Yesterday I sat with my 13-year-old daughter Nakai after she came back from school telling me that the whole school, even the teachers were talking about Mugabe. We talked a lot about Zimbabwe, and what type of a president you were. I told her my thoughts, and she looked at me and said, ‘Write about it mum. Write about what you have told me about Mugabe on your blog.’
Well today I took my daughter’s advice, she was born on 18 April 2004, Zimbabwe’s Independence Day, and we always celebrated her as an Independence baby. So maybe that is why she is behind this letter.
Today there is only one side of the story being told about you. Well, every story has two sides, and I don’t think its fair for the world to only tell about one side of you, my former President.
If I will be the only person in this world who celebrates you today, then let me be. If there is anything I learnt when I was growing up in Zimbabwe, I learnt never to follow crowds, so I always sat alone and thought, especially those moments when everyone was caught up in some frenzy. I grew up in a very abusive culture and environment, but in that abusive culture, was a beautiful Zimbabwe that made me intelligent and gave me vital tools that would help build my future.
Today I am the woman I am, because of that beautiful Zimbabwe that I know you, Robert Mugabe created. Writing saved my life. Writing changed my destiny. If I wasn’t a writer, I would not be the Jean I am today.
People often ask me, how did you learn to write so eloquently? How do you write so beautifully? The best honest answer I can ever give is; because I was educated in Zimbabwe, which had one of the best education systems in the entire African continent. My writing is far from perfect, but when people read what I write, they are able to feel my emotion.
There is a shona saying which goes, kusatenda huroyi, meaning to be ungrateful is witchcraft. I remember going to school with students from Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi, Uganda and other African countries. They all came to Zimbabwe to get the best education Africa could offer. Today Zimbabwe is still credited as the most educated country in Africa, and all I know is that credit belongs only to you, Robert Mugabe.
Some Zimbabweans give credit to Ian Smith for Zimbabwe’s best education system, but I know it was you, Robert Mugabe who made education a basic human right for every black Zimbabwean child, not Ian Smith.
So forgive me for shedding a little tear for you my former President. Forgive me for feeling very emotional today. Maybe for the rest of Zimbabwe, what you did wasn’t much, but to me it was, because it saved my life. You gave me the greatest gift that money can never buy. When you said you wanted education to be a basic human right for every child in Zimbabwe, maybe that was just for me. The rest of Zimbabwe may forget today, but I won’t.
I’m literally crying, because the only time I ever felt alive in Zimbabwe, among all the pain I was going through, was when I entered a Shona, English, French or Art lesson. These were the only subjects that brought life out of me because there were the only subjects that allowed me to freely express myself. I was taught by the best language teachers, I was also taught by the best art teachers.
If there is one positive thing I took from Zimbabwe, it was my education.
When I came to the UK 18 years ago, I remember English people asking me spellings at work. I remember one white woman asking me to write her resignation letter when she was quitting her job because she had seen how well I wrote my reports. But most importantly, I didn’t know that one day I would use the skills I was taught in school to write my way out of abuse. I didn’t know that one day I will remember what my English teacher Mr Sharp taught me about creative writing. He taught me how to use the skill of expression in writing.
4 years ago, I was in a women refugee, homeless and forsaken. I had reached a dead end, but I remember saying to myself, ‘I will write myself out of all this; if there is one thing left in me, its the power to write’. And I did, and here I am today.
So when I am talking about matters of the heart, there is no way I can celebrate today and not thank you. There is no way I can join the world to call you a tyrant.
It wasn’t just the best education that you gave me, I was born after Zimbabwe Independence. You fought hard to liberate Zimbabwe from oppression. You were jailed and tortured for Zimbabwe to be free, the rest of Zimbabwe may forget, but I won’t. You are the only African leader, who was ever brave enough to stand up to white supremacy and rule. Maybe to the world, or to the West, you are that tyrant, because you tried to give land back to black Zimbabweans.
I don’t know any tyranny or dictatorship, or evil that is worse than what Zimbabwe was in the hands of minority white rule. I don’t know any more evil than black people being treated worse than dogs in their own country. The world may forget, but I wont.
I remember as a little girl, my mum always used to say, ‘If there is one thing our President has done for Zimbabwe, he has given women their rights.’ There was a time when if women lost their husbands, they lost their houses and furniture too, but you, Mr Mugabe changed that. As a women rights activist, the rest of Zimbabwe may forget, but I won’t.
The millions of Zimbabweans scattered across the world today blatantly lied that their lives were at risk to get asylum status in whatever counties they reside in today, but as soon as they got that asylum, they would sneak back to Zimbabwe because their lives where never a danger in the first place.
I can never underestimate the suffering and plight of Zimbabwean people, but I don’t believe you are solely responsible for the way Zimbabwe is today, not forgetting the sanctions placed on Zimbabwe that triggered the economic meltdown. Also as you grew older and vulnerable, people around you used you for their own gain. I know there was a time you had the people of Zimbabwe in your heart, especially when you were married to your virtuous wife Amai Sally Mugabe. You did more for Zimbabwe than any African leader has ever done. Yes, I have said it. I believe a lot of people around you contributed hugely to destroying Zimbabwe, and today they have made you a scapegoat whilst they want to emerge as heroes.
I fear what Zimbabwe will become if Emmerson Mnangagwa is to become the President. They don’t call him The Crocodile for no reason. He made an innocent man, Godfrey Majonga, paralyzed. It was that chilling horror story I grew up hearing. Mnangagwa made Majonga jump several stories out of a window for sleeping with a woman who was not even his wife. If that is not the definition of evil I don’t know what is. He was also responsible for rigging the 2008 elections. He is the man behind the Gukurahundi massacre. If you were ever the evil that the world is calling you today, then Emmerson Mnangagwa should be the face of it.
How Zimbabweans can call Mnangagwa a hero and liberator today whilst calling you a dictator is beyond me. I can’t even get my head around how last weekend every Zimbabwean became ZanuPF overnight, yet all these years ZanuPF was supposed to be the most evil party on the face of the earth. If there is one thing I can’t stand, its hypocrisy.
I think its a good thing that you have resigned, I wish you had done it years ago. What a sad way to go Mr President. You deserved honor for everything you did for Zimbabwe and the rest of Africa, but the overstaying you did has robbed you of that honor. I hope for the sake of integrity, Zimbabwe and Africa will honor your legacy as a true liberator. The man who made Zimbabwe the most educated African country.
I am yet to see a perfect leader. I don’t know if Zimbabwe will ever get one. Of course, everyone is happy for the change, it was long overdue, but I don’t think Zimbabwe’s problems will go anytime soon. Something tells me, maybe not now, but Zimbabwe will miss you greatly, in years to come.
God has blessed you with long life and good health. I pray you enjoy the rest of your retirement.
As Black British Entertainment Awards take off, one day I will stand in front of the whole world and honor you. Yes, if no one will, I will tell of what made me the resilient woman I am today, it was the education that you, Robert Mugabe gave me.
So forgive me for not dancing with the world in calling you a tyrant.
To me you were not a tyrant. To me you were not a dictator. Just because the whole world is calling you that, it doesn’t mean that is what has to define you, but the truth. To me, you are simply the man who taught my hands to war. You gave me my pen, and for that, I am eternally grateful. I choose to celebrate the good you brought out in me, which is what defines my future.
So long live my former President. Let a New Zimbabwe Arise.
Daughter of the soil, who now belongs to Ghana.
Jean Gasho
PS; You remain the most educated leader Africa has ever had, the world may forget, but I won’t. And for what it’s worth, I suffered the most horrendous abuse and cruelty which almost took my life, not in your hands, but in the hands of church going Zimbabweans who today are calling you evil.
jeangasho.com 
Like you, I feel a sadness with this whole ordeal. On the one hand something had to be done on the behalf of the millions unemployed and starving. Yet on the other hand we cannot forget the achievements and great strides president Mugabe made after independence. Unfortunately, the bad outweighed the good and resulted in a power hungry man who married a selfish woman and soon forgot his people that he fought for, to gain our freedom. ED might change things around as the international spotlight will be shining brightly on him, it is my prayer his heart has softened over the years and remembers the people of Zimbabwe.
Farwell President Mugabe my heart bleeds for you, may you find peace and rest in the aftermath of this transition. May we all operate in love and forgiveness and in rememberance of those who lost their lives trying to make Zimbabwe a better nation for all of us.
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Am not a Zimbabwean but I know Robert Mugabe is the best president Africa ever got, the people of Zimbabwe may not know it but very soon they’ll realise they made a very big mistake Zimbabwe will never be the same. Jean thank you so very much for this wonderful write up.
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People’s of Zimbabwe you are jubilating about the man who saved you from oppression. Hmm l will not be Surprise to hear tomorrow that the people of Zimbabwe have legalize same sex marriage, gay and lesbianism,street prostitution and free abortion and the white will use you as the days of old please stop humiliating the only Pan African hero. Pray that your country will not be like Libya
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You, Sister is the product of the legacy of that great man.May you follow the legacy and become part of the new generation of leaders of Zimbabwe.
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Jean, don’t worry you’re not alone
👍Respect
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As a young, ambitious Black attorney determined to start a career in international law, I arrived in Zimbabwe on the first independence anniversary. Through fortune, I partnered with Mugabe’s personal lawyer which gave me access to the highest echelons of the Zimbabwe government. I was instrumental in arranging the first Zimbabwean trade fair in New York City and secured the first taped interview Mugabe granted to an American journalist. For three years I practiced, more accurately, I attempted to establish an international practice. Sadly, the government became a kleptocracy from jump and has remained as such. As for Zimbabwe’s pseudo Marxism, Mugabe personally told me that his government would be overthrown if his ministers had to give up their Mercedes.
I hasten to add that the U.S. and Britain did everything they could and were tremendously successful in undermining and economically sabotaging the Zimbabwe economy.
No doubt Mugabe did some good things for the Zimbabwe people, but on balance his 38 year reign has been a disaster. His plan to let his wife succeed him would have been a terrible. The installation of Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mugabe’s mini-me for more than four decades, is not promising in the least. It keeps the old guard in power.
Mugabe’s demise and Mnangagwa ascension leaves me cold.
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You guys say that – but have you ever actually lived in Zimbabwe? Did you go through the first inflationary period when he printed millions of dollars to fund War vets almost 18 years after the war – only to destroy what we (born 87) had come to know as a stable economy? Or in 2006 when we were selling Buddie lines for hundreds of dollars just to buy clothes for University? Or when we had to go to bank queues with satchels to get billions of dollars worth of notes, which you had to go and spend the very same day on a loaf of bread and a bar of soap, otherwise the value would be lost before sunset? Or in 2008 when the only option was to work in neighbouring countries to earn forex so you could go back to Zim to ‘burn’ it to make ends meet? If you had relatives in the UK who were sending you money all the better – you would be kings among peasant!! In 2009 we crossed over to a multi currency economy – but again – that was f*cked up in less than 10 years by non other than Bob and his cronies. Introducing bond notes on a 1:1 rate with the USD – all the while printing that shit for coins to the dollar in neighbouring South Africa and reaping a premium off the conversion in Zim for people/businesses who needed hard cash for transactions! We struggle to buy Ex Jap cars while their progeny import Rolls Royce’s and Bentleys. We have orphans dying of aids, no housing, no access to food, shelter, medication, hospitals – while his wife gets an ankle bruise and flies to Singapore to get that checked out, or his granddaughter anoenda ku skero ku Malaysia??! I’m sorry but you can cry all you want for this dictator – I’m glad to see the back of him As a 3rd generation citizen born under his rule – I for once can say I have hope for my two sons’ future – that they can work and strive for their dreams knowing they can actually realize those dreams – where we can register to vote and vote to make a difference and not feel despondent coz you know they results are rigged to keep him or his prostitute wife in power forever.
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Uninspired: Don’t jubilate too soon. You will one day regret what you are saying today because you don’t seem to know these white people.
Do you sincerely believe that they want anything good for Zimbabweans?
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I am not Zimbabwean but my country had pretty much the same story though not as bad as yours. You are correct, the faithful have blinded their own eyes and cannot see the man in all his despicable arrogance. He might have started off well.
He was a hero to all black people the world over then, he became drunk with power, given to him by the people and, betrayed their trust. He supervised the destruction of the economy, exterminated his opponents, ignored the will of the electorate, married a conniving monster, stole Zimbabwe’s wealth and thumbed his nose at counsel. Now this crippled dictator seeks understanding?? Whatever his legacy was before the turn of the century has been destroyed forever; replaced by memories of pain, sorrow and hardship. His successor is a fool. The same man who shamefully sacked him for no reason is now being pampered and splurged on the scarce resources of a poor nation. That is lunacy. I know he is doing what the army wants and, sees them as the best guarantee he has to achieving his own agenda of power. But, I am hoping ZANU-PF is thrown out of power in the next election through the democratic process then, we will see the true heart of the sycophants Mugabe had around him.
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I was there in summer of 2000. I remember BP jacking up Petrol prices, I remember the opposition shutting down banks and other important businesses in protest against the land reclaiming policy, I remember the beginning of the sanctions. I remember citizens going to the black market to exchange US dollars in to Zim dollars raising the inflation rates, and I remember the US press making like there was a white genocide going on. Therefore many US. Citizens were terrified to travel there. Zimbabwe makes tons off of tourism. My parents were afraid for my safety when I went there because they thought that I was going to be targeted for being white.
Once I got there I discovered that the killings were isolated and not wide spread and that most Black Zimbabweans were happy to see me. Mugabe was not perfect and he should of left office a decade ago and let someone younger take office. However not all of Zimbabwe’s troubles came from him or his party. The reality is that there are many systematic problems that were created decades before the revolution. White and foreign communities had/has too much economical influence over Zimbabwe. Until that changes Zimbabwe will never truly be free.
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Thanks Jean for the sharing. However, I dont agree withyou that every Zimbabwean woke up Zanu PF, supporting Emmerson. The rason why you are writting from the UK is because you have found it to be better than your home Zimbabwe. Forgive me, we all have respect for President Mugabe particularly on how he started, his end was not the best. He presided over a deteriorating education, health, ecomomic and political situation. He allowed a few individuals around him to amass great wealth at the expense of the people. Equally, the incoming President has his bad past, but we hope he will find it in his heart to put the people first. Zimbabweans rose against the creation of a dynasty, dictatorship and disrespect for the law. e did not rise to install ED Munangagwa, neither did we say we are now Zanu PF. We wanted to break a system, and if ED is to do the same, he will even fall. Our prayers are with him no,especially that we leave the past and look into the future. A future where, you and I are not economic or political refugees, all working to develop Zimbabwe. Where, the constitution is upheld and people are free to openly criticise the government, and elections are respected!
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Great piece, why Africans behave steange? Our heroes and heroines will leave the stage, before we begin to miss them. What a sad day for Zambawee and the world at large?
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I wish and thought Zimbabwe would have learn from Libya, Soon and later Same people on the streets today will be crying and calling his legacy to come back. He is off now the world is looking up to leaders who push him hard to resign. He is a Hero and No African leader would have his courage and mindset when it comes to issues addressing in United Nations, He fear No president or Any Country and Stand with the Truth. Long live Mugabe long live Zimbabwe.
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Yes but we wanted him to retire and inspire a new generation of leaders. In that he failed dismally. His wife let him down with her morbid lust for power and wealth. Yes we wont forget his immense contribution to the liberation struggle and his early success in education and health.
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You are very true about Zim education. I have mixed feelings. I am a young 90s child, born to freedom and spent the first 8 years of my life in bliss. I loved our former president in my childhood. He was the best, at school our other African friends praised him. But after year 2000 I couldnt understand how that same man would forsake his people. He was also failed by the agreements by the Brits – we get that however this man allowed his people to suffer. Even if it was the people around his, he could have stopped that. Veduwe, my mother and I suffered in Zimbabwe. 2006 things were so hard for my mother (after dad died because we couldn’t afford Kidney transplants and everything that came with it) would literally go to bed without eating so I could have something. He moved to a house made out of durawall material and in winter it was hell but I didn’t say anything because that was the best my hardworking mother could offer. We got a chance to move to the UK and we have both thrived her but our heart yearn to be home.
I appreciate what Mugabe and other war vets did for us in the colonial era however it is time to say good bye to his and build our nation. If the worst comes lets face it and we will cross that bridge instead of suffering because he saved us from colonial rule.
BYE MUGABE – THERE IS A THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE.
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You talk more shit than you were made out of..,satani…
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When Gaddafi died lybians were dancing but today they are crying. I love you Mugabe.
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Great writing. But you being in UK I believe you haven’t really gone through or felt how bad things were /are in Zimbabwe…… hence it being easy for you to have this opinion. Mugabe is a great man indeed but things went wrong. If he really loved his country so much he would have appointed someone with his kind of wisdom and strength and train that person before it was too late. He allowed people around him to use him.. including his wife.
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Wow Jean you took those words right out of my mouth!well said👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
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This sister understands; She knows what is at stake. Our world (society) is full of hypocrisy, pretense and deceit. For us as African people we know our friends especially the allies of African people, comrade RG Mugabe was not a saint, nor a Puritan but I honor him as a revolutionary patriot. I now agree with the South African singer sister Miriam Makeba when she wrote “ One man hero is another man terrorist, another terrorist is another man’s hero”. My advice to Zimbabweans is to be careful with that crocodile for it lives both in water and on land (double standards).
Go well comrade president you have reached the twilight of your life; you fought your own struggle and history will absorb you.
Aluta Continua!
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Can agree with you more my bro..
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This note was well written… my prays for African that we need more Roberts in our state house … He will surely be missed not by only his country but African as a whole… cadre , your legacy will life on for generations to come … I Penn this from the mother of Africa (Liberia)
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Hey jean, we are basically sailing in the same boat..I can’t get myself to hate Mugabe after all has been said and done..the respect I have for him will not be surpassed..I’m grateful to God each day because Zimbabweans are desirable in all nations because of what Mugabe made us to be..
I will not forget all the things he did for the nation..
As for where the country is going only God knows,all we can do is be optimistic and pray harder because the horrible stories I’ve also heard about Munangagwa scare me ..If it happened then I guess the Lord allowed it to.
If they ever want to write a book about him I recommend they give you the honor first before anyone else ..
You write so well..
God bless your work..
Xoxo
Yvonne
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Thank you Yvonne. I was very touched by your comment x
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I love your writing skills
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I have never supported any of your writing Jean but thank you… people do not know that the blood shed that happened in Zim were actually caused by ED….but we will take the backseats and watch from there
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If it was ED’s fault and he was the mastermind behind Gukurahundi, why was he never punished for it. He may have played a part but just as pawn. The grandmaster was the man you are showering with praise here.
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I’ll not even complete reading your write up before replying to your piece. Nobody was happy about that situation then. But to Robert Mugabe as a tyrant and destructive person, is hypocritical and unfaithful to a man who gave you opportunity to have at least education. You will not appreciate how educated you the Zimbabwean people are until you go and lived in another country.
The inflation and its associated problems you claimed to have suffered are well orchestrated plans of the West so that people like you will see Mugabe as creating hardship for you. For that matter, calling him sort of names. If you and your kinds hate him as much why don’t you go in arms to overthrow him. Zimbabweans will never do such a thing because 1. Robert Mugabe is a hero to them. 2. Zimbabweans (majority) are literates. 3. It’s not really Robert Mugabe that you people don’t want; it’s the wife. 4. Mugabe is aged and can’t control his wife except loyal Zimbabweans.
Learn to appreciate men like Mugabe because he is the last of the neocolonialists leaders of Africa that stood against imperialist forces. That’s the very reason the West decided to suffocate you the Zimbabweans by refusing you economic support hence the economic meltdown of the Zimbabwean economy. The blame goes to him because he was the leader. However, when USA suffered similar thing, who blamed Bush or Obama? Nobody. When something good is with you, you don’t see and appreciate it until you lost it.
Pray that you and your new leaders don’t find yourself at the beak and call of the pink people in the name of salvaging your country.
No man is infallible, and Mugabe is a man. But that does not make him a monster as you want we the outside world to see him. We refused to see him as such.
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I do believe had you taken the time to read her entire article, you would understand that she never once criticised him, she thanked and thanks him for the many opportunities granted to the people of Zimbabwe. Don’t be so quick to condemn others before listening to everything they have to say. Her piece is a tribute to the man, the leader, the liberator…Robert Mugabe. Go back and read the entire article, I implore you to do so.
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Jean, I strongly disagree with your assessments of your country and former leader as self serving. What good is education when you can’t use it anywhere in the country you so love? You can have all the education you want, but if your dignity is stolen from you like Mugabe did to many Zimbabweans, nothing matters, but change. And let’s not forget how honorable the military was in this whole episode.
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It could just be stockholm syndrome here,but somehow I agree with her in some of what she writes,I know for a fact some of us especially orphans and the many homeless children in the streets scattered around Zimbabwe are not there because of sanctions,the physically challenged and elderly suffered abuse cruelty and neglect for many years under the watchful eye of church going fellow Zimbabweans and relatives.I am not one to quickly jump for joy and readily believe what these politicians push my way as fact sanctions or not I can see and feel things for myself,I can think and analyse and critically think for myself and i am grateful I am literate I can read and write however grammatically imperfect it might be thanks to the education I received in Zimbabwe,but at what price?how many people can actually afford to send their children to get a decent education in that class system economy in Zimbabwe,how many people had access to good healthcare,it all came at a price.Looking at the dilapidated and neglected infrastructure including the potholed roads and rubbish everywhere one can definitely testify that the man had overstayed his welcome many many years ago,one can almost say this shit show in politics and infighting we are witnessing now in Zanu Pf was his creation by failing to appoint a groomed and politically capable candidate who could navigate without having to succumb to buffoonery in public including beating up children in foreign lands.These generals who have now outsted him out of power after years of looting beside him were allowed to do so for many years whilst the masses starved.As for this new leadership only time can tell,but somehow I don’t expect much change from them.They can be hailed as heroes for deposing their master but a leopard does not change its spots over night,a two week hiatus from politics does not make you a saint and hero an overnight hero.As for Mugabe not much sympathy from me ,you have had the best healthcare the world had to offer,perhaps maybe the most traveled elderly statesmen Africa has ever seen,it is evident from the way his children show off their wealth on social media and from the size of that blue roof he lives in and that dairy farm his family owns I am sure he has something to retire on and he will live comfortably for the rest of his days whilst we Zimbabweans have to salvage our dignity and economy.So go well,famba mushe hamba kahle.
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Heroes
First order of business:
Kill everyone who approaches
with a request that you fight
the evil ones.
Shoot them on sight.
Hit them hard in the gut
and remove their feet from under
before plucking out their tongues.
Burn the hut with those
who run in to hide behind
you from the oppressor.
They who eat the stores
but will not go out to glean
because they are afraid. . .
Turn a blind eye to he who runs away
because he is weak and afraid.
Hinder him not. Let him pass freely
and do not entreat him to stay.
Kill everyone who approaches
with praises and pledges
of loyalty and brotherhood,
if you will put your neck
on the line and help take back the neighborhood. . .
Kill them while the request
slips from their lips.
Heroism is not declared
at the start of conflict.
Fight with the soldiers. . .
Rise with arms ready
to battle with the braves
who already have the
enemy engaged.
Back to back, brother
for brother, stand together
and defend each other.
One is all and all are one:
Heroes are not propped up
by chattering cowards.
Warriors do not recruit.
They swell their numbers
by their fight.
©2017
Charlene Elson-Gustard
All rights reserved.
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I really love this writeup of urs Jean, indeed Zimbabwe and Africa will surely remember Robert Mugabe
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Jah bless you for this great note.Long live Former President Mugabe.
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Jean, You said it all. ” The evil that men do lives after them. But the good is often en-tired to their bones.” He was my President. I am a Liberian.
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Another set of people to thank for education, whose efforts are unfortunately sometimes neveracknowledged, but instead credited to R.G. Mugabe are the following:
1. Kenneth Kaunda- who as early as the 1970s, introduced a policy to fund 100 students and then 400 students to study in Zambia, so that independent Zimbabwe would have an educated people. Some of these people, including E.D. Munangagwa, are in Government.
2. Dr. Fay King Chung and Dr. Dzingai Mutumbuka- who were pioneers of our early education system. These people, fought, sometimes, even against Mugabe, to create an education system that benefited many, including the writer.
3. Church Missions, including the Catholics, who built schools and accepted blacks.
4. Ordinary men and women, who paid taxes and worked to build the early schools in ZImbabwe, most of which were funded through Grants and contributions from communities.
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Thank you.
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You should stay there in Ghana or UK wherever you are.We don’t want you back in Zim.Surely millions of people can’t be wrong about him.If the company is not doing well the board fires the manager ,simple.He was the leader so he should be accountable for the people around him.The man started well and got greedy along the way.Should we keep singing praises to him because he did one thing correct,no way.You are writing your stories under a system that is working well.Go and write your rubbish in Zim and see how many people will read your nonsense.In 2008 elections people lost their arms , lips legs because they voted for the opposition whilst you are busy drinking tea with the British.You married in Ghana so you are no Zimbabwean patriot write about Ghana instead.Kwana iwe.
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I wish I could contribute to this but will not. NOT UNTIL YOU LOST WHAT YOU HAVE YOU WON’T KNOW THE VALUE OF IT. IT IS RATHER UNFORTUNATE FOR THE PAST 14YEARS, WE CAN DRAW BETWEEN THE LINES. THE WESTERNERS WILL ALWAYS TELL US WHAT WE AFRICANS WANT TO HEAR AND BELIEVE. for Pres. Mugabe, he’s done his best but was only afraid there is no substantial person to replace him. His time is over now. Let’s see what happen next. No one will ever be happier than westerners. Full stop.
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Humans have only learned to give honour to the dead. We say good things about the dead who cant do anything again.
Indeed there are two parts of one’s life. Ex President Mogabe will be remembered when he is no more. I trust by then, Zimbabwe will miss him dearlyand wished he was alive.
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Truly spoken like a Zimbabwean who has been living abroad for over 18years! If Mugabe was so great why didn’t aren’t you in Zimbabwe using the great education that Mugabe gave you? If Mugabe is so great how did US15billion disappear under his watch? Where you there when we had to queue for days to get cash to buy bread?Where were your Mugabe when exiled Zimbabweans were brutally murdered in South Africa due to xenophobia-your ‘hero’ never uttered a word! So Jean don’t be a hypocrite! Mugabe did not free Zimbabwe by himself from colonial rule he had the help of my grandmother who was detained for 8 yrs for standing up against colonial rule,he had my father who left his young wife and family and sacrificed his life so you can have the freedom to write perfect English in the comfort of your home abroad. Do not minimise the atrocities of Mugabe’s rule and sigarcoat2it with Women Rights and education for all. How you been in Zimbabwe lately where degree holders with their perfect English are street vendors,security guards,etc because your dear Mugabe has crippled the economy so much that there are no jobs for the people. 90% unemployment and 50 BILLION inflation rate happened under the leadership of your dear Mugabe – Go to Zim and say that shit nonsense and the Zimbabweans who had to deal with 37yrs of Mugabe’s rule will educate you! So he solely won our freedom but Guruhundi he was not part of it🙄??? He was the Commander in Chief of the Army!!! Now I understand why you loved ‘Shona, English, French or Art lesson’ you should have taken time to also learn to love History because you are obviously dillusional.
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As a white American woman, far removed from Africa or her politics, I just wanted to write a note thanking you for your eloquence. You ARE a beautiful writer who is able to articulate another side of the story. Unfortunately “reporters” these days, on both sides of the pond, sensationalize their particular narrative of an issue and do very little reporting. I enjoyed your perspective. There are always 2 (or 4 or 12) sides of a story. You do your former President a great service by at least giving credit where credit is due. The education you received is being wonderfully utilized to reach a broad audience, even a world away! God bless you and your country as you both move forward.
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Beautiful piece. How do I get in touch with u
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I am from Liberia a country that is still recovering from its civil war! I do admire Mr. Mugabe, for giving you all the tool of education and by far he’s the most educated President in the entire world. I must admit that he demonstrated perfectly on the line of ‘EDUCATION ‘well and you guys are blessed! How old is Zimbabwe to that of Liberia? It is time that our ex presidents live in peace instead of us castigating them to face prison in the west which will never solves our problems and those that are in power excel from what everyone categorized Mr. Mugabe as the ‘Evil’. Education is one of the greatest gift in life one can achieved. Jean, I am quite sure you are my friend now if you like it or not, smile. I am very proud of you by stating one rare truth that others failed to adored ‘ Education As Human Right’. Nowhere in Africa you can ever find that happening except in Zimbabwe 🇿🇼! First of all, to all Zimbabwean one big question for all of you: What do you all think Mr. Mugabe believes in? If you can sit and think well, then you all will be grateful and try to solved the problems in Zimbabwe. Let me just say this: ‘ He believes in Education and he has given it, use it and make the country a better place with the new leadership’. Mr. Mugabe thank you for one thing #EducationAsHumanRight and I wish #OAU can work on it to make sure the entire African soil achieve that to empowered their people. All of the Zimbabweans I’ve ever met, speak two or more languages and in my opinion the entire Africa you guys are the most educated and speak English well! Jean, my daughter must remember your name, she’s brilliant and I will use your name among other great females from the soil too as a guide to having more reason to study hard and harder.
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Thank you very much. I’m very encouraged.
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Dear Jean,
What a powerful and timely piece! Please forgive my inability to properly express my heartfelt thanks to you in Shona, as I would so much prefer. I am a native of Haiti, where our founding father, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who defeated Napoleon’s slave-making army to liberate millions of kidnapped and displaced Africans, was tragically betrayed and assassinated shortly thereafter.
Dr. Mugabe’s valiant struggle against white supremacist tyranny is truly awe-inspiring and deserving of admiration, praise and due respect.
My 13 year old daughter has been asking me to also explain to her what happened in Haiti when, in February 2004, white soldiers illegally entered the house of President Aristide, kidnapped him and his wife, and forced them to exile before imposing a disastrous foreign occupation of the country.
Given the fact that imperialist vultures are circling our lands, endangering the lives of our peoples, murdering our leaders, installing puppets to ravage our mineral resources all over Africa and the Americas, your powerful message needs to be heard and read in Xhosa, Fongbe, Eve, Lingala, Kiswahili, Shona, Kreyòl, Zulu…
Please share my heartfelt thanks with your own precious 13 year old Kaina. So touched by your words was I that I took the liberty to draft an unofficial translation of your letter into Haitian Kreyòl. So many of our people thirst for and need to hear your wise words in their own native language.
Stay blessed! ndotenda kwazvo ! Mèsi anpil !
Jafrikayiti
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Thank you so much Jafrikayti. May the Lord bless you.
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Dear Jean,
As expected, the white supremacist world has unleashed its bile against the memory of our beloved, now departed, Dr. Robert Mugabe.
I thank you again for your wonderful text. As I sat and read the Haitian Kreyol version it inspired me to produce, to my 90 years wise mother, I felt once again the goosebumps I had 2 years ago, reading your original piece. My mother thanks you for the perspective you offer, one which is denied by Radio-Canada.
They have not tire of washing away the crimes of their Margaret Tatcher, Ronald Reagan, GHW Bush, Charles de Gaule and project them unto our Robert Mugabe and Winnie Madikileza.
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DESPITE WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO AFRICA AND AFRICANS . YET THERE STILL HOPE. BECAUSE STILL MEN AND WOMENS THAT HAVE BRAIN. THIS PIECE OF WRITING OF YOURS JEAN MADE MY DAY.
IN THIS 21st CENTURY YET PEOPLES STILL CONFUSING A HERO WITH A DICTATOR AND COLONISATION WITH DEMOCRACY. DO SOME OF ZIMBABWEAN REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO EGYPT, LIBIA ,DR CONGO AND LIST GOES ON. ….
NOW A PIECE OF ADVICE TO ALL ZIMBABWEANS.
IT’S NOT TIME FOR CRITICISM. THIS IS YOUR TIME TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. BEFORE YOU END UP LIKE THOSE COUNTRIES JUST LISTED ABOVE. DON’T ASK WHAT R.MUGABE HAVE DONE FOR ZIMBABWE. THE QUESTION IS “WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR ZIMBABWE” AS PATRIOTS ZIMBABWEAN.
R. MUGABE HAVE SURVIVED IT ALL, WOULD YOU SURVIVE THE PRESURE OF WESTERN COUNTRIES LIKE HIM.
SO, BEFORE IS TO LATE DO SOME LIKE R. MUGABE.
JEAN WE NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU. WHO STILL HAVE PURE MEMORY THAT CAN REMEMBER THE SMALL GOOD THINGS THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THEIR LIVES A LESSON FOR US ALL.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND WE’LL KEEP IN TOUCH. WELL DONE.
THANK YOU.
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Who must fall and who must stand on the world’s. We need solution
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