MAY 2007

FORWARDED FROM JEBRON HUNTER

Zimbabwe
Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2007 03:30:23 -0700

In 2002 I was in Zimbabwe and met with one of the white heads of thefarmers union that included many Zimbabween white farmers that confirmed the following. Note: Sometime after his remarks to us was publishedin a British daily he left or was removed from his position with the farmers union.

Jehron
The Black Scholar Editorial on Zimbabwe
Submitted to Portside by the Author

Dear Moderator,
I think you are off the mark in your April 3 position on Zimbabwe. But that is understandable, in view of
the massive disinformation that Blair, Bush, the EU have been dispersing.

The simple fact is that Britain welshed on its
Lancaster House agreement to "buy out" white farmers
and compensate them for land they had stolen from
Zimbabwe some 100 years previously, when the country
was a fiefdom of Cecil Rhodes and called "Rhodesia."
and thus permit Zimbabwe to repossess its land and
income without confrontation. Mugabe/ZANU inherited a
nation whose black population was impoverished [1 % of
the population--whites--owned 70% of the arable land.]
Zimbabwe then borrowed money from IMF, got into the
structural adjustment squeeze even though it has met
wage demands as possible .

At the same time, international capital began the destabilization strategy of inflating an opposition,
supporting spurious demonstrations, and playing the human rights card, strategies already deployed in Chile, Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Poland to eliminate legitimate administrations.

This campaign ignores the fact that Mugabe had been elected twice--legitimately--in elections that were deemed fair by international agencies. It also dismisses the Africans' right to self- determination, and ignores the fact that in late March, the leaders at the two-day Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in Dar es Salaam took measures,asking South African President Thabo Mbeki to help promote dialogue between ZANU and MDC. (AllAfrica.com)

I would suggest that you research a bit more deeply into the roots of the Zimbabwe crisis, and the morphing of the front line states into SADC, which advocates economic regionalism, political cooperation and respects the independence of its members.
Separately, I am sending you an editorial I wrote on
this subject that will be published in Volume 37 No. 2
of THE BLACK SCHOLAR.

Sincerely yours,

Robert Chrisman, Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief and Publisher,
THE BLACK SCHOLAR
**************************
ZIMBABWE: THE LONG STRUGGLE

by Robert Chrisman, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher
THE BLACK SCHOLAR, VOL. 37 #1

BLACKS IN AMERICA have supported the Zimbabwe
Liberation movement, both from our ideology of Pan-
Africanism as well as from our identification with oppressed people in emerging countries. This issue of The Black Scholar explores the current crises in Zimbabwe to develop deeper understanding of issues within that embattled country. We give our thanks to the scholars and activists who have contributed their various viewpoints of this complex situation. Upon its independence and the ascendancy of ZANU's Robert Mugabeto its presidency in 1980, Zimbabwe's main economic resources, particularly agriculture, remained in the possession of white farmers who refused to release the spoils of Cecil Rhodes' policies: one percent of the population owned 70 percent of the arable land. As part of the peace settlement negotiated at Lancaster House, 1979-80, which involved the US, Britain had promised
to subsidize the buy-out of these farmers but did not provide funds to pay them and equivocated on terms, insisting on 'willing buyer-willing seller,' and 'full-market value' for land. White farmers remained in possession of the land. On November 6, 1997 British Labour Secretary Clare Short sent a letter to Kumbirai Kangai, Minister of Agriculture in Zimbabwe, in which she stated that, 'We do not accept that Britain has a special responsibility to meet the costs of land
purchase in Zimbabwe.'

Structural Adjustment

CORRECTING THE ECONOMIC and social welfare inequities for blacks left over by the white Ian Smith regime
(temporarily solved by securing foreign credits), and a severe drought, forced Zimbabwe to enter a structural adjustment program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1990. Structural adjustment typically mandates laissez faire capitalism (disingenuously called 'neoliberalism'), privatization, and the reduction of social welfare. Since implementing these measures Zimbabwe's conditions have deteriorated drastically. Writing of this adjustment, political economist Antonia Juhasz states:

In order to radically reduce government spending, the government fired tens of thousands of workers, gutted the pay of those who remained and drastically reduced spending on social programs. At the same time, taxes were reduced (the idea being to encourage both increased spending and businesses to locate to Zimbabwe), and the country was opened to foreign competition-hitting the manufacturing sector particularly hard. Both employment and real wages
declined sharply. During 1991-1996, manufacturing employment fell by 9 percent and wages dropped by 26 percent. Public sector employment fell by 23 percent, with wages dropping by 40 percent. (Juhasz, 'The Tragic Tale of the IMF in Zimbabwe,' Daily Mirror of Zimbabwe,
March 7, 2004)

The privatization of health care has had disastrous consequences for AIDS/HIV treatment in Zimbabwe:

While campaigns to prevent and treat HIV in other African nations benefit from international aid, the political situation in Zimbabwe has caused most foreign donors either to decrease aid for the country or halt it altogether. The United States, Australia and the European Union have also imposed economic sanctions on Zimbabwe. The neighboring nation of Zambia, which has a similar HIV prevalence rate, receives around US $187 per HIV-positive person annually from foreign donors; in Zimbabwe, the figure is estimated to be just $4. (Graham Pembrey, 'HIV and AIDS in Zimbabwe,'
Avert.org)

Clinics and individuals cannot afford to buy the needed drugs. Even so, on their own initiative, the Zimbabwean government and people have reduced incidence from 25 percent to 20 percent.

Destabilization

ZIMBABWE HAS BEEN SUBJECT to a two-pronged destabilization program led by the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union-
1) economic sanctions
2) a relentless propaganda barrage.
Allegations against Zimbabwe of torture, cruelty, and abuse resemble similar Western orchestrations against Cuba, the German Democratic Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Nicaragua, North Korea, Palestine, Poland, and other countries targeted for economic, political, or military assault. The goal is not economic justice for citizens but the creation of a national bourgeoisie which serves Western global interests, not those of its own people. A notable case is the Mexican crisis, brought about by the neoliberal polices of former president Vicente Fox and NAFTA.

THROUGH ELECTIONS Mugabe has remained in power, but as is often the case when an independent or non-Western
force prevails, its legitimacy is contested by pro-Western international and domestic forces. 'Democracy' in this context often means penetration of the nation by international capital, which ignores the fact that the primary issue is self-determination, not democracy. However, a country's cooperation with global capitalismdoes not mean sharing in its profits. As Moamar Gaddafistated March 2, 2007, the 30th anniversary of his declaration of a Jamahiriyah or 'state of the masses,' the West has yet to provide economic aid to Libya,
despite its retreat from nuclear programs:

The prevailing powers today are in the hands of those who have economic and military power which puts fear in others. They can make you starve. They can close the doors for your exports of raw materials such as coffee or oil. . . . This is an international dictatorship that is being practiced against people, especially poorpeople. (William MacLean, Reuters, 'Gaddafi Says Fear Drives World Economic System,' Reuters.)

For example, with the destruction of the Iraq nation state headed by Saddam Hussein-to create 'democracy'-its nationalized oil policy was destroyed to permit the plunder of the rich Iraq oil fields, which are to be divided among ethnic and religious factions, with the global West controlling their
markets. Writes Pepe Escobar, 'Sixty-five of Iraq's roughly 80 oilfields already known will be offered for Big Oil to exploit. Iraq has as many as 70 undeveloped fields-'small' ones hold a minimum of a billion barrels. As desert western Iraq has not even been exploited, reserves may reach 300 billion barrels'
(Escobar, 'US's Iraq Oil Grab is a Done Deal,' Asia
Times Online, February 28, 2007).

The Road Ahead

ZIMBABWE'S PROGRESS toward true independence and self- determination has been hamstrung by the Draconian measures of economic sanctions, IMF schedules, and international demonization. Possessing extraordinary mineral and rare earth resources and fertile agriculture, Zimbabwe must be permitted to develop and integrate its resources with other developing nations in Southern Africa. The following measures must be taken immediately:

1. Forgive Zimbabwe's IMF debt. Currently Zimbabwe is 128 million dollars in arrears to the IMF. Considering that this amount is about five percent of the two billion dollars a week the US spends waging war on Iraq, debt forgiveness is a small price for securing peace and alleviating poverty and suffering.

2.The US, UK, and European Union should lift their economic sanctions on Zimbabwe. These sanctions have served no useful purpose but in fact expose the West as a group that will ruthlessly punish an emerging nation for reclaiming its patrimony of land, liberty, and the pursuit of economic and social justice.

3. The demonization of Zimbabwe must stop. The whirlwind of disinformation pouring from Western and pro-Western presses does not provide an objective, comparative context for understanding Zimbabwe's issues relative tothose in other parts of the world, particularly the western surrogates in Asia and the Middle East.

4. The West must stop its provocative campaign for regime change and respect the national and regional autonomy of Zimbabwe, as Russia, China, South Africa, and the African Union have done. The continuing escalation of the West's belligerence and sanctions against independent, sovereign countries at the same time it offers a bait and switch of 'free elections anddemocracy,' offers a caution for blacks in America.

The cause of social and economic justice in Zimbabwe is best served by the elimination of sanctions, the cessation of the propaganda war, and the forgiveness ofthe IMF debt. Such measures will allow Zimbabwe to solve its own problems without foreign interference

At one time Zimbabwe was considered the breadbasket of Africa. After the land was returned to the Africans, how did it all go in decline. I suspect that there was no transfer of technical knowledge of modern farming when the Whites had the land, right. If so, why didn't Mugabe make this happen, knowing the land was to be returned.

I see this all too often in Africa. Foreigner investors come in and set up shop, but there is never any transfer of knowledge to enable the Africans to run the factories. To me, this is a bad trade arrangement and clearly shows that the African leaders are not committed to self reliance.

Do I have the picture right? If so, we Africans need to get away from political think tanks and start 1) acquiring mining, infra-structural development and manufacturing expertise, and 2) set up vocational institutions (free of charge) as prototype systems.

Olushola
[TheBlackList] What Went Wrong in Zimbabwe

The Transfer of World Powers

By Ezrah Aharone

As the Republic of Ghana pioneers Africa with its 50th anniversary of independence this year, it makes you wonder how and why the whole African continent could be under colonial rule for so long.  Up until the slave trade, West Africa had experienced centuries of contiguous development.  Afterwards came the dawn of a rapidly declining Africa and a rapidly accelerating Europe with lust cravings for wealth and power.  As Africa faltered, Europe went on to become a collective group of world powers. 

Contrary to revisionist history, when Europeans first arrived in West Africa, they encountered many well-educated, culturally aggrandized people whom they learned from, enslaved, and colonized.  The general notion of Africa being a “dark continent” with people living in the wild, swinging from tree to tree, is just as ridiculous as thinking that everybody in America is rich.

The rise and fall of nations, and the subsequent “Transfer of World Powers” can be an interesting phenomenon.  Ruling nations often appear too strong to be surpassed or defeated.  When world powers like Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome were at their zeniths, it seemed they could never be replaced.  Few would have wagered on their demise.  And the same holds true today with the seeming invincibility of the West.  Based on the present world structure, can you envision the world without America being a central power, or with Mali for instance becoming a central power?

Nevertheless, nations and world powers do fall and the most unforeseen nations have risen to power.  This was the case when the comparatively haggard, but determined European began to trounce Africa.  Based on the world structure prior to slavery, Europe’s population was sparse from wars, feudalism, and the Bubonic Plague.   Those were times of great tribulations for Europe, making its rise improbable and unexpected.  But it cannot be overlooked that Europe’s rise hinged directly on its contact with Africa, and subsequent control of Africa’s human and natural resources.  Only thereafter did Europe penetrate the clouds of the Dark Ages. 

To better understand the obstacles of their unlikely rise, consider all the logistics and slim margins of error necessary for their scale of success.  Despite assistance from Africans, it’s uncanny that small numbers of Europeans could board what were originally rickety-rackety ships bound for Africa.  Upon arrival, they would then strike deals to load hundreds of unwilling and even defiant Africans.  Against all odds they cumulatively transported millions of Africans thousands of miles to a knowing destination of death or enslavement.  Over the course of centuries Europeans enforced slavery until they got tired of its diminishing returns.  

What’s even more mystifying is that rather than ultimately exercising sovereignty, Africans in America embraced Americanization with pride instead.  With Africa being ravaged and depopulated, the stage was naturally set to successfully colonize the entire continent for its mineral and energy resources.  All totaled, this was an extraordinary feat of unheard and near-impossible proportions, which circles of Europeans probably still brag about in private.

Japan and China however held their own in Asia.  Both are two of the few non-Western nations with the rare distinction of not being colonized by Europe, and both have historically been unafraid to flex their sovereign muscles to rattle the nerves of the West.  It’s curious that today’s descendents of the nations that were enslaved or colonized by Europe, currently comprise the majority of the billions who now live in poverty worldwide.

From slavery to colonialism to free-market globalism, the West has had little problem working together at Africa’s expense.  Despite being individual nations with different languages and cultural backgrounds, they have tag-teamed against Africa with a form of “Pan-Europeanism” for expanse.  At the same time, Africans are racing faster and further to the bottom of the barrel of underdevelopment.

With the West stepping on the gas of Pan-Europeanism, our chances for comparable development are bleak without the resurgence of Pan-African ideals.  In proper context, “Pan-Africanism” is not clichéd, outdated revolutionary jargon that’s more radical than attainable.  Neither does it imply a single nation encompassing all African people.  As Africans, we too are culturally diverse and philosophically unique.  Yet we must discard our fragmented approach to development, and commit to functional practices of collectivity for the greater good of the whole.

Since the Renaissance, Europeans have not lost an inch of ground in their quest to Westernize the world.  The benefits and wealth generated from Pan-Europeanism allowed them to consummate the “Transfer of World Powers” from Africans to Europeans.  If we therefore as Africans, do not place the highest premiums on African interests and stand prepared to defend them, no other people will do so on our behalf.

  People either shape or they get shaped by history.  For far too long, we have followed Europeans verbatim as they operate to keep the scale of world power tilted in their favor.  Over the last 400 years, one of the greatest differences between Africans and Europeans is that Europeans have had clearer and more ambitious visions of collective power for themselves, along with a fiercer resolve to act and become world leaders – Not followers.

Copyright © 2007 Ezrah Aharone

Ezrah Aharone is a Scholar of Sovereign Studies and the author of “Pawned Sovereignty:  Sharpened Black Perspectives on Americanization, Africa, War and Reparations” http://www.1stbooks.com/bookview/18126 .  He can be reached at EzrahAharone@juno.com . [TheBlackList] The Transfer of World Powers



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