'There is no intention on our part to use our majority to victimise the
minority. We will ensure there is a place for everyone in this country...Let us
deepen our sense of belonging and engender a common interest that knows no
race, colour or creed.'[1]Robert Mugabe
After signing the ceasefire agreement, Mugabe returned to
Zimbabwe and was welcomed like a national hero. Banners were raised on his
arrival, some with his image, others bearing pictures of land mines, rocket
grenades and many more with the Kalashnikov rifle (Mugabe's preferred symbol of
the election that was banned by the British).[2] President
of Mozambique, Samora Machel, warned Mugabe not to enforce hardline Marxism and
as a result, any references to Marxism or revolution were removed from Mugabe's
manifesto.[3]
This was the first obvious sign of Mugabe's transformation from guerrilla
revolutionary to conventional leader, although as will be discussed, this
stable and calm form of Mugabe's leadership was to be short lived.
Just prior to the election that was set for 1980, the
Zanu-PF platform read:
Zanu
wishes to give the fullest assurance to the white community, the asian and
coloured [mixed race] communities that a Zanu government can never in principle
or in social or government practice discriminate against them. Racism, whether
practised by whites or blacks is anathema to the humanitarian philosophy of
Zanu. It is as primitive a dogma as tribalism or regionalism. Zimbabwe cannot
be a country of blacks. It is and should remain our country, all of us
together.[4]
In obvious juxtaposition to his earlier sentiments Mugabe
now professed a belief in unity and reconciliation. An election was set for
1980 and with Nkomo agreeing to compromise with the whites, Mugabe announced Zanu
would stand on its own, without Nkomo.[5] On
the morning of the 4th March 1980 the election results were
announced. Mugabe had successfully secured 57 of the 80 black seats in
parliament, meaning he had secured an enormous 63% of the national vote.[6]
Proving he had changed from the Marxist rebel leader, Mugabe reassured the
population that there was no need to panic. Mugabe spoke of stability, national
unity and law and order. Mugabe openly pledged that private property would be
protected.[7]
This new 'national hero' spoke of forgiving the past and promised to 'draw a
line through the past'[8] in
order to facilitate reconciliation. In hindsight it may appear these statements
were overt political hot air said to calm the masses following the election,
but at the time people genuinely believed in him and had hope for Zimbabwe.
Shortly before midnight on the 17 April 1980 Mugabe was
sworn in as prime minister. Following the announcement of the election Mugabe
wasted no time in inviting the former white leader, Ian Smith, to his house to
exchange views. This act in itself is in contrast to the revolutionary leader
who defied white rule. Smith recalled in his memoirs:
(Mugabe)
behaved like a balanced, civilised, Westerner, the antithesis of the communist
gangster I had expected. If this was a true picture, then there could be hope
instead of despair.[9]
Unfortunately this honeymoon period did not last long. A
ruthless and erratic power hungry despot soon emerged.