Philip Barclay lived and worked as a diplomat and journalist in Zimbabwe during 2007-2009 – one of the few permitted Western observers of events on the ground. In this electrifying first-hand account we witness the key events that mark the decline of this once prosperous and stable nation.
In early 2007, The Movement for Democratic Change (led by Morgan Tsvangiari) holds large rallies, leaving Tsvangiari severely beaten and activists killed and arrested. Philip Barclay attends the trials of the MDC activists while campaigns for the next election begin to take shape, even though both parties are divided.
Although it looks certain that President Robert Mugabe will win the next election in March 2008, given that he controls all state media, as Philip travels around the country there is a sense of hope and excitement at the prospect of change. On polling day it becomes immediately obvious that the MDC has won.
The following months see a widespread outbreak of violence; reports come in of rape, murder and mass evictions as the military and party militia’s assault and intimidate the supporters of the MDC. Mugabe is not ready to stand down. Philip witnesses a bomb site where activists are burned alive and interviews rape victims and members of illegal refugee camps. Philip himself is stopped and threatened by a ZANU-PF militia. By July 2008 the country has fallen apart. Hyperinflation ensues, utilities fail and the worst Cholera epidemic in recent world history hits a starving population.
A unity agreement is eventually signed in early 2009, but is this really a new dawn for Zimbabwe?
Concise, fluent, imaginative and authoritative, Zimbabwe gets to the terrifying core of a country systematically destroyed by its own government, and asks important questions about what the future may hold.
In early 2007, The Movement for Democratic Change (led by Morgan Tsvangiari) holds large rallies, leaving Tsvangiari severely beaten and activists killed and arrested. Philip Barclay attends the trials of the MDC activists while campaigns for the next election begin to take shape, even though both parties are divided.
Although it looks certain that President Robert Mugabe will win the next election in March 2008, given that he controls all state media, as Philip travels around the country there is a sense of hope and excitement at the prospect of change. On polling day it becomes immediately obvious that the MDC has won.
The following months see a widespread outbreak of violence; reports come in of rape, murder and mass evictions as the military and party militia’s assault and intimidate the supporters of the MDC. Mugabe is not ready to stand down. Philip witnesses a bomb site where activists are burned alive and interviews rape victims and members of illegal refugee camps. Philip himself is stopped and threatened by a ZANU-PF militia. By July 2008 the country has fallen apart. Hyperinflation ensues, utilities fail and the worst Cholera epidemic in recent world history hits a starving population.
A unity agreement is eventually signed in early 2009, but is this really a new dawn for Zimbabwe?
Concise, fluent, imaginative and authoritative, Zimbabwe gets to the terrifying core of a country systematically destroyed by its own government, and asks important questions about what the future may hold.
