Is the title “Tragic Hero”, best suited for Robert Gabriel Mugabe? Mugabe was born in 1924 in Southern Rhodesia (present day Zimbabwe). He excelled in all levels of schooling and completed his tertiary education in various institutions around Africa, receiving over six degrees, including two Masters of Law degrees, which he completed whilst in prison after the white government convicted him of conspiracy, in the early 70’s. He spent the early part of his career teaching in schools across Africa, and in the late 1970’s he diverted his attention into the political arena, and became the leader of the Zimbabwe African National United Patriotic Fund (ZANU-PF) and became Prime Minister in 1980(in 1983 the Prime Minister role was abolished and Mugabe assumed the role of President). Mugabe is hailed as the pure archetype of an African nationalist, receiving admiration for his commitment to empowering black people, by land and indigenization reforms. On the other hand, present-day Mugabe has become a somewhat of a villain, especially after he put into effect his controversial land reform and indigenization laws, which limited how much land or investment white people had in the country master-minded by his manipulative political puppetry, which have seen him amass a number of sanctions from the international community, that have hindered the country’s economy.
While Mugabe may be unpopular, there are still many people who support him even despite the economic or political problems in the country. Most Zimbabweans (especially the older generation) are still irate at the challenging life they lived under the political puppetry of white colonialists. Due to the distinct geo-political location of Zimbabwe (due north of South Africa) meant th...
... middle of paper ...
...ks Cited
"A New Take on Land Reform in Zimbabwe." IRINnews. IRIN, 5 Feb. 2013. Web. 16 Nov. 2013.
"Doing Business in Zimbabwe - World Bank Group." Doing Business in Zimbabwe. The World Bank, 2013. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
Dube, Gibbs. "Economists Clash Over Indigenization of Zimbabwe Economy." VOA.com. VOA.com, 28 Feb. 2013. Web. 16 Nov. 2013.
Essa, Azad, and Tendai Marima. "Vox Pops: Why We Love Mugabe." - Features. Aljazeera.com, 29 July 2013. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
Marawanyika, Godfrey. "Thank You, Mr. Mugabe" The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.
Rothberg, Robert I. "Starving the Voters Is How Mugabe Has Rigged the Election." Harvard Kennedy School. Harvard Kennedy School, n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. Real Sector Developments. Economic Review. By N. Ncube. Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, 2008. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.
Images of whiteness in Zimbabwe projected in the media have been of white population as victims being disposed of land and exposed to violence. In the award-winning documentary, Mugabe and the White African, the film focuses on white Zimbabwean family who challenges the Fast Track land redistribution program. David McDermott Hughes’ interprets the perspectives of land and landscape and its origins. In Whiteness in Zimbabwe, David McDermott Hughes principal argument is that European settlers identified themselves with the African landscape rather than with the social characteristics of the native Africans. The importance of landscape to white identity led to the engineering and structural development of the landscape. Hughes contends that the white colonizers used the land, nature and ecology to escape the social problems, to avoid ‘the other’ which in this case was the black Zimbabweans that were sharing the same living space. Through such landscape engineering, the white Zimbabweans believed that they would belong to Zimbabwe and Africa. However, Hugh argues that “by writing themselves to single-mindedly into the landscape, many whites wrote themselves out of society (p. 25).” Furthermore, Hughes argues that this was not a form of racism, but rather escaping the social surrounding to avoid conflict. This concept has led to Hughes to wanting to stop romanticizing of land in order to avoid social issues.
Throughout the twentieth century, Rhodesia from 1960’s to the late 1970’s have always been in a struggle to fight for their independence. They had to deal with the British colonist that settled into their land and had taken over control of the country for the past couple of years. Due to the decolonisation of African countries after the second world war it gave many influences and reasons for Rhodesia to search to become an independent country. That all changed when they fully receive their independence in 1980 and during that time they fought for the control of their country, Rhodesia. The name was later changed to Zimbabwe due to a revolutionary struggle they had in their country. The battle to govern Rhodesia and also by the agreement of the Internal Settlement between the fighting forces to find and create peace
Macmillan, Harold. "Harold Macmillan's Wind of Change Speech." About.com African History. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2014.
26 January 2003. http://web5.infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/infomark/638/912/31005 181w5/purl=rc_7_GRGM_. McKinley, Dale. Zimbabwe: Only a New Revolution Will Dislodge Mugabe. 27 January 2003.
A tragic hero could be considered a "noble person with a fatal flaw" or "an opponent of society who is willing to take action that 'sensible people' might applaud
A tragic hero is defined as a person of high social rank, who has a tragic flaw or flaws that lead to their downfall. These heroes’ downfalls are usually either complete ruin or death. Tragic heroes face their downfall with courage and dignity. While many characters in Julius Caesar could fit these conditions, the person who fits the role of a tragic hero the best is Marcus Brutus. Brutus develops into a tragic hero throughout the play, and this is shown though his qualifications of a tragic hero, his high status, his tragic flaws, and his courage in the face of his death.
Sywester, Kevin. Decolonization and economic growth: the case of Africa. Journal of economic development. December 2005. 30(2); p.89-91.
...his not a tragic hero because he not outstanding and virtuous, and he does not achieve insightful recognition or redemption.
Web. 18 Dec. 2013. . Nelson Mandela Foundation. " Biography - Nelson Mandela."
Dr. Noah Zerbe is a professor and chair of the department of politics at Humboldt State University in California and someone who has spent time in both South Africa and Zimbabwe. Dr. Zerbe goes in depth into the factors that surrounded the 2002 famine in Africa, where 14 million Africans were on the brink of starvation. The Malawi president, just a season before the famine, sold off all of Mal...
“The time comes in the life of any nation when there remain only two choices: submit or fight” (“Nelson Mandela”). Nelson Mandela took the chance and fought for his rights and freedom. Mandela has gone through many troubles in his life since the day he was born. A young man that had no shoes till he approached the age of sixteen, and then transformed into a great political leader of his country. Mandela’s life is an impressing story to be told!
Ampim, Manu Prof. “Great Zimbabwe: A History Almost Forgotten.” Manuampim.com. n.p. May 2004. Web. 7 Mar. 2014. http://www.manuampim.com/ZIMBABWE.html.
This book starts us off with an introduction to Mandela’s country childhood, born July 18, 1918 in Mvezo, (a small village on the banks of...
Charlick, R. (2000) "Popular participation and Local Government Reforms" Africa Notes, New York: Cornell University, (April) pp1-5
Poverty, empty stomached or hungry person right to vote holds no meaning unless he/she gets what to eat. In other words, poverty is regarded as a bane to democracy. It is one of the root cause of inequalities and deprivation of citizens in Uganda. It’s perceived as a state of denial of opportunities to live fulfilling and health life. Politicians use poverty to bribe poor electorates with salt and a bar of soap in exchange for a vote. Electorates don’t think of voting the one with a better policy focus but rather the one who would give them what to eat.