Wednesday, 11 June 1986: Arguing Race and Politics with White “Rhodesians”

June 25, 10:00AM, Home of Pete & Verity Mundy, Lake McIlwaine, Zimbabwe

So let me tell you about a conversation I had with three white “Rhodesians” a couple weeks ago.  I’m calling them “Rhodesians” because, despite Rhodesia becoming Zimbabwe in 1980 with the arrival of black majority rule, many whites still seem to think of themselves as Rhodesians. 

As reported in a previous post, I had accepted an invitation from George, a white Zimbabwean businessman, to accompany him on a trip from Bulawayo to Harare, then on to the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe.  We drove to Harare on June 11 and stayed with George’s wife’s aunt and uncle, Julie and Louden.  They are probably in their mid-40s and live in a very nice section (still mostly white) of Harare with their four kids, two of whom are away at school.  Louden works in an agricultural business.  George and Louden were in the Rhodesian Army during the civil war.  George became a major and company commander of an artillery support company operating a good deal of the time across the border in Mozambique.    

We got around to talking about the recent South African raid on Harare.  They thought the raid was justified in order to warn the ANC and the Zim government that South African can go after terrorists at any place and at any time.  Now, these guys are relatively moderate (relative to the former white population of Rhodesia).  They had stayed after Zimbabwean independence whereas a majority of the whites left.  Still, they did not seem to be concerned that the South Africans had violated the sovereignty of their country.  After all, George and his troops had routinely violated Mozambique’s border during the war.  For white people I’ve talked with here, regardless of political persuasion, the sanctity of borders is a non-issue. 

Ian Smith (left), Prime Minister of Rhodesia, 1965-1979.  Robert Mugabe (right), Prime Minister and later President of Zimbabwe, 1980-2017.  In my opinion, both men failed their country but for different reasons.

Photo sources: https://reallifevillains.miraheze.org/wiki/Ian_Smith; 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Mugabe

George, Julie, and Louden continued talking about the South African situation largely taking the side of the South African government.  They had an answer for everything.  For example, when they defended police actions in the black townships, I asked why so many of the blacks who have died were shot in the back.  Julie didn’t even understand why I was concerned about demonstrators getting shot in the back.  Louden had to explain the implications to her.  George said the charges were largely press propaganda.  He acknowledged that some blacks had probably been shot in the back.  However, when police confronted a mob, the rioters in the front lines might turn around and try to run.  But the leaders were in the back rows still trying to push them forward. 

George and Louden tried to set me straight about Africans, and much of this I’d heard before from white South Africans.  Things like the Africans hadn’t even invented the wheel; they carelessly destroy good crop and forest land by overgrazing (sounds like a lot of ranchers in the western USA); they cut down every tree in sight for firewood; they are incompetent as managers; they breed like flies; their leaders sit back and wait for handouts from the USA and Great Britain; their leaders are invariably corrupt raking off millions from the economy while their people stay poor. 

To put the final nail on the head of their case against Africans, Louden asked if I know what the great humanitarian and philosopher, Albert Schweitzer, had to say about the black man after having spent much of his adult life in Africa.  According to Louden, Schweitzer said something like, “You will never bring the black man up to your level.  He will always bring you down to his.”

“Always?” I asked.

 George and Louden agreed this was always true.

 “Wait a minute,” I retorted.  “What about Zed?”  This was the young black manager I’d met earlier in the day at one of George’s companies.  Zed was a very impressive articulate African guy.  George had said that if there were 2000 blacks like Zed running the country, Zimbabwe would be in great shape.  “After all the positive things you said today about Zed, do you feel he drags you and the company down to some inferior level?” 

Well, that is different, you see, because Zed had spent a number of years in Britain and the States working and getting educated.  Anyway, he is not a native of Zimbabwe.

Finally, I’d heard enough of this shit.  I couldn’t refute their specific arguments, so I came down on them and their white, racist, southern African brethren in broad philosophical terms.  My reply went something like this:  “There’s a good deal of truth in some of the things you say.  Yes, there are serious problems here with destruction of cropland, rapid population growth, corrupt politicians, and so forth.  I don’t dispute many of your facts.  But what I’ve noted from so many whites in South Africa and Zimbabwe is a general lack of compassion.  I don’t see enough interest in trying to understand why the African is the way he is.  All I hear is how our white culture and system is better than his.  Sure, the Africans never invented the wheel.  They didn’t need it.  With the mild African climate and an abundance of wildlife and edible plants, they didn’t have to struggle to survive the way Europeans have had to.  You are always implying that a society’s ‘worth’ depends on its development of technology.  Who is to say that music, art and family relationships aren’t just as important in measuring a culture’s development?  You are quick to find fault with the African and his culture instead of objectively saying, “Okay, given these circumstances and characteristics of the African and his culture, how can we effectively work together to achieve a productive society?”      

I said all this without showing anger and maintained my cool and then I hit them with a really low blow.  I’d seen a few Christian posters and artifacts around the house, so I said, “Most white people in southern Africa call themselves Christians.  I’d like to see them show a little more Christian understanding and charity.”  

That hit them right in their hymnals.  Their arrogant tone quieted down a bit, and Louden offered a mildly-worded, reasonable defense:  “It’s a lot easier for you to look at the situation objectively coming in as an outsider.  We have been dealing with this situation every day for most of our lives no naturally it’s an emotional issue for us.”

“You’re absolutely right,” I replied.  “I guess all I’m asking for is a small shift in attitude.  I certainly don’t expect you to say, ‘We must turn over a new leaf and kiss the Africans’ asses.’  Just a little more understanding and compassion.”  They acknowledged the truth in what I was saying, and the evening seemed to end on a positive note.  I doubt that anything I said that night will have much of an effect on them, but it did have an effect on me.  I feel now that I can better understand the whites’ problems without buying into their racist pettiness and lack of cultural sensitivity.  In the long run, it is they, the white minority in African societies that must adjust to the majority culture.  And, the Africans have much to learn from the white man about technology, medicine, good business practices, the rule of law, effective governing, and economic progress.  But it needs to be a two-way street.