A New Era

Abstract

During the last week of February 1980, Peterhouse boys were entertained by the sight of a British ‘bobby’ standing outside the cricket pavilion during the first universal free elections in the country. Their parents were probably not so entertained by the news of the results: ZANU had won 57 of the 80 parliamentary seats, and on 5 March Robert Mugabe agreed to form a coalition government. Julius Nyerere of Tanzania was reported to have said to him: ‘You have inherited a jewel in Africa; don’t tarnish it. ‘300 Contrary to the expectations of the white population – fed on a propaganda diet of Mugabe as a Marxist ideologue during the previous decade – the Prime Minister elect set out to portray the new regime as inclusive, non-racial, and welcoming of the skills and support which the whites could bring to Zimbabwe.

While forming a government of national unity, the government also put forward the policy of national reconciliation. The essence of the policy lay in that all people were urged to forget about the past political enmity, and start afresh, with support for the new government. Central to this policy, therefore, was the building of a nation from the ruins of war, hatred and racism. Unlike in the past when Rhodesia had been torn by war and divided on the basis of colour, Zimbabwe offered prospects for peace, love and unity. Addressing the Nation on the eve of independence, the new Prime Minister, Robert G. Mugabe said, ‘Let us deepen our sense of belonging and engender a common interest that knows no race, colour or creed’.

Emmerson Mnangagwa in Turmoil and Tenacity: Zimbabwe 1890–1990, edited by Canaan S. Banana (Harare 1989) p 229