Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Albert Nhamoyebonde
2 August 2007
opinion
Harare — IN my capacity as chairman of the Zimbabwe-Britain Society, people always ask me why the society is no longer active.
The simplest answer could have been that the standoff between Harare and London has constrained our capacity to promote better relations between our two countries.
In order to give a proper perspective to the work of the society, I shall attempt to inform the public on the role it has played to promote understanding and better relations between Zimbabwe and Britain over the years.
The Zimbabwe-Britain Society was formed in Britain shortly after independence by, among others, Lord and Lady Soames and Professor Terence Ranger. All three had been closely involved in the transformation of Rhodesia to Zimbabwe.
Lord Soames presided over the cleaning of the mess of UDI and Zimbabwe-Rhodesia. The society's first president in Britain was Guy Clutton-Brock who, with Cde Didymus Mutasa, the present Minister of National Security, Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement, founded the first multiracial co-operative - Cold Comfort Farm - here in Zimbabwe.
I was honoured to represent the society and the family at the burial of Clutton-Brock's ashes at the National Heroes Acre when he became the first white person to be declared a national hero.
The society was then launched in Zimbabwe in July 1982 under the patronage of Amai Sally Mugabe with Cde Mutasa as president and Aelda Callinicos as honorary secretary. I led a delegation of the society to pay condolences to President Mugabe following the death of Amai Sally Mugabe.
Today, the president of the society is Sir Ramsay Melhuish, former High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, who decided to live in Zimbabwe on his retirement. Two of his children are married to Zimbabweans, black and white.
Since its inception, the society has maintained a resolutely non-political stance. Its aims have been to promote and maintain close ties with the United Kingdom on mutual knowledge, understanding and respect; to foster communication through individual relationships and visits; to promote mutually advantageous business, educational, cultural and governmental interests, among other things.
Our activities have included featuring prominent speakers from Zimbabwe and Britain. And among our distinguished speakers have been President Mugabe, Sir Garfield Todd, Dame Mary Soames and former British foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind. Various British high commissioners to Zimbabwe and other high commissioners from other Commonwealth countries regularly addressed members of the society at international events.
Zimbabweans from various sectors and political persuasions have addressed the society over the years, among them Professor Welshman Ncube (on the Constitution), Professor Jonathan Moyo (on the Draft Constitution), Mr Strive Masiyiwa (on technological development in business), Cde Kumbirai Kangai (on the land reform programme), Professor Tony Hawkins (on the economy), Mr Lovemore Matombo (on how labour plays a part in economic development), Cde Simba Makoni and many others from the Americas, Asia and Africa.
What then happened that has made the society suspend its activities? It is the fallout between Zimbabwe and Britain over the land issue, according to the president of our sister society in Britain, Prof Ranger.
In a newsletter to members, he wrote: "The Labour Government has unilaterally declared colonialism over. It accepts no responsibility for colonial misdeeds or colonial undertakings. Peter Hain relies upon his old anti-apartheid reputation: Claire Short has said she need make no apologies for colonialism - 'I'm Irish, for God's sake'."
Prof Ranger went on: "Lord Carrington did avert a Zanu-PF walk-out over land at Lancaster House by promising an international fund would be set up to purchase land. No serious attempt was made to implement this, the pledge was abandoned by the Blair government as a part of their write-off of colonialism."
Prof Ranger was expelled from the then Rhodesia when he was professor of history at the then University of Rhodesia. He is now based at Oxford University in the UK and is president of the Britain-Zimbabwe Society there.
He is an eminent scholar. Many people may have different views over the dispute between Zimbabwe and Britain, but I have quoted Prof Ranger to bring an understanding on why as a society, we find it difficult to promote relations between our two countries when Zimbabweans are banned from travelling to the UK, Europe and America.
The ideals of the society have been negated by this standoff.
My personal view is that Zimbabwe is my country and every Zimbabwean must be treated as an equal by any foreign country unless it is for criminal reasons supported by a court of law or international law under the United Nations.
Our society was giving an opportunity to citizens of both nations to interact. Our meetings were highly political not in terms of aligning with any of the political parties in Zimbabwe or Britain, but to further dialogue on issues that affected citizens of both countries and to influence decision makers through debate.
At our meetings, no speaker ever read a speech but spoke from the heart. This had a great impact on our members and created an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding. The sooner this impasse is resolved the better for our society and the people of our two nations.
Memories of the Queen's last visit to Zimbabwe, her camaraderie with President Mugabe at the British High Commissioner's residence a few years ago, gives me hope that one day the Zimbabwe-Britain Society shall resume its activities and continue to promote the historical ties for the mutual benefit of our two nations.
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