Zimbabwe: Why Mugabe Is a True African Hero

opinion

SHORTLY after the conclusion of the Zimbabwe general elections last month, I came across a South African newspaper article, whose heading made me wonder at the temerity of President Robert Mugabe in his determination to reverse the legacy of colonialism.

The heading suggested that Zimbabwe was going to forcibly acquire mines in other countries - and for some reason I thought those mines were in Europe. Upon reading the article, headed "Zimbabwe lays out plan to grab foreign mines", it turned out that the writer was talking about the country's policy of acquiring 51 percent share-holding in foreign companies with mining interests in Zimbabwe. In the writer's mind it is possible for mines that are in Zimbabwe to be considered foreign.

This heading reminded me of a banner hoisted by US citizens protesting against the armed invasion of Iraq by their country. The banner screamed: "What does our oil want under their sand?"
mugabe

did burnham do the right thing by nationalization.