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Envy

R.G. is an unquestionable source of envy to many, not only amongst ourselves but his foes too, who grudgingly admire him as they learn painfully to accept defeat at his hands. Tony Blair is a classic case in point. Blair's clumsy arm twisting political tactics geared to tame this solid and firebrand revolutionary giant, left his fingers thoroughly scalded. Mr. Blair must be ruefully licking his wounds at No. 10 Downing Street, having learnt his lesson well, that plagiarising Bush's approach to Saddam would attract serious and perilous consequences to him.

Imperialists

Western leaders are so shamelessly spoilt and conceited to the extent that they throw all caution to the wind when it comes to dealing with Third World political issues. Their naivety often manifests itself whenever there is a lack of agreement on key issues especially those that adversely affect the poor nations such as the land issue in Zimbabwe. They refuse to realise that there is a new breed of leadership who will not ask how high when ordered to jump but will certainly ask WHY. African leaders in particular are regarded by the West as filthy hypocrites who are radicals by day but beggars by night, as well as lacking personal opinion and relevant political sophistication. The tendency is to destroy those who defy imperialist dictatorship. R.G. has resolutely said no to imperialism and this way he must be treated like Saddam Hussein, according to Western opinion.

Black Jesus

Some people have a small problem in understanding why Mugabe is to the Shona people, what Jesus is to the Christians or what Kim il Sung and his Juche idea is to the North Koreans. This status was awarded to R.G. by his people in recognition of political astuteness acquired over many years of experience in the fight against colonialism.

It is an uncommon achievement to earn the love and respect of one's enemies. R.G. did just that with the descendants of Mzilikazi/Lobengula - a people with a contemptible history of violence. This did not just happen - it took many years of careful political manoeuvring and scheming. An application of similar tactics to the descendants of Cecil John Rhodes is beginning to yield similar dividends.

Illusions

For many years both the Ndebeles and Europeans were living under a shameful illusion that the crimes of their forefathers had been forgiven and forgotten. This was not to be as R.G., the illustrious son of the Shona people ensured that the two groups pay dearly for the evil deeds of the ancestors. Is it possible that such heinous crimes as those committed by these people against the Shona can just be swept under the carpet because it is politically expedient to do so?

Legacy

It costs a daring mind to carve a rich legacy for the good of the general public, especially one that restores the dignity of the people at the same time assuring them of eternal dominance over settlers. R.G.'s legacy brewed in an African pot is unparalleled by any on the continent. Nelson Mandela covertly tried to outshine R.G. by elbowing him off the world political limelight. No sooner had Mandela started this, did he realise the folly of such an attempt. It dawned on him that he was making an error and that he was too new on the regional political plane.

The twenty seven years Mandela spent crushing stones in jail did not automatically confer upon him the sort of leadership skills acquired by R.G. in a protracted and arduous struggle for Zimbabwean independence. In fact, jail stunted the growth of Mandela's legal mind - a sad happening indeed. However, his attempt to compensate for the deprivations of that ugly experience by posturing a false image of "towering African statesman" created by his imperialist jailers, collapsed no sooner than it had started.

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