Zimbabwe’s effort to transform itself

Press, 7 June 1982, Page 12

Zimbabwe’s effort to transform itself

By

RUPERT WATSON,

Director of the Africa Information Centre, Wellington, who

recently visited Zimbabwe during a trip through Commonwealth African countries which was sponsored by the Commonwealth Foundation.

This is the Year of National Transformation in Zimbabwe, and peace is an essential precondition for progress. This is the message that the Prime Minister, Mr Robert Mugabe, has been hammering home in his tireless series of “meet the people" rallies every week-end, and in his other appearances before business and professional organisations in Zimbabwe.

Amid enthusiastic celebrations of the second anniversary of Independence in April, Mr Mugabe has been examining in. as he puts it, "historical and qualitative terms the significance of independence to date." Zimbabwe’s achievements are indeed substantial. “Expansion" is the key word.

Schools are crammed — there has been an increase of 50 per cent in secondary enrolments each year since 1980. There are still wide disparities between the previously “all white" schools (now called Group A) and the “African" schools (Group B) and the existence of privilege is likely to continue, but a huge thrust is being made to get some kind of education for all. Many schools run two shifts a day, and some manage three.

Education now accounts for 30 per cent of government spending and recruitment drives for overseas teachers are continuing. Australia has placed 150 secondary teachers in Zimbabwe, and this contingent is going a long way towards breaking previous racial barriers, working and mixing in areas where whites never used to be seen, at least out of uniform.

The Government takeover of the Argus group of newspapers has also resulted in a boom — circulation of all five papers in the group is rising rapidly as newspaper content now’ reflects the interests of black, as well as white, readers. Newspaper profits have naturally increased, and would have been a record last year, if the Government had not pegged the price of papers to an easily affordable 10 cents.

Contrary to predictions the standards of the papers have not fallen and the Media Trust system has kept the amount of political interference and "writing to please" to the minimum.

The "two economies” of colonial and U.D.I. days still run separately, but at least on the surface ft seems that the gap is closing. The elite “wabenzi” (Mercedes People) certainly exist and whites are not growing noticeably poorer, but the Government drive to improve the conditions of the poor in both urban and rural areas is not mere rhetoric. Education is now free, as are health services for those with incomes less than $l5O a month.

The growing bill for the extension of welfare services and demobilisation training for the "comrades” means it is imperative that the Government and private sector cooperate closely to keep a prosperous base for the economy and to ensure the efficient continuation of essential services.

Several factors inhibit this. One is the current shortage of foreign exchange, caused by the fall in mineral prices and

the drought which has disrupted the dairy and meat industries. Another is the reliance on skilled whites in crucial areas of industry and the public service (for example. Post and Telecommunications). Previously Africans were not permitted to train for skilled jobs and so as whites leave to go “down South" huge gaps are appearing and it is recognised that some services will decline in efficiency as a result. A third factor is economic pressure and sabotage both from within Zimbabwe and from South Africa. For some months there have been acute petrol shortages in Salisbury, caused in part by “economic saboteurs" in the railways (still largely a white preserve) diverting Zimbabwean fuel from Mozambique to South Africa.

South African pressure takes many forms, from threatening to lift the preferential trade agreement which helps Zimbabwean exports to the Republic, to supplying and training the terrorist group in Mozambique which operates on the vital railway link between Umtali and Beira. It is thought that if South Africa succeeds in limiting Zimbabwe’s use of the Umbtali-Beira railway, and the adjacent fuel pipe-line, then Zimbabwe’s transport dependence on South Africa will be increased. This would of course limit Zimbabwe’s role in current moves by Southern African countries to reduce their economic dependence on South Africa. In addition it would hamper Zimbabwe’s efforts to export its agricultural produce,

such as last year’s bumper maize harvest, and surrounding countries would be forced to buy maize from South Africa instead, thus cheating Zimbabwe of foreign exchange and the region of an element of self-reliant co-operation.

A casual visitor in Salisbury might wonder how there had ever been “racial problems” in Zimbabwe. Courtesy extends

everywhere, from the shops to security checks in government departments. Closer observation, however, turns up evidence of the past and "Rhodesian mentality” still has great influence in business, schools and government services. Considering the number of whites who malign the new Zimbabwe and actively try to disrupt it the ease of “race relations" is astonishing.

Politically Zimbabwe is going through an interesting period as the "arms cache" scandal has enabled Z.A.N.U., the majority party in the Government, to establish a tight grip on political activity. Mr Mugabe has played an astute hand, dismissing senior Z.A.P.U. ministers like Mr Nkomo and Mr Chinamano. but letting the legal side take its due course as far as "illegal possession of weapons" is concerned. He has emphasized the Government's quarrel is not with Z.A.P.U. itself or its supporters. but only with those misguided enough to plan to "replace the ballot box by the bullet"

The concept of a "one party State" in Zimbabwe continues to be a talking point. Some see positive benefits in the idea, as a means to unite a divided country, but others say that actual' divisions cannot be glossed over and that a unitary system would exclude minorities rather than include them. There is also scepticism about the calibre of officials in a oneparty system and some of Mr Mugabe’s colleagues lack the public esteem which is generously and deservedly showered on their leader. Whether socialism will be built in Zimbabwe is another topic of debate. Few doubt the necessity of a Left-leaning government with a strong orientation to the needs of the masses, but the ownership of property is very much the criterion of success, in both town and countrv.

Whatever the path of Zimbabwe’s future development, it will remain a fascinating country for the visitor, giving unparalled opportunities to the tourist as well as to the serious student of African history, culture and politics.