NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Whites in Zimbabwe

People of European ethnic origin (Whites) first came as settlers to the African country now known as Zimbabwe during the late nineteenth century. A steady immigration of Whites followed, and eventually a self-governing British colony known as Rhodesia was established. Up to the end of the 1970s, Whites were the dominant ethnic group in the country, although their numbers never exceeded 300,000, or about 5.5% of the population. The City of Bulawayo is highlighted in this map of Zimbabwe. ... Motto: Pamberi Nekushandria Vanhu (Forward with Service to the People) Map of Zimbabwe showing the location of Harare. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Look up Appendix:Afrikaans and Dutch Swadesh lists in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Topics in Christianity Preaching Prayer Ecumenism Relation to other religions Movements Music Liturgy Calendar Symbols Art Criticism Christianity Portal This box: Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... As a Christian ecclesiastical term, Catholicâ€”from the Greek adjective , meaning general or universal[1]â€”is described in the Oxford English Dictionary as follows: ~Church, (originally) whole body of Christians; ~, belonging to or in accord with (a) this, (b) the church before separation into Greek or Eastern and Latin or... This article deals with the European people as an ethnic group or ethnic groups. ... Whites redirects here. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about a type of political territory. ... This article is about the former British colony of Southern Rhodesia, todays Zimbabwe. ...

As was the case (to varying degrees) in most European colonies in Africa and Asia, white immigrants took a high profile in many areas of society. This was mainly in those areas initiated by the immigrants themselves such as industry, commercial farming, and the professions. However, the position in Rhodesia was distinguished by the fact that the local white minority entrenched its political dominance of the country. Extensive areas of prime farmland were reserved for White ownership. Senior positions in the public services were reserved for Whites, and Whites working in manual occupations enjoyed legal protection against job competition from blacks. As time passed, this situation became increasingly unwelcome to the majority ethnic groups within Zimbabwe and also to wide sections of international opinion^[who?].

After the country’s independence as Zimbabwe in 1980, Whites had to adjust to being an ethnic minority in a country with a black government. Many Whites emigrated in the early 1980s, being uncertain about their future, but many remained. Political unrest and the controversial seizure of farms resulted in a further exodus commencing in 1999. Two White farmers were killed while defending their farms from these seizures. The 2002 census recorded 46,743 Whites remaining in Zimbabwe. More than 10,000 were elderly and fewer than 9,000 were under the age of 15.^[1]

Background

Zimbabwe (then known as Southern Rhodesia and later just as Rhodesia) was selected as a settlement colony by South African, British and Afrikaner colonists from the 1890s onwards, following the subjugation of the Matabele, (Ndebele), and Shona nations by the British South Africa Company (BSAC). The early White settlers came in search of mineral resources, finding deposits of coal, chromium, nickel, platinum, and gold. They also found some of the best farmland in Africa. The central part of Rhodesia is a plateau which varies in altitude between 900 m and 1,500 m (2,950 and 4,900 ft) above sea level. This gives the area a sub-tropical climate which is conducive to European settlement and agricultural practices.^[2] Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Kariba is a town in Mashonaland West province, Zimbabwe, located close to the Kariba Dam at the northwestern end of Lake Kariba, near the Zambian border. ... Flag Anthem God Save the Queen Capital Salisbury Language(s) English Government Constitutional monarchy Monarch - 1923-1936 George V - 1936 Edward VIII - 1936-1952 George VI - 1952-1980Â¹ Elizabeth II Governor - 1923-1928 Sir John Robert Chancellor - 1959-1969Â² Sir Humphrey Gibbs - 1979-1980 Lord Soames Premier, then Prime Minister... This article is about the Southern African ethnic group. ... The Matabele are a branch of the Zulus who split from King Shaka in the early 1820s under the leadership of Mzilikazi, a former general in Shakas army. ... The flag of the British South Africa Company The British South Africa Company (BSAC) was established by Cecil Rhodes through the amalgamation of the Central Search Association and the Exploring Company, Ltd. ...

The White soldiers who assisted in the BSAC takeover of the country were each given 3,000-acre (or more) land grants, and blacks living on this land became tenants. Later, Land Apportionment and Tenure acts reserved extensive areas for either black only tribal trust lands or for white ownership, which gave rise to cases of blacks being excluded from land that they had worked for for generations. White settlers were attracted to Rhodesia by the availability of tracts of prime farmland that could be purchased from the state at low cost. This resulted in a major feature of the Rhodesian economy—the "white farm". The white farm was typically a large (>100 km² (>38.6 mi²)) mechanised estate, owned by a white family and employing hundreds of blacks. Many white farms provided housing, schools, and clinics for black employees and their families. At the time of independence in 1980, over 40% of the country's farming land was contained within 5,000 white farms. It was claimed that these farms provided 40% of the country's GDP and up to 60% of its foreign earnings.^[3] Major export products included tobacco, beef, sugar, cotton, and maize.

The minerals sector was also important. Gold, asbestos, nickel, and chrome were mined by foreign owned concerns such as Lonhro and Anglo American. These operations were usually run by white managers, engineers, and foremen. Lonhro is an Australian thoroughbred racehorse who raced between 2000 and 2004. ... Anglo American plc (LSE: AAL, JSE: ANGLO) is a world-wide group of companies, originally founded in South Africa as a mining enterprise but now extending into other areas. ...

The Census of May 3, 1921 found that Southern Rhodesia had a total population of 899,187 of whom 33,620 were Europeans, 1,998 were Coloured (mixed races), 1,250 Asiatics, 761,790 Bantu natives of Southern Rhodesia, and 100,529 Bantu aliens.^[4] The following year, Southern Rhodesians rejected, in a referendum, the option of becoming a province of the Union of South Africa. Instead, the country became a self-governing British colony. It never gained full dominion status, although unlike other colonies, it was treated as a de facto dominion, with its Prime Minister attending the Commonwealth Prime Minister's Conference. is the 123rd day of the year (124th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... The Southern Rhodesia government referendum of October 27, 1922 saw the voters of the colony of Southern Rhodesia by a comfortable majority reject the chance to join the Union of South Africa in favour of establishing a responsible government within the colony. ... Motto Ex Unitate Vires (Latin: From Unity, strength} Anthem Die Stem van Suid-Afrika Capital Cape Town (legislative) Pretoria (administrative) Bloemfontein (judicial) Language(s) Afrikaans, Dutch, English Government Constitutional monarchy Monarch - 1952-1961 Queen Elizabeth II Governor-General - 1959-1961 Charles Robberts Swart Prime Minister - 1958-1961 Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd... This article is about Dominions of the British Empire and of the Commonwealth of Nations. ... This article is about Dominions of the British Empire and of the Commonwealth of Nations. ... The Commonwealth of Nations as of 2008. ...

The growth of the white community

In 1891, before Southern Rhodesia was established as a territory, it was estimated that there were about 1,500 Europeans residing there. This number grew slowly to around 75,000 in 1945. In the period 1945 to 1955 the white population doubled to 150,000. During that decade, 100,000 blacks were forcibly resettled from farming land designated for white ownership.^[5] It must be noted that some members of the white farming community opposed the forced removal of blacks from land designated for white ownership and some even favoured the handover of underutilized white land to black farmers. For example, in 1947 Wedza white farmer Harry Meade unsuccessfully opposed the eviction of his black neighbour Solomon Ndawa from a 500-acre irrigated wheat farm. Meade represented Ndawa at hearings of the Land Commission and attempted to protect Ndawa from abusive, racist questioning.^[6]

Large-scale white emigration to Rhodesia did not begin until after the Second World War, and at its peak in the late 1960s Rhodesia's white population consisted of as many as 270,000.^[7] There were influxes of white immigrants from the 1940s through to the early 1970s. The most conspicuous group were former British servicemen in the immediate post-war period. But many of the new immigrants were refugees from communism in Europe, others were former service personnel from colonial India, others came from Kenya, the Belgian Congo, Zambia, and Algeria. For a time, Rhodesia provided something of a haven for whites who were retreating from decolonisation elsewhere in Africa and Asia.^[8] Image File history File links Wright07s. ... Image File history File links Wright07s. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ...

Rhodesian white settlers were considered different in character to white settlers in other British colonies. Settlers in Kenya were perceived to be drawn from 'the officer class' and from the British land owning class. Settlers in Rhodesia were perceived to be drawn from lower social strata and were treated accordingly by the British authorities :

Foreign Office mandarins dismissed white Rhodesians as lower middle class, no more than provincial clerks and artisans, the lowly NCOs of empire. - Peter Godwin, The Guardian^[9]

However, it should be noted that whites never amounted to more than 5.5% of the country's total population (that is, 270,000 whites divided by 5 million total population in 1970^[10]). Also, the white farming community never amounted to more than around 8% of the total white population and this proportion fell steadily after 1945 up to independence in 1980.

Various factors encouraged the growth of the white population of Rhodesia. These included the industrialisation and prosperity of the economy in the post-War period and the fact that the National Party victory in the 1948 South African general election made that country less friendly to British settlement and investment than was previously the case. It was also apparent as early as the 1950s that white rule would continue for longer in Rhodesia than it would in other British colonies such as Zambia (Northern Rhodesia) and Kenya. Many of the new immigrants had a "not here" attitude to majority rule and independence.

Rhodesia was run by a white minority government. In 1965 that government declared itself independent through a Unilateral Declaration of Independence ('UDI') under Prime Minister Ian Smith.^[11] The UDI project eventually failed, after a period of UN economic sanctions and a civil war known as the Chimurenga (Shona) or Bush War. British colonial rule returned in December 1979 (as 'The British Dependency of Southern Rhodesia'). The country then became the independent state of Zimbabwe in April 1980. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (699x747, 171 KB) Summary Land apportionment in Rhodesia, 1965. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (699x747, 171 KB) Summary Land apportionment in Rhodesia, 1965. ... The Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) of Rhodesia from the United Kingdom was signed on November 11, 1965 by the Smith administration, whose Rhodesian Front party[1] opposed black majority rule in the then British colony. ... For other persons named Ian Smith, see Ian Smith (disambiguation). ... Chimurenga is a Shona word for struggle. The words modern interpretation has been extended to describe a struggle for human rights, political dignity and social justice,[1] specifically used for the African insurrections against British colonial rule 1896-1897 (First Chimurenga) and the guerrilla war against the British settler... Combatants Rhodesia ZANLA ZIPRA Government of Botswana Government of Tanzania Government of Zambia Mozambican Liberation Front [1] Commanders Ian Smith P. K. van der Byl Peter Walls ZANU: Robert Mugabe ZAPU: Joshua Nkomo Casualties unknown unknown Civilians killed = Around 30,000 The Rhodesian Bush War â€”Â as it was known at...

One characteristic of white settlement in Rhodesia was that the white community kept itself largely separate from the Black and Asian communities in the country.^[12] Urban whites lived in separate areas of town, and whites had their own segregated education, healthcare and recreational facilities. Marriage between blacks and whites was possible, but remains to the present day very rare. The 1903 Immorality Suppression Ordinance made "illicit" (i.e. unmarried) sex between black men and white women illegal – with a penalty of two years imprisonment for any offending white woman.^[13] The majority of the early white immigrants were men, so many white men entered into relationships with black women. The result was a large number of mixed-race persons, some of whom were accepted as being white. A proposal by Garfield Todd (Prime Minister, 1953-1958) to liberalise laws on inter-racial sex was viewed as dangerously radical. The proposal was rejected and was one factor that led to the political demise of Todd.^[14] The Honourable Rev Sir Garfield Todd (July 13, 1908 - October 13, 2002) was prime minister of Southern Rhodesia from 1953 to 1958 and later became an opponent of white minority rule in Rhodesia. ...

Rhodesian whites had enjoyed a very high standard of living. The Land Tenure Act had reserved 50% of agricultural land for white ownership and black labour costs were low (around US$40 per month in 1975), which had a large effect in the context of an agricultural economy.^[15] Public spending on education, healthcare and other social services was heavily weighted towards provision for whites. Most of the better paid jobs in public service were reserved for whites.^[16] Whites in skilled manual occupations enjoyed employment protection against black competition.^[17] In 1975, the average annual income per head for Rhodesian whites was around US$8,000 (with income tax at a marginal rate of 5%) — making them one of the richest communities in the world.^[18]

At independence probably around 38% of white Zimbabweans were UK-born, with slightly fewer born in Rhodesia and around 20% from elsewhere in Africa.^[19] The white population of that era contained a large transient element and many whites might better be considered foreign expatriates than settlers. Between 1960 and 1979 white immigration to Rhodesia was 180,000 and white emigration in the same period was 202,000 (with an average white population of around 240,000).^[20] Many whites were relatively recent arrivals in the country and showed little hesitation about moving on after independence.

Post Independence

The country gained its independence as Zimbabwe in April 1980, under a ZANU-PF government lead by Robert Mugabe. The Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) has been the ruling party in Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, led by Robert Mugabe, first as Prime Minister with the party simply known as ZANU, and then as President from 1988 after taking over ZAPU and renaming the party ZANU... Mugabe redirects here. ...

The status of the whites

Following independence, the country's whites lost their former privileged position. A generous social welfare net (including both education and healthcare) that had supported whites in Rhodesia disappeared almost in an instant. Whites in the artisan, skilled worker and supervisory classes began to experience job competition from blacks. Indigenisation in the public services displaced many whites. The result was that white emigration gathered pace. In the ten year period from 1980 to 1990 approximately 2/3 of the white population left Zimbabwe.^[21]

However, many whites resolved to stay in the new Zimbabwe. Only 1/3 of the white farming community left. An even smaller proportion of white urban business owners and members of the professional classes left.^[22] This pattern of migration meant that although small in absolute number, Zimbabwe's whites formed a high proportion of the upper strata of society.

A 1984 article in the Sunday Times Magazine described and pictured the life of Zimbabwean whites at a time when their number was just about to fall below 100,000.^[23] About 49% of emigrants left to settle in South Africa, many of whom were Afrikaans speakers, 29% in the United Kingdom and most of the remainder going to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States.^[24] Many of these emigrants identify themselves as Rhodesian. A white Rhodesian/Zimbabwean who is nostalgic for the UDI era is known colloquially as a "Rhodie". These nostalgic "Rhodesians" are also sometimes referred to as "Whenwes", because of the nostalgia of "when we were in Rhodesia"^[25] A white who remained in Zimbabwe and accepted the situation is known as a "Zimbo". Look up Appendix:Afrikaans and Dutch Swadesh lists in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956â€“present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic - President George W. Bush (R) - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... This article is about the former British colony of Southern Rhodesia, todays Zimbabwe. ... Rhodie is a colloquial and, occasionally, derogatory term. ... A person who talks constantly about where they used to live so much that it drives others crazy. ...

The lifting of UN imposed economic sanctions and the end of the Bush War at the time of independence produced an immediate 'peace dividend'. Renewed access to world capital markets made it possible to finance major new infrastructure developments in transport and schools. One area of economic growth was tourism, catering in particular to visitors from Europe and North America. Many whites found work in this sector. Another area of growth was horticulture, involving the cultivation of flowers, fruits and vegetables which were air-freighted to market in Europe. Many white farmers were involved in this and in 2002 it was claimed that 8% of horticultural imports into Europe were sourced in Zimbabwe.^[27] The economic-migrant element among the white population had departed quickly after independence, leaving behind those whites with deeper roots in the country. The country settled and the white population stabilised. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Combatants Rhodesia ZANLA ZIPRA Government of Botswana Government of Tanzania Government of Zambia Mozambican Liberation Front [1] Commanders Ian Smith P. K. van der Byl Peter Walls ZANU: Robert Mugabe ZAPU: Joshua Nkomo Casualties unknown unknown Civilians killed = Around 30,000 The Rhodesian Bush War â€”Â as it was known at...

The 1979 Lancaster House Agreement, which was the basis for independence, had precluded compulsory land redistribution in favour of subsidised voluntary sale of land by white owners, for a period of at least 10 years. The pattern of land ownership established during the Rhodesian state therefore survived for some time after independence. Those whites who were prepared to adapt to the situation they found themselves in were therefore able to continue enjoying a very comfortable existence. In fact, the independence settlement combined with favourable economic conditions plus ESAP (see below) produced a 20-year period of unprecedented prosperity for Zimbabwean whites and for the white farming community in particular. A new class of "young white millionaires" appeared in the farming sector.^[28] These were typically young Zimbabweans who had applied skills learned in agricultural colleges and business schools in Europe. The Lancaster House Agreement ended biracial rule in Zimbabwe Rhodesia following negotiations between representatives of the Patriotic Front (PF), consisting of ZAPU (Zimbabwe African Peoples Union) and ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union) and the Zimbabwe Rhodesia government, represented at that time by Bishop Abel Muzorewa and Ian Smith. ...

"This is the best government for commercial farmers that this country has ever seen" John Brown (CFU president), 1989^[29]

(Zimbabwe's whites) "... kept their houses and their pools and their servants. The white farmers had it even better. With crop prices soaring they bought boats on Lake Kariba and built air strips on their farms for newly acquired planes. Zimabwe's whites reached an implicit understanding with Zanu-PF; they could go on as before, so long as they kept out of politics" - Chris McGeal, April 2008^[30]

White Zimbabweans with professional skills were readily accepted in the new order. For example, Chris Andersen had been the hardline Rhodesian justice minister but made a new career for himself as an independent MP and leading attorney in Zimbabwe. In 1998 he defended former President Canaan Banana in the infamous "sodomy trial".^[31] At the time of this trial, Andersen spoke out against the attitude of President Mugabe who had described homosexuals as being "worse than dogs and pigs since they are a colonial invention, unknown in African tradition".^[32] Canaan Sodindo Banana (5 March 1936-10 November 2003) served as the first President of Zimbabwe from 18 April, 1980 until 31 December, 1987. ...

Land

By the mid-1990s it is thought that around 70,000 whites remained in Zimbabwe.^[33] In spite of this small number, the white Zimbabwean minority maintained control of much of the economy through its investment in commercial farms, industry, and tourism. However, an on-going programme of land reforms (intended to alter the ethnic balance of land ownership) dislodged many white farmers. The level of violence associated with these reforms in some rural areas made the position of the wider white community uncomfortable. Twenty years after independence, there were 21,000 commercial farmers in the country of whom 4,000 were white and 17,000 were black.^[34] Natural market processes had diminished the influence of white farmers to a point where the government was no longer afraid to confront them. Land apportionment in Rhodesia in 1965. ...

The "land issue" is a problem that came to assume a very high profile in Zimbabwe's political life. ZANU politicians pressed for land to be transferred from white to black ownership regardless of the resultant disruption to agricultural output, in order to correct the injustice of the Rhodesian land apportionment. White farmers argued that this served little purpose since Zimbabwe has ample agricultural land much of which was either vacant or only lightly cultivated. On this last basis, the problem was really a lack of development rather than one of land tenure. White farmers would respond to claims that they owned "70% of the best arable land" by stating that what they actually owned was "70% of the best developed arable land" — and the two are entirely different things.^[35] Whatever the merits of the arguments, in the post-Independence period the Land Issue assumed enormous symbolic importance to all concerned. As the euphoria of independence subsided and as a variety of economic and social problems became evident in the late 1990s, the Land Issue became a focus for trouble.

In 1999 the government initiated a "fast track land reform" programme. This was intended to transfer 4,000 white farms, covering 110,000 km² (42,470 mi²) of mostly prime farmland, to black ownership. The means used to implement the programme were ad-hoc and involved forcible seizure in many cases.^[36]

By mid-2006 only 500 of the original 5,000 white farms were still fully operational.^[37] The majority of the white farms that avoided expropriation were in Manicaland and Midlands where it proved possible to do local deals and form strategic partnerships. However, by early 2007, a number of the farms were being leased back to their former white owners (although in reduced size and/or on a contract basis) and it is possible that as many as 1,000 of them could be operational again, in some form.^[38] Of the 3,500 evicted white farmers it is reported that 2,000 are still in Zimbabwe and are turning their hands to new business enterprises.^[39] One former white farmer formed a construction company and later contracted his bulldozers to the government for use in Operation Murambatsvina: Siya-so Home Industries area in Mbare township before Operation Murambatsvina Operation Murambatsvina (Shona: Operation Drive Out Trash), also officially known as Operation Restore Order, is a large scale Zimbabwean government campaign to forcibly clear slum areas across the country. ...

"This is Africa, you have to make a plan and if that means doing business with guys that aren't very nice then so be it. It was cash up front - no questions asked. It's survival of the fittest, my friend ... if you want to live here you must play the game" anonymous, quoted in the Selby thesis^[40]

While the expropriated white farmers themselves have generally moved on to other things, this has not been the case for some of their employees. Former white farm workers from the chargehand/foreman bracket have found themselves in much reduced circumstances. The post 2000 recession has seen the emergence of a class of "poor whites". These are typically persons who lack capital, education and skills — and who are therefore unable to migrate from Zimbabwe. Social workers have commented that blacks facing difficulties are usually able to fall back on support from extended families. Whites and coloureds have a much more individualistic culture and appear less able to cope with hardship.^[41]

A University of Zimbabwe sociologist told IWPR journalist Benedict Unendoro, the esprit de corps of the white dominant class in the former Rhodesia prevented the poor whites from becoming a recognizable social group because of the social assistance provided by the dominant social class on racial grounds. This system broke down after the founding of Zimbabwe, causing the number of poor whites to increase especially after 2000, when the confiscation of white-owned farms took its toll. As rich white land owners emigrate or fend for themselves financially, their white employees who mainly worked as supervisors of black labour, found themselves destitute on the streets of cities like Harare, with many found begging around urban centres like Eastlea. The University of Zimbabwe (UZ), is the first, largest and most complete university in Zimbabwe. ... Sociology is the study of the social lives of humans, groups and societies. ... Institute for War and Peace Reporting is an international media development charity, established in 1991. ... Esprit de Corps might refer to: Esprit de Corps - state of mind, Morale. ... This article is about the former British colony of Southern Rhodesia, todays Zimbabwe. ...

The land confiscated from white owners has been redistributed to black peasant farmers and smallholders, acquired by commercial land companies, or persons connected to the regime.

Sympathisers of the expropriated white farmers have claimed that lack of professional management skills among the new landholders has resulted in a dramatic decline in Zimbabwe's agricultural production. Indeed, in an effort to boost their own agricultural output, neighboring countries including Mozambique and Zambia offered land and other incentives to entice Zimbabwe's white farmers to immigrate.^[42]

By 2008, an estimated one in ten out of 5,000 white farmers remained on their land. Many of these continued to face intimidation.^[43] By June 2008, it was reported that only 280 white farmers remained and all of their farms were invaded. ^[44]

On the day of Mugabe's inaugration as president on June 28th 2008, several White farmers who had protested the seizure of their land were beaten and burned by Robert Mugabe's supporters. A British-born farmer, Ben Freeth (who has had several articles and letters published in the British press regarding the hostile situation) and his in-laws, Mike and Angela Campbell were recently adbucted and found badly beaten ^[45]^[46]^[47]. Mr Campbell, speaking from hospital in Harare, has vowed to continue with his legal fight for his farm.^[48]

White millionaires

John Bredenkamp started his trading business during the UDI era when he developed expertise in “sanctions busting”. He is reported to have arranged the export of Rhodesian tobacco and the import of components (including parts and munitions for the UDI regime’s force of Hunter jets) in the face of UN trade sanctions. Bredenkamp was able to continue and expand his business after independence, making himself a personal fortune estimated at around US$1,000m.^[49] John Bredenkamp (born August 11, 1940) is a Zimbabwean businessman. ...

A number of foreign white entrepreneurs have been attracted to Zimbabwe in recent years. Controversial British businessman Nicholas van Hoogstraten has built up a 4200 km² (1620 mi²) land holding in central Zimbabwe through his corporate interests (mainly Messina Investments). Far from losing land to resettlement, van Hoogstraten has actually been able to purchase new property since 2000. Van Hoogstraten, a man with a colourful and criminal history,^[50] has described President Mugabe as “100 percent decent and incorruptible” and “a true English gentleman”.^[51] Van Hoogstraten is reported to have arranged supplies for Zimbabwean forces in the DRC and to have underwritten arms deals for the Mugabe regime.^[52] Although, van Hoogstraten appears to have recently fallen out with the Zimbabwean establishment.^[53] Nicholas Van Hoogstraten (born February 25, 1945) is a wealthy British businessman and property owner, with a criminal history. ...

Several white Zimbabwean businessmen, such as Billy Rautenbach, have returned to their native country after working abroad for some years. Rautenbach has succeeded in extending Zimbabawean minerals sector activity into neighbouring countries such as the DRC.^[54]

Charles Davy is one of the largest private landowners in Zimbabwe. 53-year-old Davy is reported to own 1,200 km² (460 mi²) of land including farms at Ripple Creek, Driehoek, Dyer's Ranch and Mlelesi. His property has been almost unaffected by any form of land redistribution — and he denies that this fact has any link to his business relationship with MP and Minister Webster Shamu. Says Davy about Minister Shamu "I am in partnership with a person who I personally like and get along with".^[55] Other views on Shamu are less kind.^[56] Image File history File links BillyR.jpg Billy Rautenbach - prominent Zimbabwean businessman taken from ZWnews, 11 Feb 2006 : http://www. ... Image File history File links BillyR.jpg Billy Rautenbach - prominent Zimbabwean businessman taken from ZWnews, 11 Feb 2006 : http://www. ...

Davy is married to Beverley, a former model and "Miss Rhodesia" of 1973. Their daughter Chelsy (born and raised in Bulawayo) is the long-standing girlfriend of Prince Harry. Press reports^[57] quote Chelsy's Uncle Paul as saying that although Harry and Chelsy wished to marry, the British Royal Family would not allow this because of Chelsy's Zimbabwean connections. Chelsy may not have helped her own case by participating a little too enthusiastically in Prince Harry's celebration of his graduation from the Sandhurst military academy in 2006 and dressing inappropriately. Chelsy Yvonne Davy (born 13 October 1985) is the current girlfriend of Prince Henry. ... HRH Prince Harry of Wales Henry Charles Albert David His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales (Henry Charles Albert David Mountbatten-Windsor) (born September 15, 1984), nicknamed Prince Harry, is a member of the British Royal Family, a grandson of Queen Elizabeth II. Harry is third in the line of...

The political environment in Zimbabwe has allowed the development of an exploitative business culture, in which white businessmen have played a prominent role.^[58]^[59] When Zimbabwe was subject to EU sanctions arising from its involvement in the DRC from 1998, the government was able to call on sanctions busting expertise and personnel from the UDI era to provide parts and munitions for its force of Hawk jets. After 25 years of ZANU-PF government, Zimbabwe has become a congenial place for white millionaires of a certain kind to live and do business in.^[60]

Arts and Sports

Literature

Nobel Prize winning writer Doris Lessing who lived in Southern Rhodesia between 1924-49 and had two children there has published works making light of the colonial experience and exposing racial hostilities. In her 1950 novel, The Grass Is Singing set in Southern Rhodesia in the late 1940s deals with racial injustice. The book was banned in Southern Rhodesia until independence in 1980. She visited her children in the country in 1956 but was declared a 'prohibited immigrant' and banned from coming back again for political reasons. She visited the country many times since independence and released her accounts of the visits in the book African Laughter: Four Visits to Zimbabwe in 1992. In her 2008 semi fictional/non-fiction novel Alfred and Emily, Southern Rhodesia is a prominent backdrop in the second 'factual' part of her account of her parents lives.^[61]^[62]^[63] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 731 Ã— 599 pixelsFull resolutionâ€Ž (1,000 Ã— 820 pixels, file size: 391 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Original Reworked version of Image:Doris_lessing_20060312. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 731 Ã— 599 pixelsFull resolutionâ€Ž (1,000 Ã— 820 pixels, file size: 391 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Original Reworked version of Image:Doris_lessing_20060312. ... Doris Lessing CH OBE (born Doris May Tayler in Kermanshah, Persia,[1] on 22 October 1919[2]) is a British writer, author of works such as the novels The Grass is Singing and The Golden Notebook. ... Flag Anthem God Save the Queen Capital Salisbury Language(s) English Government Constitutional monarchy Monarch - 1923-1936 George V - 1936 Edward VIII - 1936-1952 George VI - 1952-1980Â¹ Elizabeth II Governor - 1923-1928 Sir John Robert Chancellor - 1959-1969Â² Sir Humphrey Gibbs - 1979-1980 Lord Soames Premier, then Prime Minister... The Grass is Singing is the first novel, published in 1950, by British Nobel Prize-winning author Doris Lessing. ...

Alexander McCall Smith who was born and brought up in Southern Rhodesia, has also enjoyed success. In particular he is known as the creator of the Africa-inspired series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.^[64] Ranahki 06:26, 27 April 2007 (UTC)Alexander (R.A.A.) Sandy McCall Smith, CBE, FRSE, (born August 24, 1948) is a Rhodesian-born Scottish writer and Emeritus Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. ... The No. ...

Peter Godwin (born Harare, 1957) is a well known writer and journalist. He has authored several books with a Zimbabwean background include Rhodesians Never Die (1984) and When a Crocodile Eats the Sun (2007). The theme of these books is the impact of political change in Zimbabwe on the country’s white community. Godwin regularly contributes to newspapers, TV and radio on Zimbabwean affairs. His sister is Georgina Godwin, until 2001 a presenter on Zimbabwe TV and radio.^[65] Peter Godwin was a soldier and journalist and is a writer born in 1957 in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), of English and Polish Jewish parents. ...

Along with Peter Godwin who tackles the issue of chaotic land reforms in Zimbabwe in When a Crocodile Eats the Sun, Zimbabwean author Catherine Buckle has also tackled this issue. She has released the books African Tears and Beyond Tears. The former deals with the emotional struggle that she and her family faced as war veterans invaded her farm. She also explores the traumatic situation facing farm workers and other farming families in similar positions to her's. In Beyond Tears she speaks to the family of a murdered farmer, to five farmers who were abducted as well as to rape victims. She also returns to visit her once-productive former farm, that has been burnt to the ground and turned into a squatter camp.^[66]^[67] Catherine Buckle or Cathy Buckle is a writer living in Marondera, Zimbabwe. ...

South Africa-born novelist and poet John Eppel was raised in Southern Rhodesia and is a Zimbabwean citizen. His works have been released to critical acclaim in particular he has enjoyed success with D G G Berry's The Great North Road.In particular he deals with themes such as the Rhodesian Bush War, independence and neo-colonialism.^[68]^[69] John Eppel was born in Lydenburg, South Africa. ...

Zimbabwean journalist and author Heidi Holland has enjoyed considerable success and has written for leading international publications such as The Sunday Times, The New York Times and The Telegraph. Her latest book Dinner With Mugabe gained significant media attention and allows a rare insight into Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.^[70] Heidi Holland is a South African-based Zimbabwean journalist and author who has been involved in the journalism industry for over 30 years. ... For other uses, see The Sunday Times (disambiguation). ... The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. ... This article concerns the British newspaper. ... Mugabe redirects here. ...

Artistic expression often portrays the "the melancholy white exile" from Zimbabwe who secretly longs to return home.^[71] This ranges from the writings of Peter Godwin to the fictional leading character played by Leonardo di Caprio in the film Blood Diamond. Godwin's writing appears much affected by the death of one of his sisters in a "friendly fire" incident during the liberation war in the 1970s. Leonardo DiCaprio Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio, born November 11, 1974), is an American actor. ... Blood Diamond is an Academy Award-nominated 2006 adventure/drama/thriller film. ...

Music

In particular patriotic folk songs were popular amongst the white community during the Rhodesian Bush War. A leading musical figure was Clem Tholet who married Ian Smith's step-daughter Jean Smith in 1967. In particular Tholet became famous for patriotic anthems such as Rhodesians Never Die. He enjoyed gold status (60, 000+) with his first album Songs Of Love & War.^[72]. Combatants Rhodesia ZANLA ZIPRA Government of Botswana Government of Tanzania Government of Zambia Mozambican Liberation Front [1] Commanders Ian Smith P. K. van der Byl Peter Walls ZANU: Robert Mugabe ZAPU: Joshua Nkomo Casualties unknown unknown Civilians killed = Around 30,000 The Rhodesian Bush War â€”Â as it was known at... Clem Tholet (1948 â€“ 6 October 2004) was a Rhodesian folk singer who became popular in the 1970s for his Rhodesian patriotic songs. ... For other persons named Ian Smith, see Ian Smith (disambiguation). ...

Another popular folk singer was Northern Rhodesian-born John Edmond and former soldier of the (Southern) Rhodesian Army who also enjoyed considerable success during the Rhodesian Bush War. In particular he had hits with patriotic folk songs such as 'The UDI song' from his popular Troopiesongs album.^[73] Flag of Northern Rhodesia. ... John Edmond (born 18 November 1936 in Luanshya, Northern Rhodesia) is a Rhodesian folk singer who became popular in the 1970s for his Rhodesian patriotic songs. ... The Rhodesian Army was part of the armed forces of Rhodesia. ... Combatants Rhodesia ZANLA ZIPRA Government of Botswana Government of Tanzania Government of Zambia Mozambican Liberation Front [1] Commanders Ian Smith P. K. van der Byl Peter Walls ZANU: Robert Mugabe ZAPU: Joshua Nkomo Casualties unknown unknown Civilians killed = Around 30,000 The Rhodesian Bush War â€”Â as it was known at... A member of the Caspian (or eastern) branch of the Caucasian languages. ...

Concert pianist Manuel Bagorro (born Harare, 1968) is the founder and artistic director of The Harare International Festival of the Arts. First held in 1999, the Festival was most recently held in April 2008 and was successful in attracting attention to the arts in Zimbabwe at a difficult time.^[74] Bagorro's audio diary of the Festival, set against the background of the 2008 elections, was broadcast in instalments by the BBC World Service. The theme of HIFA was "north meets south" with contributions from African and European cultures.

Cape Town-based White Zimbabwean Simon Attwell is a band member of the popular South African group Freshlyground, playing the flute, mbira, sax and harmonica.^[75]. Freshlyground combines both African and European musical traditions.^[76] Freshlyground participated in the 2008 HIFA. Nickname: Motto: Spes Bona (Latin for Good Hope) Location of the City of Cape Town in Western Cape Province Coordinates: , Country Province Municipality City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality Founded 1652 Government [1] - Type City council - Mayor Helen Zille - City manager Achmat Ebrahim Area [2] - Total 2,454. ... Freshlyground is a South African Afro-Fusion band that was formed in Cape Town in 2002. ...

Sports

Before independence, Rhodesian/Zimbabwean representation in international sporting events was almost exclusively white. Zimbabwean participation in some international sporting events continued to be white dominated until well into the 1990s. For example, no black player was selected for the Zimbabwean cricket team until 1995.^[77] Rally driver Conrad Rautenbach (son of Billy, see above) won the FIA African Championship scoring Dunlop Zimbabwe Challenge Rally in 2005 and 2006.^[78] The iconic event is the all-white Zimbabwean women's hockey team, captained by Ann Grant (formerly Ann Fletcher), winning gold medals at the Moscow Olympics in July 1980. Ann Grant's brother is the cricketer Duncan Fletcher who later became the England team manager. The Zimbabwean cricket team is a national cricket team representing Zimbabwe. ... The FÃ©dÃ©ration Internationale de lAutomobile, commonly referred to as the FIA, is a non-profit association established in 1904 to represent the interest of motoring organisations and motor car users. ... The Games of the XXII Olympiad were held in 1980 in Moscow, Soviet Union. ... Duncan Fletcher (left) talking to Michael Atherton after Englands defeat at the MCG in 2006. ...

As of 2007, a still disproportionate number of Zimbabwe's most famous athletes are white. In tennis, the Black family of Cara, Byron and Wayne Black are all ranked among the top doubles players in the world. Another leading doubles player of note is Kevin Ullyett. In the 1990s, Zimbabwe's largely white cricket team was a strong one and included world class players such as Andy Flower, Grant Flower and several others. Today Zimbabwe's National Cricket Team still has several white players including Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams. Also, Zimbabwe's most successful recent Olympic athlete is swimmer Kirsty Coventry, who won three medals (including gold) at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Mark Vermeulen (born 2 March 1979, in Harare (then Salisbury)) is a Zimbabwean cricket player in both Test and One-day International tournaments. ... For other uses, see Tennis (disambiguation). ... Murder in Montmartre Cara Black (born February 17, 1979 in Harare) is a professional female tennis player from Zimbabwe. ... Byron Black (born October 6, 1969 in Salisbury, Rhodesia) is a former touring professional tennis and Davis Cup player for Zimbabwe. ... Wayne Hamilton Black (born November 17, 1973 in Harare) is a professional male tennis player from Zimbabwe. ... Kevin Ullyett (born on May 23, 1972 in Harare) is a professional tennis player from Zimbabwe. ... Andrew Andy Flower (born 28 April 1968 in Cape Town, South Africa) was a cricket player for Zimbabwe and arguably its greatest. ... Grant William Flower (born December 20, 1970 in Salisbury - now Harare) is a Zimbabwean cricketer. ... The Zimbabwean cricket team is a national cricket team representing Zimbabwe. ... Brendan Ross Murray Taylor (born February 6, 1986 in Harare) is a Zimbabwean cricketer. ... Sean Colin Williams (b. ... Kirsty Leigh Coventry (born September 16, 1983) is a Zimbabwean swimmer who won gold, silver, and bronze at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. ... The ceremony for the lighting of the flame is arranged as a pagan pageant, with priestesses dancing. ...

Famous white Zimbabwean golfers include Nick Price and Mark McNulty. Nick Price (born January 28, 1957 in Durban, South Africa), is a professional golfer. ... Mark McNulty (b. ...

Although she represents South Africa, Rhodesian-born, Charlene Wittstock who was brought up in Bulawayo until moving to South Africa at age ten, has achieved success as a swimmer. She has also became a celebrity figure, thanks to her current romantic relationship with Prince Albert II Sovereign Prince of Monaco. Charlene Lynette Wittstock (born January 25, 1978) is a South African Olympic swimmer and Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, who rose to fame because she was accompanying Albert II, Prince of Monaco at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics. ... Albert II, Prince of Monaco (Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi; born 14 March 1958), styled His Serene Highness The Sovereign Prince of Monaco, is the head of the House of Grimaldi and the current ruler of the Principality of Monaco. ... The Sovereign Prince of Monaco is the sovereign monarch and head of state of the Principality of Monaco. ...

The involvement of whites in Zimbabwean politics

Political and economic background

During the UDI era, Rhodesia developed a siege economy as the means of withstanding UN sanctions. The country operated a strict system of exchange and import controls, while major export items were channelled through state trade agencies (such as ‘the Grain Marketing Board’). This approach was continued until around 1990, at which time International Monetary Fund and World Bank development funding was made conditional upon the adoption of economic liberalisation. In 1991 Zimbabwe adopted ESAP (Economic Structural Adjustment Programme) which required privatisation, the removal of exchange and import controls, trade deregulation and the phasing out of export subsidies.^[82] Up to the time of independence, the economy relied mainly on the export of a narrow range of primary products including tobacco, asbestos and gold. In the post independence period, the world markets for all these products deteriorated and it was hoped that ESAP would facilitate diversification.^[83] IMF redirects here. ... The World Bank logo The World Bank (the Bank) is a part of the World Bank Group (WBG), is a bank that makes loans to developing countries for development programs with the stated goal of reducing poverty. ...

ESAP and its successor ZIMPREST (Zimbabwe Programme for Economic and Social Transformation) caused considerable economic turbulence.^[84] Some sectors of the economy did benefit. But the immediate results included job losses, a rise in poverty, and a series of exchange rate crises. The associated economic downturn caused the budget deficit to rise which put pressure on public services. The means used to finance the budget deficit have caused hyperinflation. These factors created a situation in which many bright and qualified Zimbabweans (both black and white) had to look abroad for work opportunities.^[85] Zimbabwean politics since 1990 have therefore been conducted against a background of economic difficulty with the manufacturing sector (in particular) being 'hollowed out'. Although, some parts of the economy continue to perform well. The Zimbabwe stock exchange and the property market have experienced minor booms, while outsiders are coming to invest in both mining and land operations. Where some see crisis, others see opportunity.^[86] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

In the period immediately after independence, white political leaders (such as Ian Smith) sought to maintain the identity of Zimbabwe whites as a separate or apartheid group. In particular, they sought to maintain a separate "white roll" for the election of 20 seats in parliament reserved for whites (abolished in 1987). Although, not all whites went along with this and many actually joined ZANU-PF. For example, Timothy Stamps served as Minister of Health in the Zimbabwe government from 1986 to 2002. Even his critics accept that Stamps was motivated by a desire to improve the lot of poorer people. For other persons named Ian Smith, see Ian Smith (disambiguation). ... Timothy Stamps was born in Wales on 15 October 1936. ...

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Rich Zimbabweans

More recently, an elite network of white businessmen and senior military officers has been associated with a faction of ZANU-PF identified with Emmerson Mnangagwa, formerly Security Minister and later Speaker of Parliament. Mnangagwa has been described as "the richest politician in Zimbabwe".^[87] He is believed to have favoured the early retirement of President Mugabe and a conciliatory approach towards the regime's domestic opponents. This line has displeased other elements in ZANU-PF. In June 2006, John Bredenkamp (a prominent former Mnangagwa associate) fled Zimbabwe in his private jet after government investigations into the affairs of his Breco trading company were started.^[88] Bredenkamp returned to Zimbabwe in September 2006 after his passport was returned by court order.^[89] Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa (born 15 September 1946) has been the Rural Housing Minister of Zimbabwe[1] since April 2005. ...

In July 2002, 92 prominent Zimbabweans were subject to EU "smart sanctions" intended to express disapproval of various Zimbabwe government policies. These persons were banned from the EU and access to assets they own in the EU was frozen.^[90] 91 of those on the blacklist were black and 1 was white. The single white was Dr. Timothy Stamps. Timothy Stamps was born in Wales on 15 October 1936. ...

Many observers found the EU's treatment of Dr. Stamps to be curious, given that by July 2002 he was retired from active politics and a semi-invalid. Also, Stamps was widely rated to be a highly dedicated doctor who had never been implicated in any form of wrongdoing.^[91] The same observers found it equally curious that the EU Commission did not include the wealthy white backers of Mugabe on the list.^[92]

The MDC and the 2000 general election

From around 1990, mainstream white opinion favoured opposition politics as whites sought to maintain their position in the country through support for liberal economics, democracy and the rule of law. Whites played a leading role in the funding and management of the opposition MDC party after 1999. Three out of four of the MDC's elected top executives in 2000 were white.^[93] Whites had lain low in the immediate post-independence period. But, in 1999 they raised their heads above the political parapet.

"White people accounted for only a small proportion of the party, but they were highly visible and had clout, in part, because they were the ones with the money and the cars. They could be seen delivering party propaganda and running its offices. The MDC and its white activists regarded all that as everyday politics. The Zanu-PF old guard saw an attempt to refight the liberation war" - Chris McGeal, April 2008^[94]

Roy Bennett, a white farmer forced off his coffee plantation after it was overrun by radical militants and then expropriated, won a strong victory in the Chimanimani constituency (adjoining the Mozambican border) in the 2000 general election. Bennett (a former Conservative Alliance of Zimbabwe member) won his seat for the Movement for Democratic Change, and was one of four white MDC constituency MPs elected in 2000.^[95]^[96] Bennett was excluded from Parliament and imprisoned after he assaulted Attorney General Patrick Chinamasa on the floor of the House after Chinamasa said his "forefathers were thieves and murderers". Roy Bennett, Zimbabwean farmer and politician Roy Leslie Bennett (born February 16, 1957) is a Zimbabwean politician who is a former member of the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe for the seat of Chimanimani. ... Formerly called the Republican Front, which was known prior to that as the Rhodesian Front, led by Ian Smith. ... The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is a Zimbabwean political party. ... Patrick Chinamasa is the Justice Minister of Zimbabwe. ...

Other white MPs elected in 2000 included David Coltart (a prominent human rights lawyer and founding legal secretary of the MDC) and Michael Auret (a civil rights activist of long standing who had opposed white minority rule in the 1970s). Trudy Stevenson was a Ugandan white who had come to Rhodesia in 1972. Stevenson served as the MDC's Secretary for Policy and Research before being elected to Parliament. In July 2006, after attending a political meeting in the Harare suburb of Mabvuku, Mrs Stevenson was attacked and suffered panga wounds to the back of her neck and head. The MDC leadership immediately claimed that the attack was carried out by ZANU militants. But, while recovering in hospital, the MP for Harare North positively identified her assailants as members of a rival faction of the MDC. This serves to illustrate the violent and faction ridden nature of Zimbabwean politics.^[97] Zimbabwean politicians (black and white) routinely accuse each other of murder, theft, electoral fraud, conspiracy and treason. It is often difficult to know the truth of these matters.^[98] Image File history File links Bennett300. ... Image File history File links Bennett300. ... Roy Bennett, Zimbabwean farmer and politician Roy Leslie Bennett (born February 16, 1957) is a Zimbabwean politician who is a former member of the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe for the seat of Chimanimani. ... David Coltart (born October 4, 1957 in Gwelo, Southern Rhodesia) is a Zimbabwean politician. ... Zimbabwean MP for Harare North, Trudy Stevenson Lottie Gertrude (Trudy) Stevenson is the MP for Harare North in the Parliament of Zimbabwe. ... modern factory-made Machete For other uses, see Machete (disambiguation). ...

One MDC spokesmen is Eddie Cross.^[99] Cross is a leading Zimbabwean business figure and serves as the MDC's Economic Secretary and shadow finance minister. Although critical of the ZANU-PF government, Cross has been an advocate of the economic liberalisation that the government has introduced.

The 2000 general election was arguably the most significant event in post-independence Zimbabwean politics. It was the first seriously contested election in the country since 1962 and was fought out against a background of intractable economic, social and political problems. The ZANU ruling party had been in power for 20 years and was widely considered to have run out of ideas.^[100] Whites played a leading role in the campaign of the opposition MDC which almost won the election.^[101] Radical elements in the country perceived the MDC project to have been an attempt to restore a limited form of white minority rule and this produced a violent backlash.^[102]^[103]

Current developments

White emigration — particularly from within the farming community — picked up speed again after 2000. There is a link between the recent economic decline in Zimbabwe and white emigration, although which is cause and which is effect is open to debate. There has been an enormous black emigration in the same period. By 2006, some estimates were that the white population of Zimbabwe could have fallen to little more than 30,000.^[104] However, the figure may be misleading since there is a large community of white Zimbabweans who work abroad on a contract basis or have moved their businesses abroad — while retaining a home in the country. One view is that the white population of Zimbabwe has been surprisingly resilient, and any improvement in the economic and political climate would bring many expatriates home again.

The Independence constitution contained a provision requiring the Zimbabwean government to honour pension obligations due former servants of the Rhodesian state. This obligation included payment in foreign currency to pensioners living outside Zimbabwe (almost all white). Pension payments were made until the 1990s, but they then became erratic and stopped altogether in 2003.^[105]

White communities in African countries suffered a variety of fates in the post-colonial period. In many countries (eg Kenya, Namibia and Botswana) the white communities survived and actually grew in number. In two particular cases, Algeria and Zimbabwe, the previously large European communities have shrunk. In both these last cases, the white communities had put up a fight against decolonisation and many whites found it difficult to adjust to the realities of the world they found themselves in after independence. Many neutral observers feel that the failure of some newly independent African countries and their white minorities to come to terms with one another was to the mutual disadvantage of both parties. For example, expatriate white farmers and hoteliers from Zimbabwe have done much to revive agriculture and develop tourism in neighbouring Zambia.^[106]^[107] Although much depleted in numbers, white Zimbabweans continue to play a leading role in the country's economic and political life.

In 2006^[108]^[109] , several white neighbours (including British aristocrats) were evicted from their homes because of their proximity to Mugabe's new home in Borrowdale suburb. In 2007 ^[110]100 mainly white youths were arrested during a raid in the suburb's Glow Nightclub, transported in two police buses, and detained in the downtown central police station. According to eye witnesses, several of the youths were attacked by the Zimbabwean police. In 2008, The Guardian reported ^[111] on the increasingly hostile situation that the urban white community were facing in Zimbabwe. The paper also cited a sentiment among many White Zimbabweans that there is an 'informal curfew' on the community. For other uses, see Guardian. ...

Zimbabweans are currently taking part in the Zimbabwean parliamentary election, 2008. White Zimbabwean candidates in these elections included David Coltart for the Senate and Trudy Stevenson, Eddie Cross, and Ian Kay^[112]^[113] for the House of Assembly — all of these running on the MDC tickets. Coltart, Cross, and Kay were all elected, while Stevenson failed to take the Mount Pleasant seat in Harare for the Mutumbara faction of the MDC. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Parliamentary elections will be held in Zimbabwe in 2008, instead of 2010 as scheduled,[1] to hold them at the same time as the presidential elections. ... David Coltart (born October 4, 1957 in Gwelo, Southern Rhodesia) is a Zimbabwean politician. ... Zimbabwean MP for Harare North, Trudy Stevenson Lottie Gertrude (Trudy) Stevenson is the MP for Harare North in the Parliament of Zimbabwe. ... Eddie Cross is a renowned Zimbabwean economist and founder member of the mainstream Movement for Democratic Change party led by Morgan Tsvangirai and is currently the Policy Coordinator General. ... MDC can stand for: Multiple Description Coding Major Diagnostic Category Mega-Damage Capacity, a measure of the toughness and structural integrity of armored vehicles in the Palladium Books role-playing system MetaData Coalition - see metadata (computing) Modification Detection Code Movement for Democratic Change - A Zimbabwean political party MDC - a hardcore... Professor Arthur Guseni Oliver Mutambara (born October 25, 1966) is a Zimbabwean politician who was elected President of the Movement for Democratic Change in February 2006 by a a small break away faction of the party dominated by Gibson Sibanda and Welshman Ncube. ...

Early results indicate that the MDC has won both the Parliamentary and Presidential elections.^[114] In a normal political system, ZANU-PF would go into opposition and a new MDC government would come into office. Presidential elections will be held in Zimbabwe in March 2008. ...

References

^ Irish Examiner report:2002 census returns
^ This is a journey:the geography of Zimbabwe
^ Multinational Monitor, April 1981 :Zimbabwe's government wins confidence
^ Official Year Book of the Colony of Southern Rhodesia, No. 1, 1924 (Art Printing and Publishing Works, Salisbury, 1924)
^ Selby thesis:p60
^ Selby thesis:p52
^ Selby thesis:p62, fig 1.6
^ Selby thesis:p58
^ The Guardian :If only ..., November 2007
^ Demographics of Zimbabwe
^ BBC report:UDI of Rhodesia, 1965
^ "From Civilization to Segregation: Social ideals and social control in Southern Rhodesia, 1890-1934" by Carol Summers, Ohio University Press, 1994, ISBN 0-8214-1074-1
^ Gender and History, 2005 :article by Lucy Bland on black-white sex, see p3
^ Guardian: Obituaries: Sir Garfield Todd
^ AFP Report on Rhodesia, 1976 :Robin Wright, para 38
^ "The Governmental System of Southern Rhodesia", by D.J. Murray, OUP, 1970
^ Selby thesis:p66
^ Propaganda: The Other Rhodesian War
^ "A Chronicle of Modern Sunlight", author W.G. Eaton published by Innovision, Rohnert Park, California, 1996
^ Ian F. W. Beckett, The Rhodesian Army: Counter-Insurgency 1972-1979 (paragraph 17)
^ Selby thesis:p117, fig2.3
^ Selby thesis:p125
^ Sunday Times Magazine:1984 report on whites in Zimbabwe
^ W.G. Eaton, A Chronicle of Modern Sunlight, published by Innovision, Rohnert Park, California, 1996
^ "Rhodie oldies". New Internationalist (1985). Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
^ World Hockey:golden memories
^ SADC newsletter: Eddie Cross interview
^ Selby thesis:p194
^ Selby thesis:p126
^ The Observer :13 April 2008, Zimbabwe's decade of horror
^ NewsPlanet, June 1998 :Sodomy Laws
^ Electronic Mail:"Faggots"
^ Selby thesis p62, fig1.6
^ SADC newsletter: Eddie Cross interview, see Q2
^ Online :the Zimbabwean Land Issue
^ Human Rights Watch report Fast Track Land Reform
^ Selby thesis p318
^ The Guardian, 4 January 2007 Mugabe lets white farmers back
^ Selby thesis p326
^ Selby thesis p326
^ Mopane Tree:"poor whites" in Zimbabwe
^ The Guardian, 27 February 2006 Zimbabwean farmers in Zambia
^ The Sunday Times, June 22, 2008 "Whites huddle and pray as mob closes in".
^ The Daily Telegraph, 26 June 2008"Zimbabwe's last white farmer forced to quit".
^ The Daily Telegraph, 29 June 2008"Ben Freeth, a British-born farmer, is abducted in Zimbabwe".
^ News24, 30 June 2008"White Zim farmers attacked".
^ The Times 30 June 2008"Farmer who exposed terror, Ben Freeth, is kidnapped with family".
^ The Daily Telegraph 02 July 2008"Zimbabwe: Battered white farmers vow to battle on against Robert Mugabe".
^ The Guardian, 9 June 2006: Tycoon flees Zimbabwe in private jet
^ The Observer, 15 January 2006 :van Hoogstraten interview with Lyn Barber
^ Guardian, 21 April 2000 :British Multimillionaire bankrolls Mugabe party
^ Selby thesis:p324
^ BBC report, 26 January 2008 :van Hoogstraten held ....
^ Zimnews :report on Billy Rautenbach
^ Daily Telegraph report:Charles Davy defends business interests
^ The Zimbabwean 2005 :see para 5
^ Mail on Sunday, 19 December 2004
^ UN report:- Zimbabwe involvement in DRC minerals
^ House of Commons, 18 November 2002 :debate on Zimbabwe
^ The Zimbabwean, 2005 :business backers of ZANU-PF
^ Women's history "Doris Lessing".
^ Bloomberg 11 October 2007 "`Golden Notebook' Author Lessing Wins Nobel Prize".
^ The Independent 16 May 2008 "Alfred and Emily, by Doris Lessing".
^ The Independent 14 August 2004 "The Saturday Profile: ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH - The master of the feel-".
^ The Stage :June 2008
^ Books of Zimbabwe[1]
^ Cathy Buckle[http://www.cathybuckle.com/beyondtears.htm AFRICAN TEARS BEYOND TEARS The truth about Zimbabwe]
^ [["Michigan State University Press". Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
^ "Postcolonialweb". Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
^ The Observer 23 March 2008 "Face to face with a lonely tyrant bent on vengeance".
^ The Guardian, March 2007 :book review
^ Clem Tholet's biography
^ Bibliography of John Edmond
^ The Harare International Festival of the Arts :BBC reports, May 2008
^ BBCROOTS MUSIC-FRESHLY GROUND
^ Youtube video :Ma Cherie
^ Henry Olonga website:first black cricket player for Zimbabwe
^ Motorsport, July 2006 :Zimbabwean Conrad Rautenbach secures victory
^ Vermeulen:accused of arson
^ Cricinfo Zimbabwe 31/01/08 :Vermeulen cleared
^ Cricinfo Zimbabwe 14/02/08 :Vermeulen plans return to international cricket
^ PRF paper:Moses Tekere
^ News 24, January 2007 :Zimbabwe, a Banutustan
^ AfricaFiles 1996:ESAP's fables, report on ESAP
^ Report on brain drain from Zimbabwe
^ Guardian April 2006 :report on Zimbabwe stock exchange
^ AIM article:January 2005
^ newzimabwe.com :political and financial dealings of Bredenkamp
^ The Times, 19 October 2006 :British SFO investigate Bredenkamp
^ UN press release, 2002 :EU names Zimbabwe blacklist
^ Remembering Zimbabwe, by Dr Amitabh Mitra:Stamps "the most dedicated doctor I had come across"
^ Daily Telegraph report:see para 8 onwards
^ Zimabwe's decade of horror :[2]
^ The Observer :Zimbabwe's decade of horror 13 April 2008
^ BBC: Winners and losers
^ Sokwanele: Roy Bennett released
^ Guardian, 5 July 2006 :MDC faction attack politicians
^ New Zimbabwe.com :MDC supporters attack Mrs Stevenson
^ Africanbios: Eddie Cross biography
^ The Guardian, 17 March 2000 :People are sick of Mugabe
^ BBC report on 2000 election:Winners and Losers
^ William Pomeroy speech: caution, partisan account of 2000 election
^ BBC report, October 2000 :Mugabe under pressure
^ AR report:caution, partisan comment
^ UK Parliament: Letter to the Clerk of the Committee from Mr Barry Lennox, 15 July 2004
^ The Guardian, 27 February 2006 :Zimbabwean farmers in Zambia
^ The Guardian, 22 July 2006 :Zambian tourism sector grows at expense of Zimbabwe
^ The Daily Telegraph, 20 January 2006"Now aristocrats will be evicted for living too close to Mugabe".
^ The Daily Telegraph 2 February 2006"Mugabe moves against city whites".
^ The Mail & Guardian April 01, 2007"Zim police detain scores of teenagers".
^ The Guardian 24 June 2008"Voters left with little choice as the terror goes on".
^ Christian Science Monitor :report on 2005 elections
^ IAfrica News :Ian Kay in 2008 election
^ The Zimbabwean :25 April 2008

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Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 177th day of the year (178th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... July 2 is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 182 days remaining. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 160th day of the year (161st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 111th day of the year (112th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 284th day of the year (285th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... For other uses, see The Independent (disambiguation). ... is the 136th day of the year (137th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see The Independent (disambiguation). ... is the 226th day of the year (227th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 236th day of the year (237th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 236th day of the year (237th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 82nd day of the year (83rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 292nd day of the year (293rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... is the 58th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 203rd day of the year (204th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ...

Contents

Background

The growth of the white community

Post Independence

The status of the whites

Land

White millionaires

Arts and Sports

Literature

Music

Sports

The involvement of whites in Zimbabwean politics

Political and economic background

Rich Zimbabweans

The MDC and the 2000 general election

Current developments

References

External links

Audio and Video

See also

Contents

Background GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

The growth of the white community

Post Independence

The status of the whites

Land

White millionaires

Arts and Sports

Literature

Music

Sports

The involvement of whites in Zimbabwean politics

Political and economic background

Rich Zimbabweans

The MDC and the 2000 general election

Current developments

References

External links

Audio and Video

See also

Background