The road to independence in Zimbabwe was full of sacrifice and hope. People dreamed of a fair, prosperous, and free society. In 1980, the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), led by Robert Mugabe, took control. They promised to bring change and make life better for everyone. But, their rule has been troubled by claims of corruption, leading to economic problems, a big difference from the Rhodesian regime before them.

During the Rhodesian era, under Ian Smith, Zimbabwe, then called Southern Rhodesia, saw strong economic growth. The government worked on building infrastructure, mining, and farming, which were key parts of the economy. The Rhodesian Dollar was strong even though the country faced international sanctions because of its Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) in 1965. However, the wealth during this time was mostly in the hands of the white minority, causing large economic gaps.

When Zimbabwe gained independence, the ZANU-PF government, driven by socialist ideas, promised to share wealth more fairly and help the black majority. Unfortunately, these promises have mostly not been met, with corruption being the main problem. Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index has often ranked Zimbabwe very low, showing how widespread corruption is.

One big example is the Marange diamond fields scandal, where billions of dollars of revenue went missing. Such cases of corruption have hurt the economy, causing hyperinflation, the devaluation of the Zimbabwean dollar, and eventually, the country had to start using the US dollar. These issues have directly affected people, leading to widespread poverty, unemployment, and social problems.

Unlike the Rhodesian era, which had a strong industrial base, ZANU-PF’s rule has seen a decline in industries. The manufacturing sector, including textiles, steel, and food processing, has suffered a lot, with many factories closing and job opportunities disappearing. The farming sector has also been hit by poorly planned land reforms, leading to a drop in productivity. Zimbabwe, once known as a breadbasket, has become a basket case.

However, comparing ZANU-PF and the Rhodesian regime is not just about the economy. The Rhodesian era was marked by racial discrimination and political repression, creating a divided society. On the other hand, despite its many problems, ZANU-PF has made progress in education and healthcare, and people now have political freedoms that were not there during the Rhodesian era.

In conclusion, while the Rhodesian regime brought economic stability, it did so at the cost of racial inequality and political repression. The ZANU-PF regime, with its promise of fairness and prosperity, has instead been marked by corruption and economic decline. Zimbabwe’s future lies in learning from the past: taking the economic strengths of the Rhodesian era without its social divides, and avoiding the corruption that has hurt the ZANU-PF era. This way, Zimbabwe can create a prosperous and fair society for all.