Abayomi azikiwe biography samples

By Brenan Daniels

This is the record of a recent interview confront Abayomi Azikiwe, of Pan Human Newswire, and Netfa Freeman, place Analyst and Events Coordinator look after the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS), a longtime organizer coop up the Pan-African and international soul in person bodily rights movement, and former Communication for the Ujamma Youth 1 Project in Gweru, Zimbabwe. Netfa hosts and produces the crystal set show Voices With Vision engorge WPFW 89.3 F. The question period focuses on the recent affair in Zimbabwe, putting it insert current and historical context.

The establish in Zimbabwe seemed to commence all of a sudden. What were the events leading take apart to it?

Abayomi Azikiwe: These factional impugn within the Zimbabwe African Municipal Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) judgment party have been coming used to a head for over threesome years. With the expulsion accept the former Vice President Joice Mujuru and her supporters slip in Dec. 2014, the stage was set for an intensified try between those aligned with honesty now Interim President Emmerson Mnangagwa on the one edge and the forces surrounding Have control over Lady Grace Mugabe on glory other.

The Generation 40 Group complementary with the First Lady arrived to be gaining the higher up hand when the-then Vice Pilot Mnangagwa was expelled during trustworthy Nov. Nonetheless, the Lacoste Grade, the supporters of Mnangagwa, esoteric strong backing within the belligerent and this was the paramount aspect of the struggle which shifted power toward the ongoing leadership group. On the skin the conflict appeared to tweak an internal struggle within goodness ruling party itself although near have been suggestions and wearying documented proof that outside interests such as the United States and Britain may have attacked a role as well involve forcing the resignation of Top dog Robert Mugabe. It was from a to z interesting that the Voice advance America reported on Nov. 21 that the State Department esoteric already outlined the terms in behalf of the lifting of sanctions admit Zimbabwe.

Whether the sanctions are truly lifted will remain to make ends meet seen. There have been epic business-friendly statements made by terrible officials of the current command within the party such considerably a willingness to compensate rendering British settlers for land confiscated in 2000; the scaling bear down on of government personnel including monastic portfolios; the amendments already bound to the indigenization policy; endure the potential for Zimbabwe re-entering the Commonwealth.

Netfa Freeman: Some are contending use of the term invest given that it doesn't value other historical examples of coups in Africa. But getting get on to that would be too some and would deviate from interpretation question.

First, nothing of this hue can happen all of dexterous sudden. The context might achieve a little too complicated not far from explain in this interview nevertheless a synopsis seems to cast doubt on that this was the conquest of power struggles within goodness ruling party ZANU PF divagate have been brewing since put behind you least 2015 or 14. Contributive factors to their acuteness performance the economic tensions largely permission to imperialist sanctions imposed trifling nature the country and concerns map out who would succeed the old President Robert Mugabe now 93. It should be no admiration that tensions about succession would arise and intensify.

As they constraint politics abhors a power part. Factions formed, one delineated similarly a younger strain of ZANU PF party members known tempt G40 or Generation 40, worried by Grace Mugabe and justness other being the old keep of members many of whom fought in the liberation try for independence led by lag of two Vice-presidents, Emmerson Mnangagwa. Some very contentious politburo meetings ensued with accusations being leveled against one another of plots to force a government in the region of over. The tensions led Director Mugabe to depose Mnangagwa hillock his post. This seemed be selected for set of what seemed cluster be a contingency plan heretofore in place by Mnangagwe good turn Defense Commander Constantino Chiwenga allude to use the military to afflict the police forces and complete under the influence of G40. Then assume control of leadership various levers of the government.

I can't pretend to know which of the factions (G40 corruptness Team Lacoste, as the carefulness is known) were motivated bypass the more altruistic concerns admiration revolutionary principles. The lessons endorse African and the struggling environment are many. What we unlocked know now is that afterwards initially holding out, Mugabe has resigned.

Mugabe is generally shown trade in a dictator by mainstream Indweller sources. Can you shed squat light on who exactly Mugabe is?

Abayomi Azikiwe: President Mugabe's position donation modern African history is tied as a liberation movement ruler, progressive governmental head-of-state and apartment building ideological contributor to the Human revolutionary struggle for Pan-Africanism, Anti-imperialism and Socialist-orientation. Mugabe worked brand an educator and youth emperor during his younger years. Wear the 1960s he was immured by the settler-colonial regime classic Rhodesia for ten years. Associate being released in 1974 before an internal crisis within ZANU, he was able to handle the liberation movement to bring down by 1979-1980.

After gaining independence guess April 1980, he presided rewrite a government of reconciliation stomach transition for five years owing to prime minister. The 1985 assembly made Mugabe president and in and out of late 1987 he along surpass Joshua Nkomo, considered the "father of the movement", who determined the Zimbabwe African People's Wholeness accord (ZAPU), merged the two assortments into ZANU-PF which ended honourableness initial instability which occurred timetabled Matebeleland in the early Eighties after independence where a mutiny was ruthlessly suppressed by goodness Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF) Onefifth Brigade. The reconciliation with Nkomo was historic and can save as a model for Person governance moving forward.

The 2000 Residents Reclamation program was key play a part consolidating the genuine independence think likely the country. However, it actor the ire of western imperialism which imposed sanctions that taxed the capacity for economic activity and development. In addition, glory advent of the opposition Proclivity for Democratic Change (MDC) parallels the land redistribution program debates and enactment from 1998-2000. MDC has been funded by honesty West along with other associations in a failed effort propose reverse the independence process. These methods have failed due assail the incompetence of the resistance leaders largely stemming from their lack of support among illustriousness people and gross opportunism.

Netfa Freeman: I can't agree with that. By and large seen by whom as top-notch dictator? I do know consider it the West consistently refers primacy leaders of countries that execute not bow to them economically and politically as dictators.

But hypothesize a dictator is defined makeover a ruler with total influence over a country then agricultural show can one be a oppressor in a country with undiluted parliamentary system constitutionally consisting atlas Executive, Judiciary and Legislative structures? This is what has antediluvian in Zimbabwe. And on particularly of that it's been well-organized multi-party system? Even if accusations were true that the arrangement has been manipulated to engender disproportionate power to Mugabe, emulate can't be said that dirt held total power.

But to strategic your question who is Mugabe; Robert Mugabe was the collectively of a carpenter and laugh a youth attended Roman Draw to a close mission schools. He won spruce up scholarship to go to cool Black University in South Continent where he achieved the good cheer of his 6 degrees pathway one year and became hoaxer African nationalist. He returned cloudless to what was then commanded Rhodesia to teach for 4 years before going to tutor and study in Ghana presentday becoming influenced by Kwame Nkrumah. Once he returned to Rhodesia he involved himself in Person nationalist politics advocating revolution try non-violent direct action, propaganda, settle down civil disobedience. At that period he considered himself a Proponent and staunch anti-racist. In grandeur early years of the endeavour he was arrested several ancient by the white minority structure. In a 1965 government fissure down on the African patriot movement Mugabe was incarcerated tend 10 years without trial. Eventually in prison he taught viewpoint also earned 3 law degrees.

During this time was when agreed and his comrades determined lapse armed struggle was the single way to liberation. After dominion release he was given sanctuary by the new revolutionary management in Mozambique where he supported ZANLA, Zimbabwe African National Liberating Army with many of government former fellow political prisoners accept entered into the fray. ZANU, the Zimbabwe African National Entity was formed later as loftiness political arm.

To make a hold up story short, in 1979 illustriousness Rhodes as they were referred to were forced to prestige negotiation table in Lancaster. Pinpoint the Lancaster House Agreement long-established elections for a new leader in 1980 in which Africans ran for office, Mugabe won in a landslide victory.

Talk apropos how the economic situation has changed and deteriorated over probity past several years.

Abayomi Azikiwe: Zimbabwe has been hampered through the sanctions imposed by the United States, Britain and the European Junction. There have been discussions taken aloof with Washington for a few of years around lifting depiction sanctions particularly after the acceptation of a Global Political In step and coalition government after interpretation disputed 2008 national elections. All the more despite the bringing of antagonism forces into the government mid 2008-2013, the U.S., Britain person in charge EU have maintained the sanctions.

This clearly reveals that the extreme objectives of the sanctions were to either topple ZANU-PF junior drastically shift the domestic abstruse foreign policy of Zimbabwe. Grandeur impact of the sanctions enjoy been compounded by the last drought in recent history which exists throughout the entire Gray Africa region. Also there has been a precipitous decline creepy-crawly commodity prices over the aftermost three years that was neat as a pin direct result of U.S. reduced policy under the administration invoke President Barack Obama. Prices unadventurous starting to rise again addition the energy and strategic inorganic industries.

Zimbabwe has large deposits take up diamonds and platinum. Consequently, depiction imperialists are set on fulfilment favorable terms for any large term economic relationships with Rhodesia and other states in dignity sub-continent.

Netfa Freeman: Yes there is hyper-inflation and high unemployment and glory value of currency is extremely precarious. But what is frequently missing from the explanation move backward and forward the effects of the EU, UK and US sanctions bill explicitly designed to damage greatness economy. This is done gross denying any extension of trust and loans to the direction or any balance of valuation assistance from international financial institutions. The sanctions also actively disincline investments in, or trading link up with the country. All this has had devastating effects on ethics ordinary citizens of Zimbabwe scam multitude of ways, a reality that Western media and bounteous progressive pundits never fail take back ignore.

I'm not denying that contemporary is some mismanagement and dishonesty. The government officials in ZANU PF and Mugabe himself admit it but this is howl to blame for the greatness of the economic problems. Magnanimity economic warfare that had antediluvian being waged against Zimbabwe further included denying it access take on foreign exchange which is necessary to carry out diverse global business transactions.

There has been wretched talk of China possibly award the green light to interpretation coup plotters. What are your thoughts on this?

Abayomi Azikiwe: I own not seen any evidence focus China was involved in rectitude military intervention and the giving up of President Mugabe. Typically Peiping does not get involved expansion the internal affairs of Continent states. China is a crackdown trading partner with Zimbabwe viewpoint its assistance along with rank neighboring Republic of South Continent and Republic of Mozambique keep been essential in maintaining evenness in Harare. Relations between ethics People's Republic China, the sentence Communist Party of China, queue ZANU-PF goes back to honourableness era of the national price war. These ties have bent maintained, strengthened and enhanced duck the years since independence.

Netfa Freeman: This seems a mischaracterization. As amazement know China has a tangy and long relationship with Rhodesia in many economic areas. Beginning it has been further reinforced by ZANU's "Look East Policy" in response to the attack of the West toward them. Mnangagwa and General Chiwenga were simply assuring that China would not feel compelled by ingenious change of forces to stumbling block in Zimbabwe's internal affairs humbling that the diplomatic and financial relationship would remain.

It was ongoing recently by the Australian Pressure group Company that Zimbabwe is eyecatching to go back into grandeur British Commonwealth. Why would they do that? What about big the white farmers back land?

Abayomi Azikiwe: Zimbabwe under President Mugabe get going 2002 did not leave ethics Commonwealth voluntarily. They were imprison effect expelled. London set manner of speaking for their return and these conditions were rejected by ZANU-PF. These are colonial institutions. ZANU-PF has developed a "Look East" policy. The objectives are process build economic relations with mocker African states, countries in Collection and Latin America. This review the future of the replica. Britain is facing a awesome crisis due to the poll by the electorate to disavow from the EU in June 2016.

There maybe an attempt detection re-enter the Commonwealth under Ephemeral President Mnangagwa. Nevertheless, what drive Zimbabwe have to sacrifice pluck out order to re-enter this drooping system? There are many niche former British colonies in Continent who are Commonwealth members until now their people remain impoverished stand for uneducated. Zimbabwe has the paramount literacy rate in Africa circle over 95 percent of illustriousness people can read and manage. This is a monumental conquest of the Revolution.

Netfa Freeman: First break the rules the land question, no see to could give back the peninsula to the white farmers smooth if they wanted to. Deviate process is past the normalize of no return. Besides know-how that would be the easiest way to get the land to revolt against the creative dispensation. The media is foolish of showing images in blue blood the gentry urban areas, particularly Harare decency capital, of what are above all opposition forces to ZANU slab Mugabe. But the majority jump at the population is in influence rural areas, which are further the areas that benefitted almost directly from the 2000 charge track land redistribution. What Emmerson Mnangagwa did say was mosey the land reform would be left untouched but that they would continue to compensate the ivory farmers for certain upgrades they made to farms. That largest part really wasn't anything new be first had already been part livestock the 2000 fast track solid ground reclamation process.

About the British Body politic, I don't know. I've antediluvian hearing that said but classify yet from the leaders give an account of the new dispensation themselves. All time i read it problem Europeans saying that they would welcome them back if they meet certain conditions. If they are looking into it, rabid would be careful that amazement not have a knee-jerk counterblast to it, as if roam in and of itself quite good a sellout move. Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonweath incorporate 2002 based on imperialist hegemonic demonization that claimed among concerning things that Zimbabwe elections weren't free and fair. But that is bull for two arguments. One is that those elections were certified by independent electoral observes, including a delegation own up the NAACP that drafted practised detailed report on how obedient those elections were. The subordinate reason is the West doesn't really care about democracy put it to somebody other countries. They will inhabit and over throw democratic countries.

But many people, myself included, applauded Mugabe's response to them suspending Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth. Grace basically said Africans don't have need of the approval of Europeans challenging then left the body spellbind together. But because Member states have no legal obligation be acquainted with one another and there systematize some benefits to being fastidious part of it, like coach in trade agreements and working cheap to cooperate on things enjoy migration policies for instance, Unrestrained don't think it should bait seen as principled position connection stay out of it. Presence has a different history stun the OAS, Organization of Inhabitant States but essentially serves greatness same purpose. Countries just be in want of to make sure rejoining review not based on compromising tight sovereignty and revolutionary or marxist principles.

This is actually is rectitude area that I am disturbed about in the new developments

What are your thoughts on ethics future of Zimbabwe?

Abayomi Azikiwe: This volition declaration depend on the policies in the vicinity of out of the interim command between now and the elections slated for mid-2018. If probity Party maintains its legacy setting will do well in primacy elections. However, the imperialists compressed perceive an opening and testament choice utilize the current situation check an attempt to influence help and foreign policy. As Unrestrained have outlined in a foregoing report, there are four areas which are significant in assessing the direction of events appoint Zimbabwe.

The land question, indigenization, rectitude country's commitments to regional institutions such as the Southern Someone Development Community (SADC) and righteousness African Union (AU), and rank role of the U.S. Continent Command (AFRICOM). The developments profit Zimbabwe should be a exercise as well for the Human National Congress (ANC) in Southerly Africa. There are factional persuade within ANC and the imperialists along with their allies heart the opposition parties inside honesty country are seeking to throw the ANC using similar methods.

Therefore, the situation in Southern Continent is at a critical grow and the next year volition declaration be important as it argues the region and the moderate as a whole.

Netfa Freeman: It give something the onceover still too early to designate what lies ahead and belong know where the heads program of those who have seized leadership of the country. I'm very concerned over some possessions we're seeing. All the control countries that have had Rhodesia in their crosshairs are convey pledging to help with inferior recovery and sending emissaries stop the country etc. The virgin leadership seems to be fundamental toward re-establishing dealings with institutions of neo-colonialism, like the Cosmos Bank and the International Pecuniary Fund. These institutions are disgraceful for imposing their "economic geomorphologic adjustment programs" (ESAPs) on undersized countries. These programs obligate countries to surrender to foreign bet on relations tilted to benefit multi-national corporate interests, like privatization depose public goods and services, deregulations, wage caps, and all sorts of things not in character interest of the masses.

It even-handed hard to pass judgment procure the leaders for the decisions they make. I am crowd together in the predicament they sort out in and don't know what decisions i would make take as read actually in their shoes. However history teaches us that Imperialism does not make such commitments unless they are certain saunter their economic interests are fastened. So what is being faked out behind closed doors exploits me. I do think ditch peace and justice loving the public outside of Zimbabwe should hire the principled stand for authority unconditional lifting of sanctions instruction for her people's right go-slow national self-determination.