraged good relations and there was some level of inter-marriage.
The Ndebele adopted the Shona deity ―mwari‖/umlimu‘ and followed the Shona traditions of ancestral worship..
The state was divided into 3 distinct social groups based on history namely:
a) Abezanzi
These were the superior class which occupied most important positions. They formed the aristocratic ruling class. These were
the original Khumalo who had left Natal and constituted about 15% of Ndebele population ie. The Hadebes, Khumalos,
Mkwananzi.
b) Enhla
These were 2nd most important groups in the Ndebele state. They were Sotho and Tswana who joined the Ndebele on their way
to Zimbabwe. They occupied important military positions in the Ndeng state and they constituted about 25% of Ndebele
population.
c) Amahole
These were the least important in the Ndebele state. They were made up of the Kalanga and other Shona speaking people
who were conquered and absorbed by the Ndebele and made up 60% of Ndebele population. However, the hole who
proved themselves in battle also occupied important military posts in the Ndebele economy. Due to continued inter-
marriage most of these groups lost their identities ie the Moyos, Sibandas, Ncubes, Gumbos.
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1.3.1.5 .3.2 ACTIVITIES
Define National and Strategic Studies
Compare and contrast the democracy in the pre-colonial states and the democracy in the West.
Examine the level of civilization of the pre-colonial states in the following areas:
vi) Medicine
vii) Governance
viii) Democracy
ix) Culture
x) Technology
UNIT 2
2.0 OBJECTIVES
Analyse the causes and effects of Anglo-Ndebele War , the1st Chimurenga War and 2nd Chimurenga.
White settlement in the region was established as early as the 1650s at the Cape in South Africa. This was a re-supply post
for fresh water and food for the East India trade. The Dutch settlers at the Cape were soon displaced by the British and
pushed north. The discovery of gold on the Rand and diamonds led to the continued jostling for control between the British
and Dutch settlers for the good part of the two centuries from 1700 through 1800. Hunters and missionaries who were the
trail blazzers for British colonisation spread the rumor that there was a bigger Rand in the area occupied by the Ndendele
across the Limpopo.
Cecil John Rhodes who came to South Africa because of ill-health joined his brother at the Kimberly diamond fields and
became rich and directed his attention to the rumors of an ―el dorado‖ or city of gold to the north.
Rhodes was an imperialist at heart. His aim was to bring under British Control all African territory from South Africa to
Egypt.
Rhodes believed in British superiority and thought that it was a British responsibility to civilize Africa the so called Dark
Continent.
Other imperialists were also interested in Zimbabwe namely; the Boers from the short lived Transvaal Republic, Germans
from South West Africa and especially the Portuguese.
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In1887 the Transvaal government sent its representative Piet Grobler to negotiate a friendship treaty with Lobengula
assuming he was the ruler of all the territories north of the Limpopo. The agreement - known as the Grobler treaty
provided for a Boer Representative to be resident at Bulawayo and Lobengula would assist the Boers ( in the face of
British threats) if required to do so.
In response to the treaty, Rhodes influenced the British government to send a representative to Bulawayo to negotiate a
counter treaty.
John Smith Moffat representing the British government negotiated and signed the treaty in February 1888. According to
this agreement Lobengula was to cancel the Grobler Treaty. He would also not enter into any agreement with any
European power without the consent of Britain.
The Moffat Treaty was supposed to be a treaty of friendship between Lobengula and the British government but in fact was
the first step in the collapse and subjugation of the Ndeng state.
Agreed and signed in October 1888, it led to the occupation of Zimbabwe by the white settlers through the British South
African company. Rhodes had formed this commercial company to spear head the occupation of this country.
The Rudd Concession was entered into between Charles Rudd representing Rhodes and Lobengula. The Rudd delegation
consisted of three people namely;
Charles Rudd
Rhodes‘ old friend since their days at Oxford University. He was therefore an embodiment of Rhodes‘ self interest.
Rotchford Maguire
Was a lawyer and his expertise in the legal language was going to be useful in tricking
Lobengula.
1. Francis Thompson
He was nicknamed ―Matebele‖ because he was fluent in Nguni languages including Ndebele. He had a perfect knowledge of
Ndeng custom. His presence was therefore meant to influence Lobengula to sign the agreement. Rhodes was careful in the
selection of the Rudd team.
Lobengula didn‘t want to meet this delegation let alone sign the agreement, the evidence is that:
2) The delegation bribed Lobengula‘s most trusted senior, Induna Lotshe, who influenced Lobengula to sign the
agreement and for that role Lotshe was executed together with his family.
3) Lobengula was influenced by several whitemen he trusted such as Moffat who misled or lied to him that the Rudd
delegation represented the queen.
4) Because of both internal and external influence, Lobengula signed the Rudd Concession in October 1888, the terms of
which were;:
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Monthly pension of 100 pounds sterling per month.
-Granted Rhodes and the BSAC exclusive rights over all minerals and precious metals in Mashonaland and
Matebeleland.
They would surrender all their weapons to Lobengula and actually become his people.
Armed with the Rudd agreement Rhodes had to have the political protection of the British government. Rhodes therefor
sought and got this protection through The Royal Charter, granted in October 1889. The document in effect declared that
the Rudd concession had effectively made the territories of Lobengula British territories under the administration of the
British South Africa Company (BSAC) and by that virtue restricted Boer and Portuguese expansion. Some German hunters
advised Lobengula on what was meant by the document and he tried in vain to repudiate it.
He sent two of his Indunas to the queen accompanied by E A Mount and Charles Helm to inform her that he was no longer
interested in the Rudd Concession. The indunas were deliberately delayed and the repudiation was too late.
To reverse the Rudd agreement, Lobengula granted Edward Lippert a German businessman a concession for a period of
100 years to mine in Zimbabwe.
Rhodes bought the Lippert Concession and made his position even more powerful.
Rhodes‘s next step was to organize a group of men who were going to form the first t settlers in Zimbabwe.
The group was called The Pioneers made up of 200 settler volunteers and chosen from thousands of applicants from all over
Europe and South Africa.
Supported by 500 troops, the group was promised 2 000 acres and five gold claims each. The Botswana protectorate
provided 800 African labourers.
Fredrick Selous guided the settler group because of his knowledge of the country as a hunter. The group crossed Into
Zimbabwe in March 1890 and built fort Tuli. The column turned east avoiding the Ndeng state and established Fort
Victoria (Masvingo) On 17 August 1890 the Column reached Fort Charter (Chivhu). From Charter the column reached
Harare on 12 September 1890, raised the British flag the Union jack and, and called Harare Salisbury in honour of British
Prime Minister at that time. This marked the completion of the occupation of the land.
Leander Star Jameson, Rhodes‘ personal friend was appointed the first governor of Mashonaland.
The members of Pioneer Column were largely disappointed with the amount of gold they got in Mashonalnad.
They thought that Matebeleland was a little closer to South Africa so a second Rand could be found in Matebeleland.
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The white settlers also admired the big cattle found in Matebeleland and the attractive land (rich grazing lands). They even
believed that Lobengula‘s capital was built on top of a gold mountain.
It should be borne in mind that the occupation of Matebeleland was inevitable and unavoidable. It was to complete the
occupation of Zimbabwe and, as the BSAC was bankrupt, it needed gold; hence Matebeleland was their own way out of
that big problem.
To do so the BSAC had to destroy the powerful and landed Ndebele state and Leander Star Jameson needed an excuse in
order to attack the Ndebele state. He created conflicts to justify war between whites and Ndebele.
Jameson drew up his own boundary line to separate Mashonaland from Matebeleland. He then restricted Lobengula‘s rule
to Matebeleland.
He claimed the whole country as his and to make matters worse, the boundary line kept on shifting towards his capital thus
reducing his area of influence.
While Rhodes and BSAC were busy establishing themselves in Mashonaland the Ndeng were trying to avoid any conflicts with
the whites. Since the settlers were interested in Matebeleland, Rhodes and his people were busy finding ways of attacking the
Ndeng The whites admired the Ndeng‘s rich grazing lands and suspected gold deposits.
Whites employed the Shona people but the Ndebele still regarded later as their subjects.
In June 1893 some of the Shona people led by headman Gomala stole 500 metres of telegraph wire.
They were ordered to pay cattle as fine. They paid this fine using cattle that belonged to Lobengula and which they had had
stolen.
Lobengula claimed the cattle to be his and they were returned to him.
Soon after this event another Shona by the name of Bere is alleged to have to have stolen cattle belonging to Lobengula.
Lobengula sent an impi to punish the Shona chief and his people. As a result Shona servants on European farms were killed
and some fled to Fort Victoria for protection.
The Ndebele Indunas, Manyao and Uumgandani pursued the Shona people who sought refuge in Victoria.
The indunas demanded that the Shona be handed over but Lendy, the magistrate of Fort Victoria refused and the Ndeng
were ordered to vacate Fort Victoria.
Lendy followed and caught up with Umgandani‘s party and killed all of them and in response Lobengula mobilized 6000
soldiers.
The Victoria Incident triggered the war but the issue at stake was that the white farmers believed that there were rich
gold deposits in Matebelaland and had long planned on how to get there
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They also saw the grazing land and good cattle herds of the Ndebele as a recipe for prosperity even if they were to find no
gold.
The powerful independent Ndebele state was seen as preventing white settlers from getting enough labour for their mines and
farms.
By September 1893 Jameson had organized a force of over 1000 well armed white settlers aided by missionaries from South
Africa.
Jameson promised each of them 2400 hectares of land and 20 gold claims each if the Ndeng were defeated.
The white armies left Salisbury and Fort Victoria in October 1893 and moved south west towards Matopo ready for a show
down with the Ndeng.
In a battle, that took place along the Shangani and Mbembesi Rivers, the Ndebele impi was heavily defeated.
On 3 November after just a month of bloody fighting the invading forces entered the Ndeng capital, Bulawayo and
Lobengula set fire to the city and fled north where he vanished without trace to date.
The 1893 war marked the complete conquest of Zimbabwe and an end to Ndendele Supremacy.
2.11 CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.Slavery is the highest level of degrading another human being. Slavery is as ancient as
human existence. The practice was pronounced under the Roman Empire and at that time it also assumed its commercial
undertones. This practice was perfected by the former Roman colonies in Europe when they enslaved Africa. Never in the
History of mankind were such atrocities, insensitivity, and cruelty and inhumanity perpetrated by human beings upon other
human beings. Slavery was the crudest method of exploiting other human beings and in its wake came colonisation which by
definition is slavery with a humane face. The latter like slavery leads to the exploitation of other man by other man by other
means other than brute force.
It is not possible under The United Nations Charter for a nation to unilaterally attack or annex the territory of another state and
where this has happened of late as when Iraq attacked Kuwait the UN unanimously agreed to reverse the annexture through force
of arms. To colonize another state is therefor the highest form of state irresponsibility. The USA under false claims of existence
of weapons of mass destruction attacked Iraq in 2003 and there was a global outcry against the war. Colonization nevertheless
took place many centuries before the UN came into existence but that does make colonization any less a crime against humanity.
Colonisation was perpetrated by the very nations that were vociferously opposed to the Iraq Kuwait invasion and yet many
serious human rights violations were perpetrated by the colonial powers in this process. In Tasmania Australia, the aborigines on
the island were wiped out to the last man by British settlers. The Spanish conquistadors demolished whole empires and
civilizations in the Americas.
2.12 SLAVERY
1. The discovery of gold and silver and agricultural potential in South America or in the Americas created the need for
disciplined workforce.
2. Inability of the local or native Red-Indian population to withstand organized disciplined labour.
4. Indigenous or Red-Indian inability to withstand European diseases e.g. small pox, syphilis, gonorrhea etc.
5. The existence of a greedy and guliable or naïve chieftainship in Africa which captured and sold its own kith and kin for a
bottle of fire water that is gin.
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Commercial activity therefore contributed much to the consolidation of slavery. The trade in Europe did not provide
sufficient profit because of the problem of exchange values. But the trade with unindustrialized countries in Africa and
America was more profitable because of the use values.
This system of trade was a system of robbery based on plunder, piracy and slavery and colonial conquest.
To consolidate accumulation or profit in England, the joint stock company was devised and several of this new economic
tool were formed, e.g. the Adventurous Russia company and the Africa company. According to Nassau, a well known
academic of the time, the objectives of the Africa company were, ―…to kidnap or purchase and work to death the natives
of Africa without mercy.‖ The Eastland Company had the monopoly and right to trade with the European hinterland. The
Levan Company in which Queen Elizabeth 1 was a major shareholder became the East Indian Company.
The Fuggers Company in Germany was first a merchant company and later became a bank and financed all Germany wars
of the period.
The Fuggers Company in return for financing war was paid through the form of trading concessions, colonial land and
through revenue from colonial mines.
As contact with Latin America or South America increased, the company turned to Africa for cheap labour.
It was the nearest continent with a population used to organize labour which was also disciplined in many respects. The
Uterecht Treaty of 1713 gave English Merchants the right to supply South America with 5 000 slaves every year and a
special company was formed to supply these slaves.
Most of the gold and products from the plantations from South America ended up in British towns.
The continued enslavement of African peoples between 1646 and 1680 resulted in 70 000 slaves being taken to South
America. However, only 46 000 survived the translocation. The slave trade was part of the triangular trade between
Europe, Africa and South America .This trade was very profitable to the European companies and the African Royal
company which was the slave company paid a dividend of 300% despite loss of half the ―goods/cargo‖ that‘s despite the
death of more than half the slaves en route to the Americas.
There is therefore a co relation between Europe‘s expansion/development and slave labour from Africa. The methods used
by the companies especially British firms, was to capture other countries‘ export markets through colonisation,
protectionism and unequal exchange.
Europe therefore did not undertake its industrial Revolution without the plunder, the enslavement and the destruction of the
native people of Africa.
2.13 COLONIALISM
Colonialism was a product of European merchants or European commerce. The former (the merchants) later supported and
financed the political institutions or their governments in their wars of conquest and colonisation and they also participated
in policy making. Colonisation therefore was therefor an economic necessity. The reasons or causes of Africa‘s
colonisation were or are:
d) Allowed expansion and creation of new markets which had no balance of trade problems.
e) Colonization facilitated the unimpeded imposition of the religious super structure and beliefs of the colonizers on the
colonized peoples.
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African slavery had existed in Europe from about the 16th century but the need to exploit the wealth of South America saw
slavery reaching a climax in the 18th century. Slavery however, came to an end when it stopped serving the purposes and
interests of European commerce.
The dynamics of European production and exchange changed and no longer required slave labour. Britain banned slavery in
1807. Slavery however, continued or even grew after this banning. In 1833 slavery was internationally banned but it did
not die until a 100 years later and to the shame of Africa still lingers on in places like the Sudan.
Slavery was not abolished because Europe had repented of its weakedness but because commerce could not benefit as much
from this evil practice.
The commercial revolution in the 16th century expanded trade beyond Europe and this created a conservative class of
merchants and landlords. Commercial merchants were a class which could not fully satisfy their accumulation potential in
Europe so they turned to foreign markets.
Primitive accumulation in Europe, that is, getting rich through violence and other dishonest means, was extended and
practiced in foreign lands through colonization.
The merchants and conquerors destroyed several civilizations in Africa e.g. the Ashanti kingdom and the Aztec Civilization
in Central America.
Earlier, five crusades had been wedged or undertaken in the Middle East and this almost destroyed the Arab civilization.
The crusades were less about religion and more about plunder and theft and robbery. The amount of wealth stolen in this
manner although substantial could not last long and the result was to exploit the mines and the agricultural potential in
Africa and in South America.
In South America where more gold and silver than in Africa existed, the mines could not be exploited using local labour so
they resorted to stealing people from Africa.
This form of exploitation eventually gave way to paid labour as a more profitable way of accumulating wealth.
Development or industrialization in Europe is therefore directly linked to both colonialism and slavery.
Before the Berlin conference in 1884 commercial contact had long existed between Europe and Africa and in trying to
protect their commercial interest, Europeans had fought many wars and for almost a 100 years between 1700 and 1800
Europe was at war with each other because of commercial or economic interests. With the growth of England and France
as the major military powers, the wars became less and less However, when German became a powerful nation towards
the end of the 19th Century, the following scenario developed in Europe;.
The British passed The Navigation and Frauds Act, The Navigation and Staple acts etc. with a view to monopolising trade
with the so called ‗new world‘ and ‗the dark continent.‘
Portugal fearing wars between Europe and Britain suggested or requested Otto Von Bismark, the Germany chancellor, to
convene a conference for all interested parties with trading or commercial interests with Africa. This led to the infamous
Berlin conference. The objectives of the conference were:
1. To lay down the rules for the partition and exploitation of Africa.
PAGE 12
1. Freedom of navigation on all major rivers in Africa.
2. Colonization or establishment of protectorates to be entered into voluntarily between European powers and African Chiefs.
3. A colony to be recognized only where there was visible occupation and evidence of a written protectorate agreement.
2.17 Contents Of Protectorate Agreements between European Powers and African Chiefs/Kings.
1. Parties to the agreement- a). African chief and, b). a European commercial company.
7. Rewards for the chiefs and the people, alleged or claimed improvement of their lives through European civilization.
1. Led to the scramble for Africa by European powers (nations) through commercial companies or by commercial companies.
2. The establishment of concessions which were unfair and never explained to the African chiefs.
3. Resistance or rejection of the concessions by African chiefs when they understood the implications of the agreement.
4. Use of force by European powers to break resistance and to fully colonise Africa.
1. Balance of trade dis-equilibra i.e. negative trade relations between Africa and European countries during and after
colonialism through a new form of relationship called Neo-colonialism.
3. Underdevelopment of Africa since there was no technology transfer to facilitate industrialisation (investment was only in
infrastructure to enable exploitation of resources).
4. Cultural decimation/destruction.
6. Loss of individual and national identity by Africans during and after colonialism
7. Super enrichment and development of Europe and their extensions in America and Australia.
PAGE 13
2.20 Reasons for the colonisation of Africa.
With the Ndebele state in ruins and the Shona state machinery crumbling in the face of superior settler firepower, the BSAC
proceeded apace to consolidate its grip on the country. The Transvaal Boer state however posed a great challenge to
Rhodes‘ plans In 1895, Jameson withdrew most of the company‘s armed personnel into the Transvaal to fight the Boers but
was crushed and the scenario for the Native rebellion in Zimbabwe developed
The reserve system or translocation of native Zimbabweans to infertile dry inhospitable holding areas was introduced.
After the defeat of the Ndebele, the settlers seized their 6 000 acres displacing many natives and those displaced became
fulltime labourers or squatters.
The settlers started ill treating the Ndebele like they were doing the Shona.
. FORCED LABOUR
The British South African company introduced hut tax to force the Africans to go to work and in order to raise revenue.
To solve their labour problems, the company introduced forced labour. The chiefs were instructed to recruit able bodied men
and hand them over to the BSAC as labourers- ―chibharo‖. The Shona and Ndebele so enslaved ran away into the hills to
escape.
Again this did not please the Ndeng who wanted to claim their ancestral land back as in the reserves there was food shortage
and starvation at times.
CATTLE
Soon after the defeat of the Ndeng in the Anglo Ndebele war, the whites confiscated the Ndeng cattle numbering about 250 000.
This drastically reduced the Ndeng herd and the Ndeng wanted their cattle back as it was a sign of prestige.
TAXATION
PAGE 14
This was imposed on the Ndeng for a dual purpose
i) It was indirectly made to force the Ndeng to work in order to pay tax.
In order to stop this abuse, the Ndebele had to fight the whitemen and the employment of their former vassals the Shona as
policemen did not please the Ndebele as they were now told what to do by these Shona policeman.
NATURAL DISASTERS
It was at that time that natural disasters occurred. These included drought, rinderpest a cattle disease and locusts. Africans gave
these natural disasters a religious interpretation; they argued that the presence of the whites had angered their ancestors hence
these natural disasters and they then found it necessary to drive away the whites in an effort to bring the natural disasters to an
end.
These were very instrumental in bringing about a concented effort to drive away the white man and they used a variety of
methods. They passed information on the progress made in the preparations for war. Some prophesied that the fighters would
be protected by their ancestors. They also provided medicine which they claimed made the fighters‘ bullet proof.
They gave general encouragement to everybody and in some cases they threatened death to all those who showed no
interest.
2.21.2.2 RESULTS
Africans were defeated because of the inferior weapons that they used which included spears, shields, bow and arrows
against the whitemen‘s machine guns, cannons and 7 pounders.
Disunity and dis-organization among the Africans also led to this defeat as some collaborated with the whites.
Leaders and spirit mediums were captured and killed thereby leaving the Africans direction less and leaderless.
Africans lost faith in their spirit mediums in particular and in their religion in general leading to many Africans being
converted to Christianity. However, although the Africans were defeated, their efforts need to be recognised. It was the
first time that they had fought a common enemy as a united people.
It was also important in that it laid the foundation for future wars of resistance that is the 2 nd Chimurenga etc.
Notable heroes and heroines of the First Chimurenga were people like Nehanda, Kaguvi, General Magwegwe and Mkwati
of the Ndebele army, Chief Chingaira, Mashonganyika, Muzambi, Maremba, Zvidembo, Mazhindu, Manyongori,
Gunduza, Mvenuri and Gutu.
2.21.3 Repressive Settler Legislation which dispossessed and dehumanized Native Zimbabweans
Almost two hundred whites lost their lives during the first Chimurenga war and many thousands of Africans died in battle and in
the reprisals that followed up to and during 1898. To secure their position the settlers enacted many pieces of legislation that
effectively proscribed or limited African economic, cultural and political freedoms.
Effectively removed all native chiefs who were anti- settlers and replaced them with puppet settler administrators. The act also
created reserves or cantonments in dry inhospitable areas.
PAGE 15
Enacted to raise revenue for settlers and to force black men to go and work for the white man.
The land bank act provide d new white settler farmers with free tillage for five years and the same period as grace before
commencing to repay loans from the state owned Land bank.
Discriminated against natives in so far as agricultural production was concerned with respect to quantities they could market or
the prices they could fetch.
Divided the whole country into agro-zones based on rainfall patterns from the highest rainfall region 1 to the lowest rainfall
region 5. Natives were trans- located to regions 4 and 5.
In 1930 whites who numbered 50 000 were allocated 49 000 000 acres of prime land while blacks who numbered 1 000 000
were allocated 28 000 000 acres of the worst land in regions 4 and five. The translocation of blacks was accompanied with
untold violence and starvation and malnutrition became endemic. More government officials were employed country wide and
effect while rule and these included native commissioners and police man. A land policy after 1905 was affected which started
to impoverish ty blacks and to keep them politically ineffective. Africans were also excluded from government through strict
qualifications e.g.. The right to vote was given to males over 21 days with an annual income of 50 000 pounds or with property
worth 75 pounds. The Land Apportionment Act of 1930 confirmed and legalised the displacement of Africans that had been
ongoing earlier.
Up until 1906, ninety percent of Southern Rhodesia‘s agricultural produce came from black farmers and many whites did not
like this state of affairs. As a result, the Rhodesia Native Labour Bureau (RNLB) stopped blacks from competing with whites
and between 1908 and 1915, 1.5 million acres of the best land was taken from blacks and given to whites. New boundaries were
created to exclude fertile high rainfall areas from newly created reserves. The latter were located in semi arid areas. Blacks in
regions 1, 2 and 3 were made to pay higher grazing fees and taxes. Since many could not pay they were removed and settled in
reserves which were situated far away from markets and rail and tarred motor roads. By the 1920s, 65% of the black population
had been forced into reserves. This led to cycle of poverty among Africans which persists up to today -2004.
The act protected white farmers from black competition in maize production. 2 grades of maize were made, A grade for whites
and B grade for blacks. A grade fetched a higher price while B fetched a lower price. Whites also paid less for maize they
bought from blacks.
Whites paid less on the market for cattle bought from blacks.
This system impoverished the blacks who were loosing out through this fraudulent commercial arrangement. As the blacks
became poorer in the reserves they migrated or translocated to towns.
PAGE 16
Industrial Conciliation Act:1934.
Higher paying jobs were reserved for whites that are skilled and semi-skilled job.
The act was latter amended to allow natives to become nurses and teachers.
The act barred social inter-action between the races for an example it was an offence for a white to share a toilet with a
black man or to mix in schools, hospitals, or hotels even cemeteries.
The act barred any African family from owning more than five herd of cattle or eight acres of land in the communal lands.
The act segregated the ownership of land between white areas and black areas. Natives could only occupy land in
communal lands without holding title to it. In Towns natives could only lease property and no black man could own a house
in town until after 1980.
The act divided the land on racial lines and designated the best 45 000 000 acres as European land and shared among the
250 000 whites and the worst 45 000 000acres was designated as native land to be shared by the 5 000 000 blacks.
The act also barred the races from encroaching in the other race‘s land.
PASS LAWS
All black males were required to carry a pass or identity paper which any white man or police officer of any race could
demand at anytime anywhere. This restricted black freedom of movement from place to place.
After the collapse of traditional resistance in 1898 Zimbabwe was ruled by the British through the BSAC. Africans were
speedily brought under control and since company rule was increasingly becoming inadequate and incapable of running the
country, the British gave the settlers two options to either join South Africa or to establish responsible self government. In a
referendum in 1923 the settlers chose the latter. The more the settler regime became repressive the more the African spirit of
resistance blazed. Early resistance took crude forms such as jamming of factory machines or refusing to work on farms and in
mines. More refined resistance took the form of strikes and joining trade unions.
Between the 1st. and 2nd. World wars the vehicle for political agitation among blacks were the trade unions. The African
Railway Workers Union and the Reformed Commercial and Industrial Workers Union were the first and most effective and
they also were non tribal.
Bulawayo the industrial city of the nation at the time saw more political activity originating and directed from that quarter.
In 1945 the ARWU called a strike that paralyzed the whole network from Mutare to Ndola in Zambia‘s copper belt.
In 1948 a general strike paralyzed all industrial and commercial activity in all cities in the country.
The white settlers connived to create the federation of the Rhodesias and Nyasaland (Southern and Northern Rhodesia, ie
Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi)and by the early 1950s this absorbed the attention of the natives since there were many
false promises associated with the creation of the federation. The federation was eventually created in 1953 and its major
features were the following;
PAGE 17
Polarization – all major manufacturing activity was concentrated in Southern Rhodesia..
The communications infrastructure tended to serve and favour Southern Rhodesia with the Federation railways and airlines
being headquartered in Southern Rhodesia
The University and all other institutions of higher learning were in Southern Rhodesia.
The settler colonialists embarked on a process of ethnic cleansing designed to rid Southern Rhodesia of all its native blacks
and Trans locating them in Northern Rhodesia and replacing them with what were perceived as docile migrant laborers
from Zambia and Malawi.
White settlers established permanent homes in Southern Rhodesia dashing any hopes of early self determination for all the
members of the federation as long as the federation existed.
1955 The city National Youth league was formed and it was a purely workers movement operating in the urban areas.
Church leaders also sympathized with their black congregations‘ political aspirations. Some churches criticized the settlers
in their sermons and hymns. However there were many racists church leaders who used religion or Christianity to subdue
and indoctrinate their black congregations to accept a subservient role. These racist apologists were happy to continue with
the policies of segregation in church, politics and the economy and the result was a proliferation of many independent
African churches.
In 1957, September 12, the African National Congress (ANC) was formed and it was a merger between the old ANC and the
City Youth League led by Joshua Nkomo. It demanded majority rule.
It co opted the rural peasantry and organized mass resistances against the Land Husbandry Act (1951) and it urged the
peasants not to cooperate with the government. Garfield Todd, the federation premier (1953-1957) who was a liberal,
argued for accommodation of African demands but the avowed racists in his cabinet called for repression of all African
political activity. As a result Todd was deposed in an internal coup for giving in to black demands and David White head
became premier and in 1959 e SR-ANC was banned and hundreds of blacks thrown in jail.
1959 to 1965 saw a host of new repressive laws come into effect such as;
Internal pressure on the settler government produced more and more repression and the nationalists resorted to
pressure Britain to reign in the settlers and to give independence to blacks but Britain refused.
January 1960 the National Democratic Party was formed and replaced the SR-ANC. Joshua Nkomo was elected president
and the leardership of the party consisted of Ndabaningi Sithole, Herbet Chitepo, Robert Mugabe, Bernard Chidzero, George
Silunduka, Jaison Moyo, Leopold Takawira, Josiah Chinamano, Dumbutshena etc.
1961 The NDP was banned and the same year ZAPU was formed in December.
1962 December the Rhodesia Front was elected premier in Southern Rhodesia and the party represented the hard core white
racists determined to wipe out all resistance to colonialism and Winston Field was then premier.
PAGE 18
1963 August ZANU was formed due to disillusionment with the politics of tolerance and accommodation and the party was
led by Ndabaningi Sithole.
1964 ZANU was banned and all prominent nationalists were either in prison or in exile.
1964 saw the beginning of violent African resistance to colonialism with many acts of sabotage. Of note is the action by self
styled General Chedu who led 100 youths calling themselves the Zimbabwe Liberation army. The same year ZANU
recruited and trained the first armed resistance to colonialism and the Crocodile group drew first blood when they attacked a
police station and killed a white farmer in Chimanimani(Melsetter).
1965 November 11th. Ian Smith‘s Rhodesia Front made a Unilateral Declaration of Independence. This made the country an
illegal state and although Britain still claimed to be the legitimate ruler they failed to bring to justice the settler regime. At
about the same time the little island of Anquilla in the Pacific made a UDI and Britain did not hesitate to reign in the rebels.
UDI led the nationalists to adopt armed resistance as the first option to gain self determination and the Smith regime went on
an all out campaign to stifle African aspirations and institutionalized arpertheid or racial segregation as the system of
governance and social and economic life. The same year a state of emergency was declared. Such a declaration has the
effect of suspending some or all civil liberties and allows the state to take extra judicial measures to deal with the crisis.
What followed were many years of state terrorism and murder to which the Africans responded by intensifying the armed
resistance - the second Chimurenga war.
By 1963 the nationalist had secured external bases in independent African countries like Egypt, Tanzania and Zambia to
train their armed wings. Zanu‘s armed wing became the ZImbabwe National Liberation Army (ZANLA) and ZAPU‘s armed
wing became known as the Zimbabwe People‘s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA). Training also took place outside Africa in
places like Cuba, China, and Russia.
1966 at Chinhoyi the first externally trained ZANLA combatants clashed with the security forces and all seven members of
the group were killed.
1967 August ZIPRA in alliance with the South African National Congress‘s armed wing Umkhonto Wesizwe deployed four
groups of 20 combatants each group. The majority of combatants were killed in and around Wankie district. Rhodesia
airforce began to violate Zambian airspace and another larger group was deployed by the alliance and again was decimated.
The South African government in response sent troops into Rhodesia and the Smith government passed the Law and order
maintenance amendment bill – 7 September 1967. The law provided for a death sentence on any one caught with arms of
war
Late 1969/early 1970 the Front for the liberation of Mocambique fighting the Portuguees in Mocabmique formed an alliance
with ZANLA and with more experience they provided training and logistical support which proved invaluable and led to the
opening of the eastern front. Mass mobilisation became the preferred tool of the armed resistance and met with great
success. Rhodesia and Portugal began joint operations in 1968.
1972 December ZANLA scored success with the attack at Alterna farm Centenary.
1974 April in a coup in Portugal General Sipinoza deposed the premier Salazaar and brought immediate independence to
Mocambique, Angola and Guinea Bissau.
1974 John Vorster South Africa‘s Boer premier initiated Détente a policy of accommodation designed to neutralize the
armed struggle by promoting internal reactionary African nationalists in Zimbabwe. This stalled and almost derailed the
armed struggle especially with the death /assassination of Herbet Chitepo on 18 March 1975 in Zambia.
Chitepo became the chairman of Dare rechimurenga an organisation formed after the banning and jailing of the nationalist
leaders in 1964 and his task was to prosecute the war while the leadership was in prison..
1972/1973 in response to guerrilla offensive the keeps or cantonments were introduced in all war fronts to deprive the
fighters food and other support.
PAGE 19
1974 Internal rivalry and dissent rock both ZIPRA and ZANLA and the OAU force the two to combine their armed efforts.
1975 December ZANLA AND ZIPRA form the Zimbabwe people‘s army (ZIPA) and armed resistance gathered momentum
in early 1976 as ZANLA intensified operations in Gaza, Tete and Manica provinces or fronts or regions according to
ZIPRA terminology.
1976 In bombing raids on camps in Mocambique, Rhodesians killed many refugees and guerillas at Chimoio and
Nyadzonya in Mocambique and Freedom camp Mulungushi, and Chifombo in Zambia.
March 1978 the so called Internal Settlement was reached between anti war and reactionary black groups in Rhodesia.
April 1979 the ANC‘s Bishop Muzorewa was elected prime minister in sham elections and temporarily the Zimbabwe
Rhodesia hybrid state existed and it was not recognized by any state except South Africa. It was during this period that some
of the most gruesome murders were perpetrated against refugees and the armed resistance with the authority and
concurrence of Bishop Abel Muzorewa‘s government.
South Africa unable to meet the human and economic cost of the war in Rhodesia pressured Smith for a negotiated solution.
1979 October the British under international pressure convened the Lancaster house talks. The parties to the talks were the
British government, the Patriotic Front(ZANU and ZAPU) and the internal group Muzorewas ANC and Smith‘s Rhodesia
front. The talks could not reconcile the demands of the parties especially on land but both groups hoped against hope that
they would win and be able to maintain their claims and positions from a legialised position.
1980 March l in internationally supervised elections Muzorewa failed to win a single seat in parliament , Smith only got his
reserved 20 whitemen‘s seats, ZANU(PF) swept the board with 79 seats and ZAPU(PF) got 20 seats from all of
Matebeleland and ZANU –Ndonga got one seat..
Independence saw many unrepentant whites emigrating to New-Zealand Australia Britain etc. where they continue to
reminisce nostalgically about the war and how Britain sold them out.
1980 April 18 Zimbabwe became an independent state with Robert Mugabe as premier. The new prime minister offered
Josshua Nkomo the titular head of state position but he declined to accept although several ministries were headed by his
other fellow ZAPU colleagues.
1980 massive arms caches belonging to ZIPRA and which were suppose to have been surrendered to the state are discovered
and ZAPUs properties with caches are confiscated by the state. Disturbances of a tribal nature erupt in Bulawayo in
Entumbanen and some people are killed and the army is sent in to reign in rogue ZIPRA elements and some these flee to the
bush
1982 Former ZPRA elements with clear support from the Arpetheid regime in South Africa begin a campaign of sabotage,
murder and destabilisation in Matebeleland and the Midlands and such names as Gwesela, Ndevu eziqamula inkomicho
became household names for their notoriety. Hoods, Conjwayo and other South African saboteurs and agents provocateurs
are apprehended in Zimbabwe. South Africa unleashes a war of destabilization of all frontline states with rebel movements
RENAMO in Mocambique and UNITA in Angola wrecking havoc to the economies of all Front line states..
1982 In response to the rebellion by some ex ZIPRA elements the Fifth brigade is deployed in Matebeleland and the
Midlands and development stalls in the affected areas as hundreds of Shona civilians perish at the hands of dissidents and
thousands of Ndebele civilians loose their lives in reprisals by the Fifth Brigade.
1987 December 22 after protracted negotiations spearheaded by Zimbabwe‘s first non executive president Mr. Canaan
Banana, a unity agreement is signed between ZANU PF and ZAPU PF. A new party ZANU PF is created and Joshua
Nkomo became a co vice president with Simon Muzenda. All dissident to be incorporated into society and no charges to be
preferred against them and similarly no charges to be preferred against any member of the Fifth Brigade.
1980 saw the end of all formal or legal racial segregation but this evil and immoral practice continued and exists unabated to
date. The new government made strides to correct the colonial evils in the following areas;
PAGE 20
2. Free medical and health care
3. Policy of reconciliation towards the former settler colonialists to which they have to date
spurned.
1991 A foreign driven Economic structural programme from the IMF and World Bank was adopted. The programme
required Zimbabwe to liberalize trade, which is allow free movement of goods from outside, restrict or cut expenditure, and
devalue or allow the local currency to float.
1998 due to ESAP food rioting took place in the major towns due to the negative effects of ESAP.
1998 August the Zimbabwe Defense Forces are deployed to the DRC to help the beleaguered Kabila regime.
1998 November Nearing the end of the restrictive 20 year non compulsory acquisition of land close in the Lancaster
agreement, a Land Donor Conference is organised and many foreign donors pledge to assist Zimbabwe but not a cent is
remitted.
1999 The labour Union leadership breaks ranks with government and threatens to form a political party under the leadership
of Morgan Tsvangirai and in September the same year this actual happens in the form of the Movement for Democratic
change...
War veterans receive lump and monthly gratuities and in the build up to the 2000 elections The labour leardership cum
opposition party slides more and more to the right and is seen supporting settler colonial interests in land commerce and
industry and receives massive monetary and moral support from the same quarter. This alliance also receives massive
external assistance from foreign interests like the USA and UK governments directly or indirectly through such
organisations as the Westminister Foundation etc.
February 2000 a new draft constitution is taken to the people in a referendum and labour, the opposition together with civic
organisations mobilise the electorate to reject it because allegedly it confers too much power on the president but really
because of the ‗no compensation for land compulsorily acquired for settlement ―clause in the constitution.
2000 February realising the near success of the landed white class in derailing the land redistribution by using political
parties they funded and helped to found, Veterans of Zimbabwe‘s 2 nd. Cimurenga and landless peasants occupied white
owned farms and forced government to make appropriate legislation to fast track land distribution – The Land Acquisition
Act 2000.
200 June in parliamentary elections the new party almost upset the ruling ZANU(PF) party and wins 57 seats to 63 for
ZANU PF.
2000/2001 the opposition near success gives impetus to Britain to ostracize the Mugabe regime and begins to talk about
regime and forces its friends to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe to ruin the economy in order to make the electorate vote him
out of power. Inflation rises steadily and local white employers on the whole do everything to arm twist the electorate to
vote Mugabe out of power.
2002 Presidential elections are won by the ZANU PF candidate and the MDC refuses to concede defeat or to recognize the
new government and goes to court to challenge the election results and alleges intimidation vote rigging etc.
2003 the nation is in a political stalemate with threaten invasion from Britain and America and court challenges to the
presidency continuing and the opposition top leadership is arrested and taken to court for trying to assassinate the president.
PAGE 21
2004 The 2003 scenario continues but inflation begins to fall and a general optimistic expectation pervades the nation as
preparation and campaigning for the 2005 gubernatorial elections get underway.
2.22 The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland(15 Dec 1953- 31 Dec 1963)
The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was the product of the general election of December 15, 1953 and was the first
election to the legislative assembly of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which had been formed a few months before.
The election saw a landslide victory for the Federal Party under Godfrey Huggins who had been Prime Minister of Southern
Rhodesia for the past 20 years.
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, also called Central African Federation, political unit created in 1953 and ended on
Dec. 31, 1963, that embraced the British settler-dominated colony of Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and the territories of
Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) and Nyasaland (Malawi), which were under the control of the British Colonial Office.
From the 1920s white European settlers in the Rhodesias had sought some form of amalgamation to counter the overwhelming
numerical superiority of black Africans, but this had been blocked by a British Colonial Office that was sensitive to profound
African opposition.
The term federation means loose coalition of nations or organizations where by each nation report to its central leader whilst
returning its otonomy/independence.
The idea of forming a federation of Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland was discussed as early as 1915.
There were two main advantages for the federation, one was economic and the other one was political.
1. economically the federation would give the BSAC control over a large mineral producing area.
2. the whites in Southern Rhodesia would benefit from cheap labour extracted from the three nations.
3. politically the whites in the three nations would increase their armament, both by recruiting fighting men and
capitalizing on the weapons from the three nations.
4. the federation would also improve the settler security against enemies.
5. the principal aim for the establishment of federation was to fight the Afrikaners in South Africa who had just won the
elections and were very powerful, but their relationship with the whites was not always good.
6. another reason for federation was social, namely that the whites just wanted to control the blacks in all the three
nations.
In 1929 the Hilton Young Commission was appointed to look into the federation question in East and Central
Africa.
It baesd its argument on the Devonshire Memorandum of 1923, which has said that African interest were to
be put first.
It also recommended no self-government of the settlers in Kenya and Tanzania would be recommended.
This principle was therefore applied by the Hilton Young Commission to Northern Rhodesia who felt that the
whites population in this country was so small that it could not make a federation viable.
In 1938 the Bledisloe Commission was again appointed to look into the issue.
Again the Commission objected the idea on the grounds that the racial policies in the Southern Rhodesia
were harmful to blacks.
PAGE 22
This party supported the idea of federation.
White politicians in Northern and Southern Rhodesia began to campaign for the idea of federation.
They openly explained that their nrelationship to the black was like that of horse and the horserides.
Inspite of all these objections the federation was imposed on blacks in 1953
The Federation was created in 1953 comprised of Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
There was a total of 310 000 whites in all the three nations, and 8 500 000 Africans. The Federal Parliament had 35
seats but 29 belonged to the whites and only 6 were for the blacks.
The Federation however did not benefit Zambia and Malawi, it only benefited Zimbabwe.
100 000 pounds generated from the Zambians Copper Mine was spent in Southern Rhodesia in building institutions
like the University of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, later on called the University of Zimbabwe.
Northern Rhodesia and the Nyasaland provided ready markets for finished goods.
In Zambia , Harry Nkumbula and Kenneth Kaunda fought tirelessly against the federation.
In Malawi it was the effort of Kamuzu Hastings Banda who also fought against federation.
In Southern Rhodesia people like Joshua Nkomo who formed the ANC in 1957 led the people in the fight against
federation.
According to the constitution the electorate was divided into two, the A and B rolls.
Roll A would elect 50 of the 65 members of the partiam whilst roll B would elect only the remaining 15.
1. income of 264 pounds per year or ownership of fixed property valued at 495 pounds
A minister of religion or headmen with 20 or more followers automatically qualifies into the B roll. However three votes on the
B roll were equivalent to one vote in the A roll.
Joshua nkomo and Ndabaningi Sithole had attended the conference in 1961 and they had surprisingly agreed
to these terms.
The federation broke on December 31, 1963 and Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland went on to attend
independency the following year.
PAGE 23
i) all the military was taken by Southern Rhodesia
ii) university of Rhodesia and Nyasaland became the University of Rhodesia now University of Zimbabwe.
iii) The Kariba powerstation was now controlled by Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) although it also applied
to Zambia.
2.23 ACTIVITIES
Show how the repressive colonial legislation proletarianised and pauperized the blacks during the
colonial era
Analyse the causes and effects of Anglo-Ndebele War, the1st Chimurenga War and 2nd Chimurenga
UNIT 3
ZIMBABWE HERITAGE
3.1 OBJECTIVES
By the end of the unit the student should be able to:
i)Political Heritage
ii)Cultural Heritage
iii)Economic Heritage
The heritage of any nation is based on that nation‘s enduring political tradition. In the USA, the national heritage is a deep
rooted political legacy born out of the war and rebellion against Great Britain and this is embodied in the term
REPUBLICANISM. The French, who are fiercely proud of their heritage, have the French revolution which climaxed in the
storming of the Bastille palace and the slaughter of the nobility as their national heritage. Similarly, the young nation of
Zimbabwe has the ethos of the second Chimurenga as the national and enduring political tradition. The second chimurenga ethos
embodies political, cultural as well as economic principles which define and continue to sustain us as a nation. To destroy any
nation, all one has to do is undermine that nation‘s heritage hence the continuing psychological war by the enemies of Zimbabwe
to distort and demonize not only the second chimurenga war but those who participated in that war and especially the heroic
leaders of that struggle.
A heritage can be defined as an enduring legacy, a definitive event, achievement, tradition or theory to which the peoples of a
specific nation rally around, and have emotional attachments and for which they are prepared to defend and to go to war if
threatened or violated.
Culture in Zimbawe reflects the major ethnic and tribal groups in the society The demographic statistics show that the people of
Shona extraction constitute about ninety percent of the population with the Ndebele at 2.5%, Tonga, Venda, Kalanga, Cewa
PAGE 24
Nambia, Shangaan and other smaller groups constituting about 7%. The white population has dwindled to less than o.1% of the
population. Inspite of their small number the Ndebele influence on culture is fairly strong not only on the smaller groups but has
rubbed on to the Shona tribes adjacent to them. The reverse is also quite true. Culture is dynamic. As a result it is a correct
generalization that there is such a thing as African culture in Zimbabwe as opposed to European culture. There are at most only
variations in customs among the various African groups in Zimbabwean society but the customs are either the same or closely
resemble each other. Zimbabwean African culture has the following major elements;
There has however been a strong negative influence due to the mass media on the African culture in Zimbabwe. Television radio
and the print media have done much harm in undermining the superior African culture by encouraging foreign tastes and habits in
terms of diet, dress, the family, marriage, sex and the extended family. The first culprit has been the African family with divorce
(unknown and unthinkable in pure African culture) wrecking many families. Disease due to sex before marriage and prostitution
has grown to pandemic levels especially AIDS related ailments. The white mans‘ consumption or spending patterns have also
spread among young Zimbabweans and they are finding the extended family unbearable. Greed and exclusiveness are the
hallmarks of the white mans‘ culture and this is spreading fast among urbanized Africans. Unlike the white person in Zimbabwe,
the African does not have sufficient expendable cash and as a result debt and unfulfilled desires and wants are making the
lives of many Zimbaweans miserable.
African culture remains the superior culture in that it keeps society and the nation cemented. Moreover such social ills as
prostitution, pandemics, street kids, crime and political opportunism (kutengesa nyika) because of greed would be non existent.
All these ills are a result of lack of self respect and lack of personal identity due to wanting to be a white person eg. Michael
Jackson who straightens his nose or an African woman who wears false hair extensions to look like a Caucasian or preferring to
speak in a foreign language and not vernacular..
The legacies we have as Africans in terms of diet are also unchalengable in that traditional diet consisting of small grains
legumes and African fruits, vegetables and nuts naturally prevent such diseases as obesity/kusimba - a common feature of most
urbanized woman and the major cause of high blood pressure, hypertension, osteoporosis and infertility.
In medicine, traditional herbs and a good diet remain undoubtedly the panacea for a long healthy life and the solution to such
problems as AIDS more so than condoms.
Marriage and the family are the economic base of any society and nation. Premarital sex, divorce and sex for money and
perversions such as lesbianism homosexuality, drug taking including alcohol directly attack and undermine the family and as
such society. A multiplicity of sexual partners before marriage will always lead one to either multiple sex partners in marriage or
lack of satisfaction with one partner in marriage.
In religion opinions vary but the facts remain. In African culture the fundamentals of Christianity are firmly embedded. Respect
for age, parents and authority, good morals that is no fornication or adultery no perversion that is no homosexuality, taking care
of the needy etc. are biblical positions that remain unchangeable. In short the white mans‘ culture is not only incompatible with
Christianity, it is in fact the antithesis and a direct attack on everything Godly, that is , it is devilish.. The problem between
African religion and Christianity is not lack of morals in African religion, but methods of accessing God or worship. Indeed this
writer is convinced there is lots of superstition with respect to methods of worship in African religion in as much as most main
line and emerging Christian churches are thoroughly paginated. It is only right and good therefore to promote and maintain our
morally superior culture while adopting correct Christian methods of worship.
Our religious inheritance will therefor remain for all time our good cultural values or morals.
The values of any society therefor serve to define that society‘s identity. History has much been distorted by painting the African
culture as irreligious to the extent that it is almost the accepted value among most young Zimbaweans to be immoral because a
White Christian has an immoral value or practice for an example walking naked or partial naked in public despite the fact that
this violates Christian principles. The Black person should there for not use the Whiteman‘s values, or morals or immorals as the
case may be as the reference point for good or bad values but should use traditional practice as the point of departure and
compare that with biblical principles which remain unchanging Our values as Africans clearly identify and portray us as a people
PAGE 25
who shun immorality graft corruption and laziness. We respect family and authority and hard work. We believe in God and we
have no room for atheism in our culture.
The second chimurenga also defines our political and economic values. At the economic level the legacy of the second
chimurenga and our heritage from that event is that the resources that are God given belong to Zimbabweans irrespective of race
or creed or tribe. Thus the land as resource number one belongs to all Zimbabweans. White Zimbabweans with very negligible
exceptions believe that land and all ill gotten gains from the international crime of colonialism and accompanying ethnic
cleansing and segregation are legitimately and exclusively the property of those former criminals. Whites do not want to share
our land with us. We have said we will equitably share our land with whites and that remains and will always remain the
Zimbabwean African‘s morally right and correct position. Any so called Zimbabwean therefore of any race who departs from
this position is not only a threat to the interests of the Nation, but is in effect and in essence declaring that the second chimurenga
was not won and lost, that is, won by the Africans in Zimbabawe through much blood and joy, and lost by settler colonialists
through by much blood and tears. It amounts to a declaration of war.
Through hard work and self- sustaining economic policies, Zimbabweans with land firmly in their hands, can engage other
nations at the economic level and benefit from the comparative advantages we have in terms of skilled disciplined labour, good
climate, an abundance of minerals and varied flora and fauna - domestic and wild. Economic activity therefor should benefit
Zimbabweans first and foremost and this should happen through an internal driven economic programme and not one that is
externally driven. Political liberation simply relates to universal common suffrage being available to all citizens. This was gained
fully at Lancaster as manifested in the result of the 1980 elections and subsequent elections whether presidential or gubernatorial.
Such a gain is hollow and empty and absolutely useless if it is not used to bring about economic emancipation. Political
emancipation there for leads to and of necessity must lead to economic emancipation. This has eluded not only Africa but most of
the former colonies through the practice of neo colonialism by the former colonizers and the USA and most of the developed
world. The war for economic emancipation is the last war and it is the most difficult war in that it is now being fought at the
psychological level through global media houses and the agency of corrupted local comprador/reactionary/collaborator
journalists who raise and imagine and publish false notions of the freedoms of expression assembly and association. This leads to
people as it were shooting themselves in the foot because they through a corrupted democracy – one in which the voters‘
perceptions have been warped in favour of their colonisers - vote into power those who perpetrate their economic subjugation.
The battle for perceptions is an unfair war, and it is most cruel and criminal because of the open aggression through demands
made on former colonies under the guise of human rights.
At the political level the second chimurengas‘ heritage is that as a people we are sovereign and can determine our own destiny
without outside interference and through democratic processes designed to safeguard our hard won independence. (See
governance under legal and parliamentary affairs.)
In view of the above , prostitution; immoral dress such as miniskirts, tight fitting clothing; murder; rape; robbery;
burglary, drug abuse; alcoholism; abusive language; lack of respect of senior citizens; corruption; dishonesty, gay
movement(homosexuality and lesbianism), among others, are all characteristics of lack of ubuntu.
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The point in this case is that as Zimbabweans we must cherish our ubuntu principles in our social, political, economic,
and professional settings or lives for the good of our country
Lack of ubuntu can be observed in most Government departments such as the police, mining, city councils,
immigration, among others, where corruption, mismanagement or any other form of malpractices such as demanding
bribes and extortion are rampant.
From another view point, Mandela (1994) captures the essence of ubuntu in the following quotation; ―I am not truly
free if I am taking away someone‘s freedom or rights just as truly when my freedom is taken away .‖ The point in this
case is that as Zimbabweans we must cherish our ubuntu principles in our social, political, economic, and professional
settings or lives
As Zimbabwean citizens, we are leaders in various capacities such as at family, group, community, occupational and
national levels and we are expected to be role models in terms of our moral values(ubuntu/unhu)
Leadership is the process of directing and influencing the task related activities of group members (Stoner et al, 1995:
470).
Leaders use powers and influence to get the activities effectively performed by followers.
Whereas power is defined as the ability to exert influence, that is to change attitudes or behaviour of individuals or
groups; influence refers to any actions or examples of behaviour that cause a change in attitude or behaviour of another
person or group.
As noted by ethicist Michael Josephson (quoted in Stoner et al, 1995:470), followers or employees do not learn ethics
from people who sermonize or moralise or try to preach to them about ethics, but learn ethics from the people whom
they admire and respect, who have power over them and those are the right people or teachers of ethics.
It is, therefore, important to reinforce ideals if they are sincere.
It is also very important for leaders and role models, whether they be sports figures, politicians / rulers or Senior
Government Officials to make positive statements of ethics, if they say (Stoner et al 1995: 470). If leaders are not
hypocritical, they can account for their actions.
The ideas articulated in this case by Stoner et al (1995), squarely matches the concept of ―Ubuntu in(Zulu/ Ndebele and
Unhu in Shona)‖ Ubuntu refers to love for God, love for one another, and bringing to ourselves and the rest of
the world music, sport, arts and other forms of expression which bring out the best of the human spirit and
connects people across the boundaries of material life (Rukuni,2007:450). Given the poor service delivery and
corruption which characterize various sectors of Zimbabwe, what ethics/values or Ubuntu/Unhu do some of our fellow
citizens portray to the society?
Van der Colff (2003) points out that Ubuntu calls for leadership which espouses the values of leadership legitimacy,
communal enterprise and value sharing. She argues that these values are vital for establishing an enabling culture and a
set of skills and competencies valued in most leadership situations.
Historically, African leadership is based on participation, responsibility and spiritual authority. According to Lessen
and Nussbaum (1996), African leadership calls for transparency, accountability and legitimacy. On the contrary; Van
der Colff (2003) contends that leadership legitimacy can only be promoted by being role models for their followers
through their actions and sticking to values and goals. Thus leaders must be of integrity before expecting the same for
followers.
Furthermore, a leader with Ubuntu values must create an enabling environment for their followers. He / She must be
fair, helpful and considerate and support followers in their legitimate requests..
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Karsten and IIIa( 2005) highlight that Ubuntu decision making is characterised by consultation, communal participation
and open conversation. Evidently, Ubuntu leadership entails a critical discourse since voices of all participants in
organisations or groups are involved and emphasis is on consensus building.
This is strikingly similar to indigenous African political systems whose story telling, inclusive decision making and
participatory community meetings were key. Coercive powers were generally not used to achieve a common goal.
Rather, consensus was the means. ―Majority of opinion did not count; unanimity was the rule (Ayittey 1991:100). As a
result, communal meetings were not largely characterised by haggling and debate but a search for deeper
comprehension of issues and a spontaneous emergency of solutions.
The key issue here is the ―value system‖ that guides and controls behaviour. According to Tambulasi and Kayuni (2005
147 – 160), some African public officers perceive the concept of Ubuntu to be all encompassing and its pursuance is
viewed as an empowerment to pay less attention to western derived principles of democracy and good governance. In
view of this, would the mixed-bag of western value systems and African value systems help Zimbabwean citizen
achieve the desired results or outcomes in social ,economic and political life? The question is ―can African feet divorce
Western shoes?‖ This follows Richard Tammbulasi and Happy Kayuni (2005)‘s quest for reality about
Unbuntu/Unhu,/Butho.
National resources.
Zimbawe is endowed with many natural resources which in certain instances places the nation on the strategic resources map of
the world.
Land
Zinbabwe‘s land mass is about - million square miles and has a very conducive climate being neither too hot nor too cold and
has an average rainfall of about 1500 ml.
Minerals
Zimbabwe has the following minerals; chrome, iron, coal, gold, copper, tin, emeralds. Diamonds, platinum nickel.
Our Chrome, platinum, nickel and coal reserves are of global strategic importance because they are ranked in the top five in
terms of quantity and quality. Unfortunately control of these minerals is still in foreign hands and as a nation we also are not yet
adding value to them.
Wild life
The three major game parks in Zimbabwe are second to the combined Kenyan and Tanzanian wild life population of the
Serengeti game park. The big five wild game –elephant, buffalo, giraffe, lion and rhino are more abundant in our game parks than
in any other park in the world..
People
With a population of about 14 000 000 people Zimabwe is still sparsely populated considering that our land mass can sustain
seventy million people with optimal economic utilization. The plus about this population is its literacy levels –about 87% and its
varied skills base from which even the most advanced nations are tapping into. Through many tricks especially after the 2000
parliamentary elections, the Western countries have not rested in trying to spark a civil war in Zimbabwe which they will use as a
pretext to directly interfere in the politics of this nation. Thatchell the infamous homosexual has been quoted as saying that he is
not only organizing but sponsoring a group consisting of personnel in Zimbabwes‘ armed forces and in the diaspora to militarily
bring about an end to the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe. The West Minister Foundation And even much earlier the Heritage
Foundation a USA right wing organization are trying and had tried to use opposition parties in Zimbabwe to engage the
Zimbabwean armed forces . On the whole the people of this nation have refused to be used in this very destructive and dangerous
way and have democratically expressed their wishes at the polls. The people of this nation save those who pipe and beat the drum
of this nation‘s enemies remain resolutely united in the face of an unprecedented onslaught from Europe and the USA. .
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3.5 NATIONAL SYMBOLS.
Born and inspired by the war of liberation, the national anthem is as it were the rallying point of the nation. Authored by
Professor Mutsvairo, it describes and narrates in a few words our origins, history, beliefs and aspirations.
The national flag represents state wood and together with the court of arms they are the official and visible tokens of the state and
its authority and existence. The flag is also a product of the war of liberation. The red star represents our socialist ideals and the
Zimbabwe bird proudly points back to our distant origins and prowess as a people and nation in antiquity among the great
civilizations of the world. The white background on which the above two are superimposed represents our desire for peace and
tranquility within and without. The red stripes symbolize the blood of the heroes who died liberating the country, yellow our
mineral resources, green our flora and fauna and black the indigenous African natives of this nation. It is incumbent upon every
Zimbabwean and any foreigner on our soil to acknowledge our statehood by standing at attention when the flag is lowered where
ever and what ever one is doing. Standing at attention is not a religious act as some over zealous and misguided so called
Christians think. Kneeling or bowing down in reverence is a religious act reserved for God that is why Shadrech and his other
two friends were thrown in a furnace. Nowhere in Christian writing is standing erect an act of worship or homage. It would be
only right and fair to refuse to kneel to the flag for every Christian. It is only right and fair for every Christian to stand erect in
recognition not homage of those who rule them.
Located near Masvingo town , it represents unparalleled architectural design and construction and stands as a direct insult to
those who have ridiculed Africans of possessing no scientific psychological make up or achievements or capability. It was used
as a palace and a temple by the kings of the great Zimbabwe period and latter dynasties.
A natural geological formation from years of erosion, the feature has few rivals if any and has water plunging a hundred meters
forming thunder and mist from which its more appropriate Tonga names is derived from –mosi a-tunya the smoke that thunders.
It is the nation‘s prime tourist resort attraction.
3.6 Activities
Discuss the following;
i)Political Heritage
ii)Cultural Heritage
iii)Economic Heritage
UNIT 4
CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES
4.1 OBJECTIVES
4.2 Disasters
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As technology has advanced so has disasters or accidents associated with it and at the same time what appears to be natural
disasters have also increased. Management of these disasters has become a major science and the role of each citizen in
disasters has become an imperative. Major disasters can be listed as,
-Floods as a result of unusually high rainfall due to industrialization or broken dam walls
-Accidents at the work place e.g. airplane crashes, gas leaks, nuclear contamination,etc
-Earthquakes.
Disease management is first and foremost an individual responsibility. Correct dietary and sexual habits are the first
front line. Each individual is a national resource and eating junk food or recklessly imbibing in drugs or alcohol
destroys that line as much as taking irresponsible and immoral sexual behavior like sex before marriage or infidelity
within marriage. With infectious diseases, each individual should take note and report any suspected infections and
quarantine self or the affected victim.
Floods, earthquakes and workplace disasters require the nation to rally behind those affected by donating food and
clothes and shelter. It is also necessary to avoid flood and quake prone areas and to take heed to quake or flood
warning.
Industrial accidents are a manmade problem which require social responsibility to minimize the risks. There is no such
thing as safe technology. The issue at stake is risk minimization and management.
Droughts have always been there before the white man‘s agriculture and especially exotic crops such as maize.
Despite droughts, Africa was not found unpopulated as a result. A banana plant does not grow in Gokwe as naturally
as it does in Rusitu valley in as much as maize thrives in Peru but is prone to drought in Zimbawe. Maize is a stock
feed that grows well in its homeland in South America but is prone to drought in Zimbabwe. On the other hand small
grains thrive in Zimbabwe and are highly nutritious for humans. The paradigm shift in our dietary habits will go a
long way towards national food self sufficiency because eventually sooner rather than latter even irrigated crops will
fail when there is no flow in the dams. There is no other credible long lasting solution to drought at the family or
national level than reverting to the small grains.
All stable nations thrive on patriotism. Patriotism relates to each citizen‘s ability to identify with his nation by being
able to distinguish between party political issues and national issues. Sovereignty, land and defending the nation are
not party political issues but national issues to which every real Zimbabwean must stand up in defense.
4.3 Patriotism
Defending the nation physically and in armed combat when called upon to do so by the authorities in power or
individually when the situation so demands like in the case of unilateral superpower attack.
Defending the nation through positive publicity. The nation‘s greatest and most potent enemy today is the one amongst
us who agrees to spread falsehoods about the nation‘s politics and economy. Other than the dissident menace,
Zimbabwe has been the most peaceful nation at par with countries like Botswana and Namibia.
Preserve the national asset that is oneself by avoiding graft, crime, corruption, greed and harmful behavior such as
premarital sex, drug abuse etc..
PAGE 30
Respect and tolerate other races, tribes, religions opinions and beliefs.
Cherish unity in diversity among the various stake holders in spite of differences in approaches.
4.4 ACTIVITIES
UNIT 5
5.1Objectives
Explain how the government solved the problems that it faced at and after independence
Need to develop rural areas to stop rural-urban drift and to correct a hundred years of colonial rule.
Redirect economic priorities to serve the whole population rather than a small white section of the population.
Recurring drought - 1983, 1992, 1997, 2002 as it negatively affects the national economy and agricultural production.
Resolve inflation and the Devaluation of the Zimbabwean dollar against major international currencies
Political interference in the nation‘s politics through the sponsoring and creation of opposition parties with a foreign
agenda..
Corruption
PAGE 31
Drought in Zimbabwe has been partly alleviated by importing grain from abroad and construction of dams and also creating
grain strategic reserves seeds packs given to peasants to help them recover from droughts. Of major importance has been
the redistribution of land and reducing pressure in the congested rural areas and settling people in areas with fertile soils
and high rainfall.
The Ministry of Employment Creation and indegenisation have gone some way in creating employment.
Externally originated and driven economic policies have been abandoned in favour of home grown solutions
Profiteering and speculation which fueled inflation have been checked gradually restoring sanity to the financial sector.
ESAP has been abandoned by the government and attention has been redirected to the East Asian economies to encourage
investment and cooperation.
SADC and COMESA Union trade arrangements have been adopted to encourage an increase in international trade.
Cost sharing in Education and Health have been instituted to alleviate spiraling costs..
Indigenisation, affirmative action, creation of SEDCO, the Land bank land redistribution etc have all gone a long way
towards alleviating the unemployment problem.
A new monetary policy together with an anticorruption drive has seen inflation decreasing slowly but gradually.
Reawakening of the peoples‘ moral values and their culture as a solution to decreasing and ultimately wiping out STDs and
AIDS infection.
5.4 Activities
Explain how the government has solved the problems that it faced at and after independence
UNIT 6
6.0 OBJECTIVES
6.1 LAW
6.1.1 Definition
Can be generally defined as;
a) ‗rules of behavior enforced by society‘
b) ―a body of established norms for the good governance of society‘
Austin defines law as,
c) ― a command set, either directly or circuitously, by a sovereign individual and /or body, to a member or
members of some independent political society in which his authority is supreme‖.
Salmond defines law as,
d) ― consisting of principles which are recognized and enforced by the courts in the administration of justice.‖
PAGE 32
Vinshisky (a one time attorney general in Russia in the ninetieth century) defines law as;
e) ―rules and regulations put in place by those in power in order to protect their interests.‖
The major elements in Austin‘s definition are:
1) ― the command of a sovereign‘. This suggests use of force and the right to command.
2) The definition is deficient in that it lacks such ethical elements as justice, consistence and uniform
application. In this present day and age law is looked at as the balance and union between might and
rightness or justice and legitimacy. The definition also excludes the law enforcement aspect – the courts.
Salmond, an English judge emphasizes the aspect of ―principle‖ and ―recognition‘ and in typical English legal tradition
leaves room and gives a free hand to the judge to determine what is a recognized principle and what is not. Moreover,
this definition does not deal with the element of legitimacy assuming that English political authority is right and
legitimate always and everywhere and in one statement legitimating such evils as colonialism or wars of conquest.
A principle can be defined as ― something that can be applied over a large range of cases resembling one another in
their most essential features‖ and the result or outcome is invariably the same.
Vinshisky ‗s definition is more behavioral in approach and scope and explains the origins; purposes and justification of
such laws as the Hut tax the Land apportionment act and the Land Tenure act in pre-independent Zimbabwe. It also
explains the current laws being made to reverse the very same laws e.g. the Land acquisition Act, POSA and AIPPA.
Everywhere even in Britain law is not made in pursuit of that elusive thing called justice but for the protection of the
interests of those in power. To a large extent this is a Marxist definition and is precise in so far as it is realistic and not
idealistic. No law is just per se‘. All law is premised on maintaining the status quo and the advantages - political and
economic- of those in authority or of the ruling class.
Idealistically the purpose of law is to bring about law and order, predictability, stability and peace.
PAGE 33
Binding sources of law
These are references, which are followed in determining what is legal, or are not. It consists of legal
principles in the following forms;
a) Legal custom; Social custom that can be enforced in the law courts
b) Judicial precedent/common law; the legal principles established each time a new case or situation
comes before a judge. It is based on ratio decided, that is the legal basis on which a decision is
reached.
c) Legislation; this refers to law made by the legislature or parliament and is termed statutory law or
acts of parliament. Parliament delegates its authority to make law to such bodies as municipalities
and the law they make is termed delegated legislation that is, statutory instruments or by laws.
Where there is a conflict between the various laws, the statutory law position takes precedence and
nullifies any other position.
ii) Authority;
a) Separation of powers – the legislature, judiciary and the executive should be separated to ensure
counterbalancing and counterchecking the exercise of the powers of state.
b) Doctrine of ultra and intra virus- all law should be made within the confines of the law
i.e. in consistence to/with the constitution.
iii) Certainty;
– The law should not be retroactive or ex-post-factor
LAW
Family Law
Industrial Law
Labour Law
PAGE 34
National law is the body of rules and regulations that govern the behavior of citizens of and within a specific country and it is
further subdivided into three specializations. These three distinctions are not based on the type of act/omission but on the legal
action that follow.
Criminal law is where criminal proceedings are instituted against a person for committing a crime that is an act or omission that
attracts sanctions – fines or imprisonment or both. The parties in criminal proceedings are; the State vs. the defendant or the
accused. The outcome is guilty or not guilty.
Civil law is where civil proceedings are instituted or where an individual sues another individual in a legal suite. The parties in
civil proceedings are the plaintiff or complainant (the one suing) and the defendant (the one being sued). The result of or sentence
of the proceedings is commission of a wrong or no commission. The sentence can be damages, compensation, restitution or
performance.
Administrative law is the law that relates to the operations and functions of formal institutions in so far as their relations with the
state and their employees is concerned.
International law is the law that regulates relations between states and is based on conventions, custom, treaties and bi-lateral and
multilateral agreements. It differs from national law in that where as national law has a law-enforcing agency to back it in the
form of the army and police and prisons, international law has none of these law-enforcing agencies and relies on the goodwill of
states, which in many instances is lacking. International law can be private international law or public international law. The
former deals with disputes between citizens of two different countries and these are mostly trade disputes. Public international
law is the law that relates to disputes between states and these are normally issues relating to boundaries, war, or natural
resources access. International law is the law that governs the behavior of states and to a growing extent the behavior of
nationals within states e.g. War crimes, crimes against humanity and terrorism.
Substantive law is that law that lays down the peoples‘ rights, duties, liberties and powers e.g. the constitution or an act of
parliament.
After fighting a successful protracted war of liberation, The First Chimurenga war, the settler colonialists and Britain
succumbed to the reality of defeat and had to negotiate for peace and unlike the previous occasions where peace talks
were unsuccessful, it was imperative that a solution had to be found to the war of liberation in Zimbabwe if the settler
community and British interests were to be safeguarded. The Frontline states were also a major factor in the search for
peace at the conference in that there were clear signs of war weariness on their part. This scenario was ideal for the
settlers in that there was every chance of as they saw it of getting into power I they or their stages the DNC were to get
into power. The major problems provisions of the agreement were as follows:
PAGE 35
The State is that intangible aspect of every nation that can be defined as the authority and identity conferred by a people
within a country to themselves and for which there is a force in the form of an army to defend that authority. A state does
not change or vanish unless territory is annexed by another state through conquest or agreement or the population becomes
non existent and the territory becomes uninhabited that is terra nullius. Sovereignty is therefore not conferred on a nation
but it is claimed by each individual nation people and asserted through the exercise of executive powers and the ability to
enter into diplomatic intercourse with other nations.
Whereas a nation is the peoples within a geographical entity called a country whose aspirations, interests shall so
decide the shaping of their destiny, a country is a geographical space marked by natural or man-made
boundaries.
The three arms of state are supposed to act as checks and balances on each other so that there is no abuse of power by
anyone aspect or arm of state. This ensures that the judiciary is impartial and does not make any law. The legislature is
the supreme law making body and has no restricted competency and can change or amend the constitution.
6.1.10.1 Ultra-vires and intra-vires doctrine
Parliament can only make law that does not violate provisions of the constitution and the executive or
government must exercise its authority as provided for in the constitution. When the executive or parliament
acts within their powers they are acting intra-vires when they act outside their powers as provided for by or in
the constitution, they are acting ultra vires and there is therefore no rule of law. When parliament makes law
they act intra-vires the constitution there is therefore the rule of law. Any influence by foreign or illegitimate
forces in relation to constitutional uses, were national interests are concerned; the wish of the state thru the
national force (people) shall take precedents in the interests of sovereignty.
UNIT 7
Democracy and Governance.
7.1 OBJECTIVES
INTRODUCTION
Democracy as a system of governance is of Greek origin. Its main tenet was its attempt to bring about an
inclusive rather than an exclusive form of governance that is typical of the monarch or king. A monarch has
its merits and demerits and so does democracy.
PAGE 36
The traditional Zimbabwean system of governance while having its shortcomings was nevertheless superior
to both the former aristocratic European system of governance and the present form of democracy as
championed by the West especially The U.S.A. and its lackey the U.K. Demo means people and cracy means
rule. Democracy means people rule. Democracy as a system of governance is not established through
elections only. In the traditional Shona system of governance ―ushe hwaive madzoro‖ first and foremost, that
is there was no permanent ruling class or family as in the present American and European systems where the
super rich and well connected and acceptable few in terms of race and ideology qualify to rule that is the rich
Anglo Saxons. (Jews, Chinese, Hispanics and especially blacks are excluded from the presidency on no other
grounds other than that that they are from these minority groups.
Secondly, the community was always represented at large in the kings ―dare‖ and this system of inclusion
permeated the whole structure from top to bottom and it was reflected in the family governance where the
family was not run by the father tyrannically but involved and to a large extent today does involve the mother
the children who have come of age and the check and balance of the extended family ―vana tete nana
babamunini‖.
7.2 WHAT IS GOVERNANCE?
The term ―governance‖ refers to the process of decision-making and the ways in which decisions are implemented (or not). In
any given system, the executive ( government) is the major actor, but others like the Judiciary and the Legislature can influence
the process. Non-state actors, such as religious or tribal leaders, civil society, major landowners, trade unions, financial
institutions, and community based groups can play important roles. The following characterise a good system of governance:
• Participatory—encouraging wide citizen participation
in decision-making;
• Consensus-orientated—attempting to reach decisions
based on widespread agreement;
• Transparent—being open to scrutiny in decision making
processes;
• Responsive—listening and responding to the needs
of its citizens;
• effective and efficient—providing basic services; and
• equitable and inclusive—not excluding sectors of
the population, especially those that are more
vulnerable or marginalised.
There are many multi- and bilateral institutions that are concerned with promoting what they have termed ―good governance‖ in
post conflict and developing countries. Each of these institutions defines good governance slightly differently and has developed
its own indicators by which it measures and evaluates progress toward good governance. The World Bank, for instance, has
identified six indicators of good governance ―to help countries identify areas of weakness so that capacity building and assistance
strategies are more effective.‖ The
indicators are:
• voice and accountability;
• political stability and lack of violence;
• government effectiveness;
• regulatory quality;
• rule of law; and
• control of corruption.
Democracy and Governance
Political leaders‘ visions they promote and the systems and values they bring to governing a country play a pivotal role in
fostering peace and development, promoting oppression or the resurgence of conflict. Since so much is at stake, during peace
negotiations there is often great competition for power and the prospect of controlling a government. For countries that have little
or no experience with democratic governance, the challenges are immense. But the post conflict environment does provide an
opportunity for countries to create new structures of government and systems of ―good governance.‖ In situations where the
international community has taken on state-building, its institutions assume some responsibility for issues related to democracy
and governance. It is also a time of opportunity for women. In particular, Zimbabwe has been effective at using quotas and
reserved seats to ―ensure the presence and participation of women in justice, governance, private sector and civil society .For
example; we have a lady Vice President, Mrs Joice Mujuru. International actors consider ―good governance‖ to be a key for
building sustainable peace and long-term development. Progress toward good governance is increasingly used as a requisite for
the provision of aid. Despite the variations in definitions and indicators of good governance, most institutions agree that good
governance typically includes efforts at democratization and decentralisation, the introduction of free and fair elections,
participatory politics, the creation of an independent civil society, guarantee of a free and independent press and respect
for the rule of law. Each of these topics, among others, is discussed below.
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In countries involved in peace processes, questions relating to governance often consume a significant portion of the discussions;
typically demands for democratisation, including elections and timeframes for transition, are addressed. Other related elements
include discussions surrounding the nature of political
participation, electoral systems, issues of transparency and separation of powers, as discussed below.
7.4 DEMOCRACY
Democracy is a system of government in which power is vested in the people (the population) and exercised through
representatives chosen in free and
fair elections. But a democracy does not just mean that ―the majority rules.‖ A democracy also includes and protects the human
rights of minorities and respects multiple or ―plural‖ views and opinions. In a democracy people have rights as citizens, but they
also have responsibilities to participate in the
governance system. There are many versions of democracies around the
world (e.g. electoral, consultative) and ongoing debates about the extent to which ―one size fits all‖ with regard to democracy.
The process a country
goes through in attempting to become more democratic is referred to as democratisation. In order for a country to be truly
democratic, all of its
citizens—men and women—must be empowered to participate fully in the governance process (as citizens, voters, advocates,
civil servants, judges,
elected officials, etc.).
7.6 DECENTRALISATION
An increasingly important component of democratisation in many parts of the world is decentralisation. Decentralisation is the
process of transferring authority and responsibility from the central government to provincial and local levels. Countries pursue
decentralisation for a variety of reasons, including a desire to make the government more receptive and accountable to the needs
of its population and/or to respond to pressure from donors to ―downsize‖ central government budgets. Decentralisation is based
upon the notion that
various levels of the government have different expertise and abilities to address problems. For example, national defence and
monetary policy are clearly best set at the national level, but policies concerning schools, local police protection and some public
services are often better determined at the local level with community input. Critics of decentralisation, however, charge that it
weakens parts of the state that, for the sake of peace building and human security, need to be strengthened. There are three types
of decentralisation: political, administrative and fiscal. Political decentralization involves the election of local-level leaders.
Administrative decentralisation occurs when some of the government‘s decision-making is managed at the local level. And fiscal
decentralisation refers to the national government sharing budgetary responsibility for collecting revenues and making
expenditures with local government representatives. Decentralisation processes often include local-level
elections.
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voices heard in the political process through their support of a political party. Political parties also provide leaders with a space in
which to learn the
skills needed for governing a society. A democracy must have more than one major, viable party so that a single group does not
dominate the government
and voters have a choice. This principle is called multipartyism. Membership in political parties must be voluntary. It can be
difficult for women to achieve leadership positions within political parties and to be selected as candidates because, in many
countries, parties operate or govern themselves without written party rules or transparent procedures. Such lack of openness
allows patronage systems and ―old boys‘ networks‖ to flourish, effectively excluding women from decision-making positions and
candidate lists. In some countries, political parties have adopted internal quotas for women‘s participation to ensure that they
always put forward a certain number of women‘s candidates. In Zimbabwe as in Argentina, Botswana and France, among others,
all political parties encourage participation of women in politics. For example, the political parties in Zimbabwe have Women‘s
Leagues in their structures and both the major political parties in Zimbabwe have ladies as their Vice Presidents. An important
advocacy strategy for women is to work with political parties to make sure that the party platform, the formal declaration of the
principles and positions that the party supports, describes its positions on issues important to women.
7.8 ACTIVITIES
Compare Western Democracy to pre-colonial governance system inclusivity, exclusivity
Trace and discuss major issues at all elections held in Zimbabwe.
SADC election guidelines
Discuss - Zimbabwe‘s electoral system and authority
UNIT 8
8.1 OBJECTIVES
By the end of this unit the student should be able to:
Discuss The Lancaster House Agreement
State the major provisions of the Lancaster Agreement
Explain the provisions of the Constitution of Zimbabwe in relation to :
- Republican Destiny and National Political and Economic Sovereignty
- Citizenship
- Declaration of Rights and Freedoms of Individuals
- Constitutional amendments
- Elections – parliamentary gubernatorial, presidential and local government
The constitution is the supreme law in Zimbabwe. No law is above the constitution of the republic of
Zimbabwe in determining what is legal and what is illegal in Zimbabwe. This law (constitution) is drawn and
revised to protect and safeguard the interests of the citizens of this country. Some countries especially the
European nations and the U.S.A. want to introduce laws that they term international norms or laws acceptable
in international law.
This is in a way an attempt to change the laws of other countries in such a way as to have their interests
protected. The majority of these laws are designed to protect subversive or perverted elements within other
societies or nations for an example perverts (Gays and lesbians) or puppet political and economic groups
within smaller nations for an example secessionist and tribal minorities.
- Can be by birth, except if the parents have diplomatic immunity, are not citizens, or the parents are
enemy aliens or an illegal residents
- Can be by descent that is he is born outside the country but his parents are or were Zimbabwean
citizens.
- Can be by registration that is by application to the minister of Home affairs.
Dual citizenship.
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No person having other citizenship can be a Zimbabwean citizen unless he/she renounces that other
citizenship. In many precedents law tends to favour descent than any other citizenship status on enjoyment of
privileges.
Declaration of rights
Every citizen irrespective of color race religion etc. is entitled to the basic and fundamental rights of the
individual provided that when enjoying such rights or freedoms he/she does not infringe on the peaceable
enjoyment of the rights of others or does not endanger the public interest that is state security and public
order. Such freedoms are as follows:
a) The right to life except where the state is duly carrying out a death sentence, or where there is need to defend
property or in repelling violence, or effecting lawful arrest or preventing someone from escaping from lawful
custody, or in suppressing a riot, insurrection and unlawful gathering, or in preventing the commission of a
crime or if the cause of death is a lawful act of war.
b) Right to Personal liberty
Such a right can be exercised by any citizen excerpt where; the person is sentenced to a prison term by a
court of law for a criminal offence or for contempt of a court of law or in a civil suit or where a parent or
guardian so requests the court for the welfare or education of an individual between 21 and 23 years old or in
order to prevent the spread of a disease or if the person is of an unsound mind, is a drug addict an alcoholic or
is an illegal immigrant or subject of an extradition process.
Any person so detained is entitled to legal representation and should be charged within a reasonable period
and where a person is unlawful detained the detainee is entitled to compensation from that person or authority
detaining him/her.
f) PROTECTION from arbitrary search and entry of the person or his property Except where the person so
searching is parent, or for purposes of the defense and security of the state, public health, morality or town
and country planning or in the enforcement of the law where there are reasonable grounds of suspicion of the
existence of a crime.
Every citizen except for minors or with his/her own consent has a right to freedom
of thought, religion (belonging or changing), freedom to individually or severally in public or
PAGE 40
private to propagate/ manifest his/her religion through worship teaching
practice and observance. No person attending an educational institution shall be compelled
to receive religious instruction contrary to his/ her religion, unless in the interest of group
discipline.
Any community is entitled to provide religious instruction to its members at its educational institutions.
Provisions on guardianship powers may limit freedom of conscience.
With the excerption of minors or through his own consent every citizen is entitled
to assemble and associate and belong to or not to be compelled to assemble or
associate with any group, political party, union for purposes of protecting and propagating
his/her interests. Excerpt where the law makes provisions for the sake of
public order, safety morality, health, security and defense and the regulation of companies or other
business enterprises. The associations whose interests are known to
comprise security and order shall be diffused under the prohibition from
commitment of crime.
l) Enforcement of rights
Where an individual feels that his her rights are violated the said person shall appeal to the supreme court
which alone has the prerogative to hear and deliberate on all matters relating to the constitutional provisions
on the fundamental freedoms.
The Executive
Executive Powers and Authority
The Executive Authority of the Inclusive Government shall vest in, and be shared among
the President, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, as provided for in the
Constitution and legislation.
The President of the Republic shall exercise executive authority subject to the
Constitution and the law.
The Cabinet of the Republic shall exercise executive authority subject to the
Constitution and the law.
In the exercise of executive authority, the President, Vice Presidents, the Prime
Minister, the Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers and Deputy Ministers must have
regard to the principles and spirit underlying the formation of the Inclusive Government and accordingly act
in a manner that seeks to promote cohesion both inside and outside
government.
The Cabinet
PAGE 41
(a) shall have the responsibility to evaluate and adopt all government policies and the
consequential programmes;
(b) shall, subject to approval by Parliament, allocate the financial resources for the
implementation of such policies and programmes;
(c) shall have the responsibility to prepare and present to Parliament, all such
legislation and other instruments as may be necessary to implement the policies and
programmes of the National Executive;
(e) shall ensure that the state organs, including the Ministries and
Departments, have sufficient financial and other resources and appropriate operational capacity to
carry out their functions effectively; and
(f) shall take decisions by consensus, and take collective responsibility for all Cabinet
decisions, including those originally initiated individually by any member of Cabinet.
(g) The President and the Prime Minister will agree on the allocation of Ministries
between them for the purpose of day-to-day supervision.
The President
(c) shall exercise his/her powers subject to the provisions of the Constitution;
(d) can, subject to the Constitution, declare war and make peace;
(e) can, subject to the Constitution, proclaim and terminate martial law;
(g) grants pardons, respites, substitutes less severe punishment and suspends
or remits sentences, on the advice of Cabinet;
(j) shall, pursuant to this Agreement, appoint the Prime Minister pending the
enactment of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment no.19 as agreed by the
Parties;
(k) formally appoints Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers and Deputy Ministers in
accordance with this agreement;
(l) after consultation with the Vice Presidents, the Prime Minister and the Deputy
Prime Ministers, allocates Ministerial portfolios in accordance with this Agreement;
(m) accredits, receives and recognizes diplomatic agents and consular officers;
(p) in consultation with the Prime Minister, makes key appointments the President is
required to make under and in terms of the Constitution or any Act of Parliament;
PAGE 42
(q) may, acting in consultation with the Prime Minister, dissolve Parliament;
(r) must be kept fully informed by the Prime Minister on the general conduct of the
government business and;
(s) shall be furnished with such information as he/she may request in respect of any
particular matter relating to the government, and may advise the Prime Minister and
Cabinet in this regard.
(a) chairs the Council of Ministers and is the Deputy Chairperson of Cabinet;
(d) shall ensure that the policies so formulated ar€ implemented by the entirety of government;
(e)shall ensure that the Ministers develop appropriate implementation plans to give effect to the policies
decided by Cabinet: in this regard, the Ministers will report to the Prime Minister on all issues relating to the
implementation of such policies and plans;
(f)shall ensure that the legislation necessary to enable the government to carry out its functions is in place: in this
regard, he/she shall have the" responsibility to discharge the functions of the Leader of Government Business in
Parliament;
(h) may be assigned such additional functions as are necessary further to enhance the work of the
Inclusive Government;
(i) shall, to ensure the effective execution of these tasks, be assisted by Deputy Prime Ministers; and
Council of Ministers
To ensure that the Prime Minister properly discharges his responsibility to oversee the implementation of the work
of government, there shall be a Council of Ministers consisting of all the Cabinet Ministers,
chaired by the Prime Minister, whose functions shall be:
(b) to assist the Prime Minister to attend to matters of coordination in the government;
(c) to enable the Prime Minister to receive briefings from the CabinetCommittees;
(d) to make progress reports to Cabinet on matters of implementation of Cabinet decisions;
(e) to receive and consider reports from the Committee responsible for the periodic review mechanism; and
(f) to make progress reports to Cabinet on matters related to the periodic review mechanism.
(1) There shall be a President, which Office shall continue to be occupied by President Robert Gabriel
Mugabe.
(2) There shall be two (2) Vice Presidents, who will be nominated by the President and/or Zanu PF.
(3) There shall be a Prime Minister, which Office shall be occupied by Mr Morgan Tsvangirai.
(4) There shall be two (2) Deputy Prime Ministers, one (1) from MDC-T and one (1) from the MDC-M.
PAGE 43
(5) There shall be thirty-one (31) Ministers, with fifteen (15) nominated by Zanu PF, thirteen (13) by MDC-T
and three (3) by MDC-M. Of the 31 Ministers, three (3) one each appointed shall become members of the
House of Assembly and shall have the right to sit, speak and debate in Parliament, but shall not be entitled
to vote.
(6) There shall be fifteen (15) Deputy Ministers, with (eight) 8 nominated by Zanu PF, six (6) by MDC-T and
one (1) by MDC- M.
(7) Ministers and Deputy Ministers may be relieved of their duties only after consultation among the leaders
of all the political parties participating in the Inclusive Government.
Senate
(a) The President shall, in his discretion, appoint five (5) persons to the existing positions of
Presidential senatorial appointments.
(b) There shall be created an additional nine (9) appointed senatorial posts, which shall be filled by persons
appointed by the President, of whom, 3 will be nominated by Zanu PF, 3 by MDC-T and 3 by MDC-M.
Filling of vacancies
a) In the event of any vacancy arising in respect of council and cabinet posts such vacancies shall be filled by a
nominee of the Party which held that position prior to the vacancy arising.
The executive arm of the state consists of the Head of State ,the president, the Vice presidents,the Prime
Minister, the Deputy Prime Ministers, the Cabinet, the ministries or/and the civil service, the Security
agencies that is, the Zimbabwe Defense Forces, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, The Prison Service, and the
Central Intelligence Service.
a) The President
i) Is the head of state, is the executive head of government, and is the commander in chief of the
Defense Forces. Is the Pre- eminent person in the Nation.
ii) Qualification.
Should be a citizen of Zimbabwe by birth, or descent, should be forty years and above, is ordinarily
resident in Zimbabwe.
(NB. To be read into the constitution although the document is silent is that the presidential aspirant
should espouse and uphold the aspirations of the nation, derived from assertions leading to the war
of liberation in the preservation of freedom, independence and national interests uphold
Zimbabwe‘s ENDURING POLITICAL TRADITION as represented by the values of the War of
liberation.) Should hold no criminal record.
iii) Election.
Is an elected by voter on the common roll and within ninety days before the expiry of the
presidential term and in the case of death, incapacity or impeachment the Vice president shall act as
president for ninety days during which period fresh elections should be held.
iv) Tenure (duration in office)
Shall be in office for six years and until the next person elected take office
v) Removal from office
- Can leave office through resignation by letter to the speaker of parliament.
- Can leave office on parliamentary recommendation following a request of not less than a
third of members of parliament alleging willful violation of the constitution, or incapacity
to carry his duties/functions or gross misconduct and when two thirds or more of
members support the motion to impeach the president.
vi) Functions of the President.
a) Has and exercises all executive authority of the state that is the
government of the country or the enforcement of law, the defense of the nation translation of
political policy into government programs and their implementation by the civil service.
b) To uphold the constitution
c) To exercise the prerogatives of head of state that is: -
Enter into treaties and international agreements.
Proclaim and terminate martial law
To declare war and make peace.
To confer honors and precedence
Appoint and accredit diplomats
PAGE 44
d) To act on advice of the cabinet excerpt on: -
Matters relating to dissolution of parliament
Appointment and removal of governors
Duties of the Vice presidents or any other person appointed by the president.
e) To exercise the prerogative of mercy that is: -
Grant pardon to felons
Declare a stay of execution of a felon
Vary/substitute prison terms
Suspend or remit a sentence
Declare public emergencies
Which shall be approved by parliament within fourteen days failing which the
declaration becomes void.
The declaration lasts for a specified period or for a period not exceeding six months subject to any
extension of such a period by the president. The effect of such a declaration is to allow the direction
of funds to that emergency and where necessary the suspension of civil liberties.
The Public service
The constitution provides that a public service be established for the administration of the country.
This consists of all the ministries and other institutions through which government implements its
programs.
Members of the Public service are appointed on merit and have security of tenure, are not political
appointees and at most are not expected to engage in active politics.
The affairs of the Public service are managed by a commission, which consists of a chairperson and
not less than two and no not more than seven members. The president appoints the members.
The Attorney General
Is the principal legal adviser to government, holds a public office but is not a part of the public
service.
The president appoints him after consultations with the judicial services commission. Only persons
suitable for appointment as judges are qualified to be A.Gs. The A.G. is an ex-officio member of
the cabinet and his main functions are to institute criminal proceedings, and to prosecute or defend
an appeal from all criminal proceedings.
The Police Force
The police force is provided for in the constitution with the specific task of preserving the internal
security in the country and the maintenance of law and order.
Tasked with the responsibility of protecting society from criminals by incarcerating them and
rehabilitating and reintegrating them into society.The prison service is headed by a Prison service
commissioner and the affairs of the service are managed by a Prison service
commission headed a chairperson (the head of the public service commission) and between
two and seven other members.
Provided for by the constitution as part of the office the President with the specific task of providing, through conventional
and unconventional means, information of any type necessary for the protection of the nation‘s economic, political, social or
cultural and other interests. A Director General appointed by the President heads the service.
The Ombudsman
PAGE 45
Holds public office but is not a member of the public service. He is tasked with the
responsibility of receiving any complaint from members of the public on the function or
lack of it of member of the civil service.
The Comptroller and Auditor General
Holds a public office but is not a member of the Public service. His/her main
functions are to examine or audit at least once a year all ministries or persons or institutions entrusted
with the receipt or the use of public funds, that is, monies from the consolidated revenue
fund. (C.R.F). The president appoints him after consulting the Public service commission.
The C.R.F.
All monies collected for and on behalf of government as taxes, fees, fines, profit etc. are deposited
into the CRF and used or withdrawn from that account as allocated funds under respective ministerial
budgets excerpt where the authority is allowed to retain the monies so collected and for
use to defray their expenses as provided for through an act of parliament. The allocation shall be
made through the Budget process in Parliament as votes to Ministries and
government departments.
THE LEGISLATURE
Parliament has the supreme authority to make law in and for Zimbabwe. No law made elsewhere is binding or legal
unless Government accedes to or ratifies such law through parliament. International law or other legal protocols are
binding only if and when parliament ratifies such directly or through an act of parliament. Parliament can delegate it
authority to make law to other bodies such as local government authorities or parastatals.
PAGE 46
Administrative staff of parliament
- Secretary to Parliament
Appointed by the committee on standing rules and orders and is the pre-eminent administrative officer of
parliament. Holds a public office but is not in the public service.
- Clerk to parliament
He is the chief administrative officer and holds a public office and supervises all
other supporting staff like clerks, stenographers accountants etc.
- Sergeant at Arms
He holds a public office and is a member of the police force and ensures that order is enforced in the
legislative assembly.
These are fixed through an act of parliament but broadly no member of parliament is criminally or civilly liable in any act
or utterance while performing his/her parliamentary functions.
Constitutional amendment
Parliament has the power to amend change or repeal the constitution through an affirmative vote of not less than two
thirds of members of parliament.
Parliamentary elections
Elections are held not more than four months after a dissolution of parliament or as by election in the event that a seat
becomes vacant. For elections to be held the following shall be done as provided for in the constitution.
a) By election: conducted in the event of the death or resignation of a member of parliament.
b) General election: conducted at prescribed times as laid out in the supreme law of the country
Commissions
Delimitation commission
- Is appointed by the president
- Consists of a chairman – chief justice or other judge of the supreme or high court and three other members
- Functions for five years.
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- Functions shall be to determine the boundaries of the -constituencies taking cognisance of such features as
geography, ethnicity and communication etc.
The constitution also provides for the formation of the Public Service Commission, the Judiciary Commission, and the
Police Commission etc.Contemporary issues and New dimension in law
a) Rule of law – upholding of the law in a scenario where no one is above the law
b) Prerogative – discretional prerogatives have made law to be applied based on certain trivial relative issues
c) Political willpower – those in power or those wielding the axe make the most decisions and tailor-make law to protect
their interests
d) Human rights – the emergence and definition of human rights has led to commitment of crime and subsequent
ignorance of the rule of law even when certain behaviours become immoral e.g. the gays and lesbian case
e) Christian balance – as Christian values shape most legal frameworks, the same have been used in negotiations
although in many cases equality is not achieved in Christian balances. The ‗coveter‘ and the converted are two
different entities.
8.3 ACTIVITIES
Discuss The Lancaster House Agreement
State the major provisions of the Lancaster Agreement
Explain the provisions of the Constitution of Zimbabwe in relation to :
- Republican Destiny and National Political and Economic Sovereignty
- Citizenship
- Declaration of Rights and Freedoms of Individuals
- Constitutional amendments
- Elections – parliamentary gubernatorial, presidential and local government
UNIT 9
9.1 OBJECTIVES
By the end of this unit the student should be able to:
o Define International Relations
o Explain the three Cs of International relations – Conflict, Co-operation and Competition
o Explain the Multi-polar, Bi-polar global power balances
o Critique International law, the community of nations and identify and explain the types and functions of
diplomatic missions.
9.2 Definitions;
- International relations; The interaction of nation -states
- Nation; The people within a country
- Country; Geographical territory in which a specific people live in
- State; the permanent power or authority which is sovereign and represented by the arms of state, that is, government,
judiciary and the legislature and which is normally embodied in the constitution as the right of a group of people to self-
determination.
- Government; the arm of state which is tasked with ruling or exercising the executive powers of the state that is, representing
the nation at international fora, defending and keeping law and order in the nation, implementing political, economic, and social
policy of the ruling political party. Government is formed by the winner at general elections and therefore comes and goes where
as the state is permanent except where the country is annexed, secedes or the people become extinct.
9.3 The practice of International relations
9.3.1 Society
People within a nation are a society or societies of people. To become a nation therefore the people should have similar political
aspirations or interests. The term ―society‖ supposes the existence of common norms or behavioural patterns within that society.
Such norms determine relations among the members of the society in terms of political structures or governance; this determines
in turn distribution of resources. Political structure presupposes a hierarchy and hence classes within society. Classes in turn infer
inequalities among the people. In international relations instead of people forming the society or community we have nations
PAGE 48
being the members of the international society or community and hence the existence also of norms or political behaviour,
international political hierarchy and classes, distribution of resources by the international ruling class and hence the existence of
international inequalities. This will be dealt with in full under international capital below.
9.3.2.International Society.
The international society as we know it today is a recent development in the world‘s history. Vast empires, fiefdoms or localized
chiefdoms have always been the general picture of politics at the global level. Sovereign nation – states appear on the global
scene about five hundred years ago and evolve and only become the norm in the 16 th. century as principles that govern their
conduct take a definitive shape. Before the development of rules that govern relations between areas or regions or states, relations
between different political entities were characterized by internecine warfare. It was more a state of nature or survival of the
fittest. With the advent of Christianity and its growth, war and its limitation, conduct and justification became necessary and the
notion of the just war was developed. In his work, ―The Summa Theologica,‖ St. Thomas Aquinas argued the case for a just war
as consisting of;-It had to have the backing of the king
- The reason or cause for going to war had to be just
- Those to be attacked had to be guilty of some grave evil
- The attackers had to have the right intention – to promote good or the avoidance or prevention of evil
Many unfair wars and untold evil were perpetrated under the guise of the just war and by about 1490 Honore Bonet stated ―
soldiers were the flail of God who by his permission make wars upon sinners and sin and make havoc among them in this world
as the devils of hell do in the next‖. Not surprising therefore that at about that time the Aztec civilization was destroyed by
Spanish conquistadors and Africa and many parts of the world seen as containing sinners were subjected to the most cruel and
inhuman plunder and decimation by the European powers. In the same vein Gorge Bush‘s ―axis of evil‖ position hundreds of
years latter fits squarely in the Aquinian doctrine. Bush argues that the war on Iraq - weapons of mass destruction aside - was a
just war because that nation is evil. Who defines evil and by what standard is evil determined? As a result of this doctrine in
international relations it was not possible to develop or for there to evolve rules that could govern relations between states.
Similarly, because of a reversion to the same old position by the Bush administration, the whole fabric of international law is
strained to breaking point. ―Evil‖ is a value laden term which is highly subjective.Being a fundamentalist Moslem is interpreted
as being evil by Bush and his company whether one is a suicide bomber or not and no law therefore can restrict regime change in
any nation perceived to be evil. Such international behaviour not only drags the world backwards but also creates a very
dangerous environment in which every nation and individual takes unilateral action to redress grievances and institutionalise
suicidal tendencies and solutions even at state level like in the case of North Korea. In 1654, in his treatise, ―De Jure Belli et
pacis‖, Hugo Grotius‖, a Dutch jurist wrote principles that were supposed to govern warfare and this became the basis for our
modern international law.
A: Traditional Approaches
1.The classical approach
2.The Idealist approach
3.The Realist and or Rational approach
B: Modern approaches
1.The Strategic approach
2.The billiard ball approach
3.The Cobweb approach
C: The Behavioural approach
1.The global approach or model
2.The regional approach or model
9.3.3.1 The Traditional Approaches
.The Classical approach;
The proponents of this approach are to a large extent social contract theorists. Thomas Hobbes sees the state, as arising out of the
need to escape from a state of nature where there is anarchy and life is insecure, short, nasty and brutal. A state of nature
presupposes the non-existence of society and therefore the non-existence of law. In such a lawless state everyone does as he
pleases and those with more clout survive. In other words the law of the jungle that is ―might is right‖ and ―survival of the fittest‖
rules supreme. In another sense this approach is also evolutionist or Darwinian. It infers natural selection that favours the stronger
species‘ survival and continuity. To escape from this state of nature at the national or state level people had to agree to surrender
some of their rights to each other and appoint a sovereign authority as guarantor and arbitrator for and in this social contract. The
same arrangement could be said to hold true within the community of nations or the global society. However as nation states
developed in Europe a state of nature more or less developed in that these states resorted to war wily nily on the basis of each
state‘s prerogative of national sovereignty to wage war. All wars were therefore justifiable. Jean Jacques Rousseau and others
saw relations among states as possessing potential for peace as long as members of a society were willing to enter a clear
contract. The Machiavellian argument was closely echoed by Immanuel Kant and Carl von Clausewittz in his book ―On War,‖
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argues that power is at the heart of interstate relations in that each state seeks to increase its power at the expense of other states.
Alliances, wars and the arms race were the result of this argument and Europe was plunged into the First World War.
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All the above approaches look at relations between nations in one or more of the following areas;
1. Conflict
2. Cooperation
3. Competition
These are termed the three Cs of international relations. At each moment in time all nations are relating to each other in so far as
one or all of the three aspects are concerned.
Conflict
Conflict is the most pronounced element in that the state system is almost synonymous with war. World history is the story of
when and with whom nations have fought from time immemorial to date.
Cooperation
When states are not fighting each other they are cooperating in maintaining peace and in dealing with the challenges and
problems that mankind faces for example diseases such as AIDS or disasters such as earth quakes. Cooperation is highly visible
and pronounced even among nations that appear to have no love lost between them in that the UN and many other world fora
provide an avenue for all nations to cooperate in one way or another.
Competition
Competition among or between nations exists in the form of normal trade or commerce and can manifest itself in the form of
alliances and treaties.
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their grievances. Global power balances are important in that it is within the framework of this arrangement that state inter action
takes place. As shown above, the multilateral power structure between 1800 and 1945 produced or created a very unsafe world
and led to two catastrophic wars. The bipolar global power balance between 1945 and 1985 and the resultant rivalry and arms
race of that period saw many developing countries falling victim to the politics of the day. After 1985 increasing USA
unilateralism has bred a new global scourge called terror. The USA has itself become a terror to many states small and big if they
dare assert their nationalism hence the growth in terrorism. Terrorism is inherently evil and un acceptable as much as the
bellicose attitudes by stronger states that drive weaker groups to resort to terror tactics.
9.5 Activities
o Define International Relations
o Explain the three Cs of International relations – Conflict, Co-operation and Competition
o Explain the Multi-polar, Bi-polar global power balances
o Critique International law, the community of nations and identify and explain the types and functions of
diplomatic mission
UNIT 10
DIPLOMACY
10.1 OBJECTIVES
By the end of this unit the student should be able to:
Define democracy
Discuss the foreign policy of Zimbabwe after independence
Apply the following in the context of Zimbabwe:
i) Core interests
ii) Objective interests
iii) Subjective interests
Discuss the types and various functions of the diplomatic missions and their immunity.
Diplomacy can be defined as ― the application of intelligence and tact to the conduct of official relations between the
governments of independent states.‖ Formal contact between nations in the global community takes place through the medium of
diplomacy and the interaction of diplomats. Diplomats are the emissaries or representatives of their governments in other
countries and are the direct contact between different governments. The ministries of foreign affairs in all states have the
responsibility for the deployment of diplomats and the carrying out of the foreign policy of each respective country.
10.2 Foreign policy
Foreign policy is the position of each government on various issues on world affairs.Foreign policy is determined by each state‘s
National Interest. The National interest can be defined as the common interests of all the citizens of a nation. The national
interest arises from the values and aspirations and history of a nation and these are at variance with the national interests of other
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nations because of the competitive nature of inter state relations. Foreign policy objectives relate to power or sovereignty, profit
and prestige. These objectives can be classified as: a) Core interests, b) Objective interests, and c) Subjective interests.
Core interests
These are goals for which most people are willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice and relate to self preservation as a nation and
revolve round defending the nation and the perpetuation of a particular social cultural and economic way of life.
Objective interests
These are permanent interests of the state irrespective of institutional changes within the state that is even when governments come
and go objective interests remain unchanged. In Zimbabwe this may be related to our sovereignty or the right to access land by the
natives of this country.
Subjective interests.
To determine whether an issue is a national interest in this instance will depend upon the values and subjective assessment of
those making a decision and the issue at stake does not relate to self-preservation or perpetuation as a state. Example would be
the decision on whether Zimbabwe remains a member of the Commonwealth or not.It is around the interests of a state that
diplomacy is conducted. This suggests or presupposes therefore that all diplomats are conversant with the interests of the state
that they represent and will be defending and promoting.
Core Interests
-That the native Zimbabwean has an inalienable right to land to own it and to share it equally with other Zimbabweans of all
races without discrimination.
Subjective Interests
- To determine the most suitable international economic relations.
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mission. The latter document can be withheld without explanation. The head of mission to be becomes official after the
presentation of credentials at the ceremony where he meets the head of state of the host county and presents his letter of credence.
10.5 Types of diplomatic missions and representation
Diplomatic representation is divided into three groups namely:
- Ambassadors and Ministers; these present credentials to the hosting head of state
- Charge‘d‘ affaires present credentials to the minister of foreign affairs of the host state.
- Former British colonies‘ heads of mission are termed High commissioners and heads of mission between non-former British
colonies are termed ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary.
10.6 Privileges and immunities of diplomats
All accredited diplomats are immune from criminal and civil jurisdiction in the host state and exempt from all taxation.
Diplomats are subject to the host state‘s laws where they enter into private business. Action incompatible with the status of the
diplomats may lead the host state to request their removal.
Diplomatic missions are immune from searches and any other intrusive acts by the host state.
10.7 Functions of diplomatic missions.
The major activities of diplomatic missions can be classified as a) non substantive and substantive routine work and b) non
routine work.
10.7.1 Non-Substantive routine functions
Attending social and ceremonial functions in the host state e.g. receptions or cocktail parties, luncheons honour giving
ceremonies, parades etc.
NB. The following are sometimes treated as consular functions; Registration of births deaths marriages of citizens from their
country residing in the host state issuing, validating and replacing passports. Dealing with extradition cases and looking after the
interests of citizens from their country in the host state.
(Consular issues proper are not diplomatic functions although these may be carried out in the diplomatic premises. These
include, the processing and issuing of visas, certificates e.g. certificate of origin and the facilitation of any other commercial
activities. )
10.7.2 Substantive Routine work
This work relates mostly to reporting and intelligence gathering. Intelligence gathering is not an official or declared function of
diplomatic missions but they are never the less used extensively as cover for these nefarious activities. Where the host state
observes abnormally high and audacious levels of espionage they demand the immediate withdrawal of such personnel and this
normally prompts retaliatory action. Reporting is normally on economic, political, military and social issues. In certain instances
it might be necessary to engage specialized diplomats called Attaches‘ in the areas of information military and economic affairs.
10.7.3 Non-Routine Functions
This function relates to negotiating. This relates to the transmission of messages and attending to direct talks at various levels
with the authorities of the host state.
10.8 Activities
Define democracy
Discuss the foreign policy of Zimbabwe after independence
Apply the following in the context of Zimbabwe:
i) core interests
ii) objective interests
iii) subjective interests
Discuss the types and various functions of the diplomatic missions and their immunity.
UNIT 11
11.0 Objectives
By the end of this unit students should be able to:
Define international capital and imperialism
Discuss the elements of imperialism
Discuss the various stages in the development of international capital
11.1 Introduction.
The current stage in global politics and relations is characterized by a high level of dominance relations between the weak and the
powerful states. Such domination has been the major feature in relations between sates and within states since time immemorial
and arises out of the structured nature of society national or global. The term society suggests classes and classes suggest
inequalities in the distribution of resources in that society. Inequalities also suggest contradictions and contradictions suggest
motion that is politics. Thus it can be argued from the outset that the major characteristic of global relations has been the
phenomenon of imperialism.
The study of class formation in societies is termed historical materialism. On the other hand the study of motion that results from
class contradictions is termed dialectical materialism. ―It is the study of society in their essentially contradictory movement.‖
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Class contradictions arise out of the inequalities or unfair sharing of the resources within society or exploitation. This sharing is
what can be termed political economy. Political economy of any society therefore reveals the extent and level of exploitation in
that society and the level of dynamics or contradictions in that society. Historical and dialectical materialism and political
economy there for are the tools that can best be used to analyze the past and present stage in global relations.
Each stage in the evolution of production and exchange has a specific class structure, which determines relations in the society.
11.2 Stages in the development of Capital
Imperialism can be defined as, ―the general tendency of states or groups within states to exploit other states or groups through
relations brought about by force or other subtle means and to the detriment of the exploited group and the advantage of the
dominant group or state.‖ Such exploitation becomes manifestly visible through exchange and production relationships.
Production and exchange have over time evolved through various stages and at each stage the major feature has been the
existence of dominance relationships that is an exploited class and an exploiting class. At each stage imperialism can be seen to
be mutating or changing until it reaches its present and highest stage as International or Global Capital. The stages through which
capital has evolved are as follows;
1. the Hunter gatherer or communal stage
2. Feudalism
3. Mercantile capital
4. Competitive capital
5. Monopoly capital
6. Finance capital
Capital can be loosely defined as wealth in the form of land, finance or technology depending on the stage of development of
that society which at most is either scarce or monopolized by a small group within a particular society.While Capital and its
monopolization can be traced to the Feudal mode of production or stage, it can be seen that its nonexistence in the first mode of
production namely the hunter-gatherer stage, was due to the class nature of that society.
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5. 1. Industrialist David Hume, Adam Smith Free trade based on international
Competitive Capital 1800 to 1900 2. Worker against merchant monopoly of division of labour. Exploitation of
3. Peasant/leman capital and markets. Industrialists workers by industry. Monopoly of
+ bankers exploit workers and machines money and land
bankers=former merchants exploit
industrialists
6. Monopoly Capital 1900 to 1945 1. Bankers Worker‘s labour under valued Extraction of surplus value through
2. Industrialists leading to acute concentration of lending is paying for workers needs
3. Workers capital not for value of labour. Monopoly
4. Peasants ownership of capital-land, money
and machines
7. Finance Capital 1945 to present 1. Finance institutions Buyers determine prices Selling of Money Export of Money
2. Borrowers Monopoly ownership
Of Capital by banks
During the hunter-gatherer mode of production there was no society and no classes. Extraction of surplus value or exploitation of
one class by another class was not possible. The situation was a free for all and this made life difficult on a state of nature. With
the development of Roman slave society classes developed as well as conflicts as well. The landowners had slaves who resented
being owned and forced to work. The colonii or freed former slaves and peasants were also exploited by the landowners who
made them pay rent in kind or in cash. These conflicts eventually led to the collapse of the system and it was replaced by
Feudalism. Feudalism as a mode of production was based on a highly stratified society where extraction of surplus value by
those who owned and monopolised the means of production was for long sustained through force. The serfs or landless peasants
were made to work and pay part of their produce to the landlords who owned all the land. The major features of all successive
modes of production develop at this stage except the global element, which exists in the last stage or mode of production. It is
this global aspect namely the extraction of surplus value or exploitation from other countries through the exportation or selling of
finance capital that imperialism reaches its highest and most developed stage.
4. Emergence of another mode of production with different classes and different contradictions but with exploitation or surplus
value extraction being the ever-unchanging feature.
The current phase or mode of production that is the finance capital mode, is globalised in that those who own and monopolise the
means of production, have been able to mortgage all economic activity in their home countries and abroad to money that these
financial institutions lend locally in export abroad. The result in the global economy has been there for marked by:
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cooperation‘s or business have total freedom and collective bargaining and trade unionism and the consumer and citizen in
general have found themselves at the receiving end of the new international economic order. This new international economic
order had by the middle 1990s assumed a new form and characteristic namely globalisation.The IMF World Bank and oil Breton
Woods financial institutions were formed for the specific purpose of preventing future conflicts by dealing or removing those
economic and social issues that had led and that might lead to new war. The mandate of these financial institutions was to
provide lending for reconstruction and for short-term balance of payment support. These institutions after 1979 have increasingly
taken over individual governments, economic policies and intervene in national policy will beyond the scope of their mandate.
The post 1945 period saw a massive realignment of global economic relations with Europe being mortgaged to the U.S.A. under
the Marshall Plan which saw infusion of capital into Europe from the U.S.A. and newly created Breton Woods financial
institutions. The U.S.A. insisted on decolonisation as a condition of giving financial support to Europe and declared the end to
empire. Thus the U.S.A. gained the empires that Europe lost through decolonisation as it gained unprecedented control of former
colonies through new economic relations specifically the supply of manufactured goods and the provision of finance capital.
Debt becomes the primary form of survival technique for all former colonies and the supply of new materials from former
colonies was accelerated in order to raise money to pay off the debt. By the end of the 1970s the so called debt crisis had
developed with a new economic global structure which split the world into producers of raw materials and importers of finance
capital and finished goods and producers of finished goods and exporters of finance capital. This relationship was marked or
characterised by a high level injustice in the form of unequal exchange.The former colonies in America, Africa and Asia were
selling raw materials with little value added to them at prices set by the buyer that is the developed countries. The latter sell
manufactured goods to the developing countries at high profit margins and over and above this drain of resources from the south
servicing the loans obtained from the north compounds or increases the flow of resources to the south.
The flow of wealth from the South to the North through debt servicing and unequal exchange is further increased with the
insistence on structural adjustment programmes in the south by the so called donor community that is western governments and
the Breton Woods financial institutions or the North. The catch word on economic structures adjustment programmes forced on
the South are similar to the free market economic policies instituted on the domestic economics of the North which resulted in
nett gains for the super rich and nett loss for the average worker. Average income in the 1980s of the top 10% of American
families increased by 16%, ―the top 5% increased by 23%, the top 1% got 50%. The bottom 10% of Americans lost 15% during
the same period.‖ The same policies during the same period applied to global policies saw an increase in nett flows of income to
the North and a decrease in income to the South with the result that IMF policies have led to increased poverty in the South.
These policies are what can be termed globalisation and are hinged upon: -
a) free trade in goods and services between countries through the
removal of trade barriers.
b) free circulation of capital
c) freedom and protection of investments
d) reduction of government expenditure and government interference in the economy.
e) privatisation of parastatals
These points have become the conditionalities for receiving or disbursement
of aid by the North. The result in all instances was that the forced
privatisation saw corporations in the North buying up all privatised
companies in the South so privatised.
Closely related to these policies has been the creation of the UN – World
Trade Organisation (UN – WTO) in 1995. The liberalisation of world trade
under the current requirements is reducing developing countries to
primitive economies as industries close under pressure from unregulated
competition from the North. The North in the meantime is not removing trade restrictions, which remain in the form of quarters
or strict health requirements in agricultural products. Moreover subsidies maintained by both the U.S.A. and Europe on
agricultural production is seeing many countries in the South collapsing economically.
11.5 International Division Of Labour
The global economic arrangement between the South and North has structural linkages, which perpetuate the inequalities that
exist in global economic relations. The North or developed economies can thus be termed the centre of global economic activity
and the South or developing countries the periphery of economic activity at the international level. These relations can be
diagrammatically represented as follows: -
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Centre
Periphery Periphery
Periphery Centre
Harmony of interests
between periphery centre
and centre is the centre.
11.7 Activities
Discuss the elements of imperialism
Discuss the various stages in the development of international capital
Finance capital has done more harm than good how accurate is this assessment of policies of the WORLD
BANK and IMF
UNIT 12
Development Strategies
12.1 Objectives
By the end of this unit students should be able to:
o Discuss the development strategies that can be used by nations for economic development and growth
o Explain how developing nations can make use of appropriate technology to tap their resources for
economic development and growth
In a world where there are structural linkages between the North and South that thrive on the allocation of unequal roles based on
historically and political derived positions development in the South is only a myth.
It is not possible to envisage a situation where the North will allow economic conditions in the South to develop to such a level or
extent or to undermine the supply of their raw material resources or the continued existence of markets for their goods.
Development has remained elusive in the South especially as long as the North subverts or influences the political process in the
South. Development refers to a situation where the majority of the people have sufficient levels of literacy, access to education,
food, shelter and health care. Bustling metropolis are not proof of development. Highly segmented society where a few people
enjoy privileged economic advantages while the rest of the population languish in squalor and poverty in illiteracy and in slums
with no access to health care are clear examples of endemic under development. This scenario is true for many of Zimbabwe‘s
neighbours and especially when one compares the health education and infrastructure in the region. Structural dependence
linkages, which create, sustain and perpetuate the existence of dual economics, are short-term gains that will in the long term
create catastrophic situations. Development approaches have to be long term in nature and have to take cognisance of the
realities in which nations exist as members of the global community. It has already been demonstrated that former colonies are
structurally dependent and linked to the former colonies through new forms of linkages, which prohibit development in this neo-
PAGE 58
colonial relationship.The problem countries like Zimbabwe face is dependence which perpetuates the traditional role and position
of supplier of raw materials with the result of creating a dual economy – an affluent metropolis and a poor peasantry.
Development therefore can be viewed from the following angles.
12.2 Interdependence
―This is inevitable in this heterogeneous planet: resources, including fertile land, fresh water, deposits of minerals and sources of
energy are dispersed unevenly over its surface. In simpler times, populations were concentrated mainly in areas of plentiful
resources and especially those propitious for the growing of food. Such societies could therefore become more or less self-
sufficient and international trade gradually developed mainly to provide exotic products, which were initially, luxuries but which
little by little improved the general material standard of life. With the impact of technological development, a vastly greater
range of materials was required. The present industrialized economies, which arose as a consequence of the industrial revolution,
were initially based on local deposits of coal and iron ore. but, as these economies became more sophisticated, their industries
called for a wide variety of materials, many of which had to be imported from distant lands and this had many consequences
including colonization. Interdependence,then,became an important reality but was seldom recognize politically.Little by little,
within this system human skills and knowledge(especially those of science and technology) became the most important of all
national resources and we have now reached a situation in which successful and innovative economies can be created‖
12.3 Self Reliance
―Interdependence appears, therefore, to have become a central feature of the contemporary world. However, it is
inevitable that the most powerful of the nations are the most capable of exploiting it to their own advantage; at least as
the‘re short-term vision seems to indicate. Such a situation tends to make the rich richer and the poor relatively poorer,
increasing disharmony, which must in the end imperil the rich as well as the poor. For the establishment of a stable
world order, therefore, interdependence has to be complemented by self-reliance, which means, essentially, the
capacity to manage interdependence. Without such a capacity, interdependence can only mean dependence on the part
of the many, a continuing economic and technological colonialism, or just plain poverty.There are many ingredients
within the concept of self-reliance. It is necessary for instance to have a stable and intelligent government, with
partners who may be well trained and able to command skills in negotiation with partners who may be stronger.
Likewise it is necessary to attain a national competence in science and technology to provide a sound basis for
industrialization and to ensure that imported technologies are well chosen, intelligently assimilated and assist in
providing the skills which will make possible indigenous innovations and development. It necessitates also a good
level of education and training as well as the acquisition of management capacities. Self-reliance is thus a very
different concept from that of self-sufficiency; it entails the building up of a capacity, both institutional and in terms of
human skills which enables a country to manage its resources and affairs effectively so as to benefit to the maximum
from interdependence, rather than to be its passive victim‖.
12.4ACTIVITIES
o Discuss the development strategies that can be used by nations for economic development and growth
o Explain how developing nations can make use of appropriate technology to tap their resources for
economic development and growth
UNIT 13
Regionalism
13.1 OBJECTIVES
By the end of this unit the student should be able to:
o Outline the logic and development of regionalism.
o Outline the composition purpose, and functions of major regional organisations (SADC, COMESA, PTA,
ECOWAS, AU, EU, ASEAN, NAFTA).
o Critically analyse the purpose role, structure and functions of the United Nations and trace its origins
successes and failures.
o Assess the functions and structure of the major UN agencies – UNESCO, UNHCR, WHO, UNDP, UNICEF
o Evaluate the role played by governmental aid agencies – Usaid, Norad, Cida, Sida etc.
13.2 Introduction
Economic and Political integration among Third World countries is normally on a regional or sub-regional basis. Before taking
the merits and demerits of such integration it is necessary to define first what we mean or what is meant by ―region‖ and
―integration‖. The term region will be defined first and integration will be defined latter. By region is meant:
- ―an area of contiguous countries defined usually by geography or by a common cultural heritage, shared political
philosophy or mutual economic interest‖.
- Such integration can be seen as falling under: -
i) ―Multifunctional geographically comprehensive organisations such as the Organisation of American States
(O.A.S), the Organisation of Africa‘s Unity (O.AU) and the League of Arab States (LAS).
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ii) Cooperative or integration-oriented and geographically limited (sub-regional) organisations such as the
European Economic Community (EEC) and the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS).
iii) Technical or otherwise narrowly functional organisations such as the Colombo plan for economic cooperative
development.
iv) Economic Commissioners falling under the United Nations such as the Economic Commission for Africa
(ECA). Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA), Economic Commission for Western Asia
(ECWA), and the Economic Commission for South Asia and the Pacific (ECSAP).
To these can be added in a sub global sense of regional integration regional bodies such as the British Common Wealth, the
Organisation of the Conference of Islamic States and Africa-Caribbean and Pacific group that falls under the Lome Conventions
1 and 11. These organisations usually double as loose association with political as well as economic undertones. It is possible to
make further extensions to include the ideological divide, which form the End-West confrontation, but a broad assumption will
be made that developing countries do not fall under these groupings. The North-South dialogue can also be seen as being trans
regional.
The logic behind regionalism therefore is economics of scale in production and trade at the economic level and shared cultural
and social values at the political level. The formation of regional organisation is therefore a logical imperative and answer to the
common problems facing mankind. When the UN was formed article 52(1) of the Charter provided that:
―Nothing on the present Charter precludes the existence of regional arrangements or agencies for dealing with such matters
relating to the maintenance of international peace and security as are appropriate for regional action provided that such
arrangements or agencies and their activities are consistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations‖
Student Exercise
Using the following table fill in the necessary information on or about the following regional organisations, SADC, COMESA,
ECOWAS, AU, SACU, EU.
U.N.O Disarmament
Commission
UNWTO
Committees
UNILO Committee of
Expects
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ICAO
Committee No. 1
Political & Security IBRD Military Staff
Committee
IFC
Special Political
Committee IDA
Ad Hoc Bodies
IMF
Committee No. 2
Economic & Financial FAO International
Atomic Agency
UNESCO
Committee No. 3
Social Humanitarian WHO
UPU
Committee No. 4
Trusteeship Council ITU
WMO
Committee No. 5
Administrative & WIPO
Budgetary
UNIDO
13.5 ACTIVITIES
UNIT 14
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS(NGOs)
14.1 OBJECTIVES
By the end of this unit the student should be able to:
o Identify major NGOs in Zimbabwe and State their functions, purposes and their relationships with the host
Government.
o Critically analyse the role of NGOs ass lobby groups in home countries and as front organisations in host
countries.
o Assess the effect of NGOs and their contribution in development; cultural imperialism and the dependency
syndrome.
Non-governmental organisations have become a major feature in international relations for two reasons: -
a) They are used directly and indirectly by their home states as front organisations.
b) Impact of their activities can be far reaching.
NGOs are formal organisations formed by private individuals for the specific purpose of articulating concerns, raising awareness
and lobbying governments for legislative or other political action and soliciting for resources.NGOs can be classified according
to their area of concern or operations namely: -
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a) Developmental NGOs
b) Advocacy NGOs
c) Relief NGOs
Developmental NGOs are involved in raising resources human or material for use in alleviating poverty or suffering.
Advocacy NGOs raise awareness in an existing problem and lobby governments to take specific action to deal with that type of
problems. Relief NGOs solicit for financial and material resources for use where natural disasters and earthquakes occur.
Relief NGOs provide assistance such as food during droughts in Zimbabwe; such assistance while it averts starvation in the short
term has been extremely detrimental in long-term food security in the country. Instead of coming up with solutions to recurring
drought, people in Zimbabwe look for external assistance. Adopting wrong grains for food worsens drought effects. Local small
grains like sorghum and millet have been safe food security reserves in the past but the use of an exotic and foreign grain like
maize not suited to our climate has produced a crisis in food security. The overall picture or effect is that NGOs have contributed
more negatively than positively to Zimbabwe‘s welfare.
Front organisations are organisations that are used as cover for some other purposes or activity. These front organisations have
been used to subvert the political process in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe Democracy Trust is sponsored by white Rhodesians to
create an environment that undermines black interests and gains. MISA –Media Institute for Southern Africa promotes, funds
and where necessary encourages the creation of media that is friendly to western interests. One of MISA‘s subsidiaries, the
Southern African Media Development Fund has been active in promoting media hostile to the Zimbabwe government. The U.S.
Agency for International Aid, of a USA, government department, funds more than fifteen NGOs in Zimbabwe with the specific
objective of undermining the Zimbabwe government. The US Aid subsidiary Office of Transition Initiatives is funding a hostile
and subversive radio station SW radio advocating political uprising in Zimbabwe. The Communication Assistance Foundation of
the Netherlands reportedly seeks to ―influence policy formulation‖ in Zimbabwe and supports activities of the ―Zimbabwe Civil
Society‖, that is, groups seeking to overthrow the Zimbabwean government. The Westminster Foundation, a United Kingdom
organisation has been active in supporting all activities aimed at undermining the Zimbabwean government.
14.3 ACTIVITIES
o Identify major NGOs in Zimbabwe and State their functions, purposes and their relationships with the host
Government.
o Critically analyse the role of NGOs ass lobby groups in home countries and as front organisations in host
countries.
o Assess the effect of NGOs and their contribution in development; cultural imperialism and the dependency
syndrome.
UNIT 15
THE MEDIA
15.1 OBJECTIVES
By the end of this unit the student should be able to:
Define Media and explain its role and functions
Critically analyse the following :
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Association within the context of Media Freedom
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Discuss and explain self censorship of the media and compare the behaviour of Zimbabwe‘s media to that of other
countries
Assess the role of the foreign media in shaping perceptions and influencing political processes in modern politics
Define the term ―perceptions‖ and critically relate it to the adage ―the battle is not lost on the battlefield but in the
mind‖.
Discuss and analyse the role of the media in modern welfare and trade.
Media definition, roles and functions
15.2 Definition
Media can be defined as a channel through which one communicates. Mass media refers to the channel through which one or a
group of people communicates to a large audience. It can be print, electronic or digital.
15.3 Roles
It plays 3 primary roles i.e entertains, educates and informs.
15.4 Functions
The media have become one of the central elements of modern societies with some theorists calling it the FOURTH ESTATE or
fourth arm of the state, whose primarily function is to be a watchdog.The media is the major ideological apparatus of any state.
Nation states use the media to maintain peace, order, national values, heritage as well as the sovereignty and territorial integrity.
State
The Rambai Makashinga jingle for instance successfully entrenched the spirit of resilience in the hearts and minds of the
ordinary Zimbabweans suffering from the negative effects of successive droughts and sanctions on the economy.
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Concise dictionary 10th edition defines anarchy as the state of disorder due to lack of government control).The media has
influence on society as a whole (e.g., influence in shaping various governmental, social, and cultural norms; influence on the
democratic process; influence on beliefs, lifestyles, and understanding of relationships and culture; how it shapes viewer's
perceptions of reality; the various consequences in society of ideas and images in media)The media has the ability to influence
social and cultural issues (e.g., creating or promoting causes: U.N. military action, election of political parties; use of media to
achieve governmental, societal, and cultural goals)This is the reason why the Zimbabwean government enacted laws which
makes it a criminal offense to publish falsehoods, write anything that creates public alarm and despondence or anything
prejudicial to the state, president or his office. The government of Zimbabwe also recently allowed for the self censorship of
journalists through their self appointed regulatory board known as the Voluntary Media Council. It is however essential to note
that the media framework cannot work in an unregulated fraternity.
15.10 Assess the role of the foreign media in shaping perceptions and influencing political processes in modern politics
The ever widening reach of the global media has created a relatively unified international view of the world. According to the
Agenda Setting theory, ―the media may not be successful much of the time in telling people what to think, but it is stunningly
successful in telling its readers what to think about.‖ Bernard C Cohen (1963).The seemingly plural global media has formed a
cartel that owns newspapers, magazines, book publishers, motion picture studios, radio and TV stations globally. Time Warner,
Walt Disney, News Corporation, Viacom and Bertelsmann control almost all global media of influence and they are also under
one controlling hand, hence all the news and entertainment enjoyed the world over come from one controlling stake.
Realizing the power of the media in controlling the thinking of man, imperialists have hijacked and manipulated the global media
from its educative, informative and entertaining role to being the major apparatus in the creation and perpetuation of the Anglo-
American hegemony agenda globally. It therefore doesn‘t come as a surprise that a successful land reform program may be called
―chaotic‖, an economy under sanctions named ―mismanaged and in meltdown‖, a homegrown legislation called ―draconian‖, by
almost if not all of these media houses who are perpetrating an ideology of their paymasters (He who pays the piper calls the
tune).
Through their ill gotten wealth (slavery & colonialism, and other neo-colonial and imperialist injustices they continue to commit)
the imperialists promote their capitalist system as the only hope for ailing developing economies so that through their set
financial institutions (IMF, World Bank) they continue to exploit the rich human and natural resources of African economies.
Frantz Fanon noted that “the last battle of the colonised against the coloniser will often be the fight of the colonised against
each other”. The words are very linked to the Zimbabwean scenario and relates to what other sections of the Zimbabwean media
community are doing to destroy Zimbabwe in the name of freedom of the media. For example, the private media, which are
usually anti-establishment, refer to the sanctions that have led to the economic downturn and suffering of the ordinary
Zimbabweans as targeted and claim they are not affecting trade in the country. However, the public media in Zimbabwe has
always maintained that sanctions in Africa in general and Zimbabwe in particular hurt masses not the government in power
because there is no middle class like in countries of Europe who can effect regime change.
15.11 The role of the media in modern welfare and trade.
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The building and maintenance of public support is essential in modern warfare due to the increasing politicization of warfare,
where losses and gains are measured in political rather than military terms. And if progress cannot be demonstrated during a war,
then by default one is assumed to be losing. Thus, the adage ―the battle is not lost on the battlefield but in the mind,‖ is very
true.This explains why the American war against terror is glamorized in Western media though it has led to the indiscriminate
killing thousands of innocent civilians which include defenseless women and children in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq. War
on Terror has been interpreted as an assault on democracy and freedom by Islamic fundamentalists and has been heavily
criticized for the death of innocent souls the world over though it is positively portrayed in the media. The media onslaught
against Zimbabwean policies is part of the Anglo American warfare strategy that involves the control of the minds of people and
the media support of any of their policies though they may lead to untold suffering to other people. The third world Pan- African
states, like other developed states also use their indigenous media to counter the global media positive coverage of Anglo-
American policies. With the growth of global media, the third world countries are creating less of their culture and buying more
of it from the media, hence the continued loss of African culture. Thus, Africans in general, and Zimbabweans in particular
should work together in the fight against western ideals which are proclaimed in foreign media.
15.12 ACTIVITIES
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