How the West created Robert Mugabe

The Role of Western Powers in Zimbabwe’s Demise after Land Reforms

May 13, 2009

Robert Mugabe's survival is thanks to his ability to base his anti-western rhetoric on the evil of colonialism. He thus champions Africa's new a "look east" policy .

Robert Gabriel Mugabe is a name the West would not want to hear about. Relations between Mugabe and the West went sour when the Zimbabwean President decided to violate the Lancaster Constitution and confiscate land from commercial farmers in Zimbabwe. Majority of those affected by these seizures were white land owners. Before this rift, however, Mugabe was an intimate ally of the West and was brandished as a success story in post-colonial Africa.

Mugabe, Survivor of the “use-and-dump” Diplomacy of the West in Africa

Neo-colonialism and imperialism have been the driving forces behind Africa’s relations with the West since independence. It is in this light that the West has offered support to African leaders who have shown willingness to defend western interests. Mohammed Farrrah Aidid, Jonas Savimbi and Mobutu Sese Seko ruled thanks to American support. France helped to create Jean Bedel Bokassa and Amadou Ahidjo. Britain created Idi Amin.

At a later stage when the West had little value for these leaders, they were completely abandoned and left to face the wrath of the people they had robbed while in the service of the West. In cases where some of these leaders went wild as in the cases of Amin and Aidid, the western powers descended on them with military force.

Mugabe belongs to this group of African leaders who once enjoyed the support of the West. When he preached reconciliation and encouraged white commercial farmers to carry on with agriculture he was considered by the West as a great asset and exemplary leader.

Mugabe’s Land Seizure, End of friendship with the West

When the Zimbabwean leader went wild by seizing land from whites, western countries especially Britain and America because of their interests in Zimbabwe took immediate steps to end his rule. They assisted in the creation of an opposition party - Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), to make this transition look very constitutional.

As Mugabe proved even more hostile and defiant, waves of sanctions were unleashed on his government and the West openly called for his impeachment and regime change in Zimbabwe. For many reasons and in many ways, Mugabe’s survival is thanks directly or indirectly to the West.

Colonialism, Mugabe’s Asset against the West

The evil of colonialism is perhaps Mugabe’s greatest asset and weapon against the West. When President Obama in his inaugural speech, talked about leaders who blame their country’s woes on the West, he was talking to the likes of Mugabe. The Zimbabwean leader has blamed the West so loudly that he is seen by many as a true liberator and anti-imperialist.

At the 62nd General Assembly of the UN in September 2007, Mugabe took the podium in defense of Africa and his reforms. “The West still negates our sovereignties by way of control of our resources, in the process making us mere chattels in our own lands, mere minders of its trans-national interests,” the eloquent Mugabe lamented. “In my own country and other sister states in Southern Africa, the most visible form of this control has been over land despoiled from us at the onset of British colonialism.”

In the face of Western onslaughts Mugabe has grown stronger, gaining a bigger audience and convincing the rest of the world that the West does not have a good agenda for Zimbabwe in particular and Africa in general. “Countries such as the U.S and Britain have taken it upon themselves to decide for us in the developing world, even to interfere in our domestic affairs and to bring about what they call regime change.”

As proof of his determination to survive, and sign of his muscle over Africa, Mugabe now champions a “look east’ policy as a sign of mockery to the West. “We have turned east,” Mugabe said, “where the sun rises, and given our backs to the West where the sun sets.” One does not need to search too far to realize how stronger Mugabe has become thanks to this eastern support especially from China.

Fowale, Tongkeh Joseph. "The Politics of Land Reforms in Zimbabwe 1980-2005: International Responses," 2007.

Gervasi, Sean. "Rhodesia and Western Stretegy in Southern Africa" in E.S Wilmer, Zimbabwe Now, 1973.

Mothobi, Buzwani. "Whites must realise Rhodesia wasn't forever," The East African, 2000.

The copyright of the article How the West created Robert Mugabe in Political Leaders in the News is owned by Tongkeh Joseph Fowale. Permission to republish How the West created Robert Mugabe in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Jun 15, 2009 5:14 PM

Guest :

Thanks for your article. It is incisive. However, Mugabe's 'look east' policy is not a recent thing necessitated by his long running feud with the West. The Chinese Communist Party was an ally of Robert Mugabe and Zanu (PF)since the days of the liberation struggle, and sponsored the fight against British imperialism in Zimbabwe. China provided training and weaponry, food and other supplies as well as moral and logistic support. Mugabe's friendship with China did not diminish after the war despite his close relationship with the West in the 1980's. The Chinese were heavily involved in public works, road maintenance and the health sector. They did their work and kept a low profile. This is one relationship that has remained consistent.