The mural is an undisguised reference to the 200 rascals who used their combined bravery to conquer and plunder the land now called Zimbabwe on behalf of their team leader, Cecil John Rhodes, whose remains lie a few tens of metres away on the same rock outcrop. Special drilling technologies were used to drill the solid granite rock to preserve Rhodes’ remains. This was obviously no small feat considering the technologies in 1902 when the grave was dug. It came at no small cost either. These resources came from Zimbabwe, possibly using local labour too.
I guess you see where I am driving at by now if you have been reading with attention. Some 200 rascals have an impressive mural in their honour. Ought I say honour?
There has been a public furore over the Government decision to build a memorial mausoleum for the country’s founding father, Robert Mugabe who died on 6 September. Trending on the social media just this week has been the humble grave of George H Bush, former president of the United States of America. What is remarkable about George Bush except manoeuvring his son to become President of the same country? What else is he known for besides the above and the Gulf war?
Robert Mugabe is the founder of Zimbabwean democracy and for that he deserves the honours. He has put a full stop to Rhodes’ reign which went for a whole wide century. And, no man comes without his faults. To err is human. Among the most celebrated and long tempered presidents of the United States is Bill Clinton, a man who fell into a huge scandal involving Monica Lewinsky, a lowly staffer in his office.
Rhodes’ imposing grave has earned both Rhodesia and Zimbabwe invaluable foreign currency from tourists coming to view this marvel. The same or more should be done for other living legends of the country. Rhodes is a legend of the invading settlers and those entrusted with burying him saw it fit and it paid off. It’s still paying today. I paid to gain entrance to the grave. Somebody is going to do the same today.
George Washington, the founding father of America has a city named after him, a whole city. Go to any town in Zimbabwe, you wouldn’t fail to see a suburb or road named Windsor, the British Monarch’s name. Go to Eastlea, Harare or just open your google map for Harare, every British County has been named in places, roads and buildings in this country. Queen Victoria had the Mosioatunya Falls named after her even before she saw them.
Robert Mugabe is an indisputable icon of the establishment of Zimbabwe. His influence started before the birth of this country. He had a vision for this country and had seen the possibility of an independent Zimbabwe while doubting Thomasses saw the dream as hollow. For this visionary eye, Mugabe deserves honour, both in life and in death.
If we managed to drive an ambulance behind Robert Mugabe everywhere he went, what more can a mausoleum cost? A mausoleum has no wheels, it requires no insurance or a road permit. It is not susceptible to an accident and it requires no nurses in it. The ambulance was driven for 37 years behind Robert Mugabe’s motorcade. We cannot throw him away only because he has died. Robert Mugabe’s body, soul, intellect and wisdom worked for this country and we are where are today because of his vision. Some countries are yet to be born, I shall not mention them. But it’s no secret that some aspiring nation states are still wailing in the wilderness for statehood. We see their envoys and lobbyists criss-crossing the globe seeking the endorsement of friendly nations sympathetic to their causes. It’s no small feat to establish a state. It was possible that by this day we could still be fighting for our independence. South Africa, which was colonized in 1652 only attained independence under Mandela 342 years later. If Zimbabwe had waited for its 342nd year, this country could have seen the first native rule in year 2230, some 211 years from today.
Let credit go where it’s due. Nobody can sit down to write a third party’s history. They sit to write theirs. Mausoleums are not a brand new invention in this world. They are not built for simpletons and nonentities either. Mausoleum are built for people whole actions on the lives of others are immortal. The majority of them are in the countries that are leading the harp against the proposed Mugabe mausoleum. They forget that they built their mausoleums from proceeds of the African soils, Zimbabwe’s included. Let Robert Mugabe rest in peace and in honour.
