Zimbabwe: Even in grave, Bob Marley wails

By Yemi Davies

In 1979, the reggae legend, Bob Marley and his group, the Wailers, released an album called “Survival”. The album has a track called “Zimbabwe”.

In the track, Marley sang:
Everyman gotta right to decide his own destiny
And in this judgment there is no partiality
So arm in arms, with arms we will fight this little struggle
‘cause that’s the way we can overcome our little trouble...
We gonna fight, fight for our rights
Natty dread it ina Zimbabwe
Set it up ina Zimbabwe
Mash it up ina Zimbabwe
Africans a liberate Zimbabwe...

Marley had done this song in 1979 to lend his voice to the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe; to lend his voice to the fight for independence of Zimbabwe from colonialism.

The liberation struggle yielded good fruit and on 18 April, 1980, Zimbabwe gained independence from British colonial rule. The country held independence celebrations and Marley, at a concert held to celebrate the independence, performed and even sang the song “Zimbabwe.”

Africans had felt that once they gained independence from colonialism, the continent would flourish and take its rightful place on the world stage. Unfortunately, the reverse has been the case. No thanks to corrupt and callous African political leaders who have visited worse things than colonialism on the continent. Zimbabwe is one African country that is experiencing this ugly situation, which has been the lot of African societies, in no small measure.

Robert Mugabe has been the country’s president since independence, so that means he has ruled for 28 years. Indeed, 28 years is a long time in a life-time. However, it might not have mattered if it were 28 happy and beautiful years but it has been 28 years of sorrow, tears and blood, a la Fela Anikulapo Kuti, in the southern African country of Zimbabwe. The country is suffering from acute economic crisis; the country has the world’s highest rate of annual inflation, only one in five Zimbabweans has an official job,and a recent BBC report on the internet even says Zimbabweans are going vegetarian but not by their own choice. And to add insult to the injury of suffering Zimbabweans, Mugabe is not ready to quit until, perhaps, he has been able to take the necessary journey six feet down.

Ours is a continent bedevilled by political, economic and social problems. Politicians, scholars, social critics and commentators have often blamed Africa’s colonial experience for our present misery. The classic How Europe Underdeveloped Africa by Walter Rodney is one popular literature in this regard. But the issue is, have we not been unreflective in tracing the continent’s woes to our colonial experience?

I am not saying that colonialism did not affect Africa negatively. But colonialism is over and our destiny is now in our hands, so why can’t we make progress as a people? The truth, they say, is bitter but we have to tell ourselves the truth in Africa, even when it does not sound good to the ears. The continent cannot flourish as long as the likes of Mugabe are at the helms of affairs in African countries. It is quite a pity!

My point is this: We have to realise that the black person his their own problem. Africans are the ones undermining Africa. Our leaders are our problem. It has been 28 years of misery in Zimbabwe, under Mugabe, yet he has refused to quit. The result (though Mugabe is trying everything to thwart this) of the recently held election in the country shows that he is no longer wanted ,yet he will not step aside (apologies to IBB). It has been further pain and misery for Zimbabweans since this episode.

Now, tell me, what is the place of the whiteman in this? Mugabe would rather watch Zimbabwe go down into the abyss than quit. But thank God for death. Therein lies the hope of Zimbabweans. Mugabe is 84 years old and he is unlikely to spend that number of years again on this side of the divide. Zimbabweans can tarry for a little while.

Again, my point is, African leaders are the problem with Africa. Their wickedness, corruption and sit-tight syndrome are responsible for the continent’s regressive development. Independence has amounted to nothing for Africa. The struggle for liberation has been in vain. Many of the nationalists , most now in their graves, would even be regretting that they fought for independence. We have rubbished their struggles.

Our heroes fought to make us free. It is, however, pathetic that we remain chained. Africans have remained chained with the likes of Mugabe in power. And I ask again, what is the place of the whiteman in this?

When Zimbabweans were fighting for liberation and independence, little did they know that it was an invitation to misery. When Bob Marley was lending his voice to the struggle for the independence of Zimbabwe, through his music, little did he know that independence would only bring the people more sufferation. And if the dead can look back, like my people say, Marley would wail for poor Zimbabweans. May the Almighty Jah save us.

Davies is on the staff of Nigerian Tribune.