Zimbabwe celebrates 40 years of independence from British rule amid mixed feelings. Some believe the country has come of age while others accuse former liberators of turning into oppressors.

Tens of thousands of people traditionally flock to independence day festivities around the country on April 18 to honour the struggle that freed Zimbabwe from colonial rule in 1980. At the main ceremony, the so-called eternal flame of independence is lit each year for good wishes for the nation’s future.

This year, because of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, Zimbabwe has cancelled what would have been its 40th celebration. The coronavirus crisis aside, a growing number of Zimbabweans don’t believe they have that much to celebrate on the day.

Early days

The majority of Zimbabweans had high hopes when their country declared independence from the British, who ruled Zimbabwe, then called Rhodesia, from 1890 to 1979.

The early years of independence were positive, seeing a vibrant economy, political tolerance, participatory democracy, justice, peace and reconciliation.

Under the early rule of Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s first prime minister and a liberation hero who would later become its long-running president, the country build an excellent education and health-care system that were the envy of the continent.

Its fertile lands were called the breadbasket of Africa.

Distressed economy and hopelessness among citizens

But over the decades, this has drastically changed.

Zimbabwe’s economy is now run-down, its citizens struggling to make ends meet, despite the country having abundant natural resources including gold, diamonds and iron ore.

“There has not been a sense of agency by the government to rectify certain errors. You cannot talk about independence that does not go beyond a national anthem and flag,” political analyst Alexander Rusero told DW.

“There are no equal opportunities in accessing national resources. For someone waking up every day without fuel, electricity, water and the basics, the independence gimmick becomes meaningless,” Rusero said.

But the ruling ZANU PF party, which has been in power for the past 40 years, believes freedom from white minority rule is reason enough to celebrate.

Crisis of generations

A conflict of generations has emerged over the past 40 years.

Zimbabwe’s liberation war heroes, like elsewhere on the continent, often have an entrenched sense of entitlement that has led to an authoritarian political culture, critics say.

On the other hand, the post-liberation generation feel Zimbabwe’s development is being hindered by an older generation clinging to power in the same way that the colonizers did.

Emmerson Mnangagwa, who succeeded Mugabe as President in 2018, is also a veteran of Zimbabwe’s liberation guerrilla war. War veterans also hold key positions in the army, the police, the air force, key government institutions and the ruling party.

“You have a crisis of the older generation who feel a form of superiority and heroism about what they did to emancipate the country,” political analyst Rusero said. “You have someone who was born in 1980 and has turned 40 with all the expectations of modern life but their dreams are being failed.”

The country’s main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa tweeted that Zimbabwe’s 40th independence day celebrates a “shattered” dream.

“Life begins at 40. On 18 April Zimbabwe turns 40. It’s a milestone with a dream shattered by the hurt and pain from tyranny, violence, corruption and stolen elections,” main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa said in a tweet.

Looking ahead

Reconciliation and addressing past hurts and injustices could help Zimbabwe move forward and achieve dreams of the younger generations.

“The country needs to heal and enforce unity. There is a lot of polarization that has worked against nationhood. There is need to think hard about future generations and put away selfishness,” said 30-year-old digital content creator Alexander Gusha in Harare.

“The liberation struggle was anchored on the fight for free, fair and credible elections. A generation of young techno-savvy people can transform the development of the nation,” said political activist Ostallos Siziba, youth secretary for the main opposition party, told DW in Harare.

“We do appreciate the role those who liberated us played, but one cannot be a hero in two struggles.”