The Landscape of Zimbabwe

Tucked in the southern part of the African continent is the landlocked country of Zimbabwe. It was previously called Southern Rhodesia (1911–64), Rhodesia (1964–79), or Zimbabwe Rhodesia (1979–80); the Rhodesia was a derivative of Cecil Rhodes whose arrival in the late 19th century marked the country’s integration into the British Overseas Empire. In the present, Zimbabwe is renowned for its idyllic landscape. Like its neighbors, it is also a popular destination because of its vast tracts of reserves, national parks, and safaris home to diverse wildlife. On the Zambezi River, on its border with Zambia, Victoria Falls, one of the world’s largest and most famous waterfalls, makes a drop. Who has not heard of Victoria Falls? But if there is something Zimbabwe is also renowned for, it would be its tumultuous political landscape and contemporary history.

Following its declaration of independence from the United Kingdom on November 11, 1965, it fell into a prolonged state of instability. A civil war soon ensued. This civil war lasted until 1980 when Zimbabwe finally held its first democratic elections. The civil war and the elections also saw the emergence of one of the most prominent names in Zimbabwe’s, and by extension, Africa’s political landscape: Robert Mugabe. The leader of the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), Mugabe was elected as the young nation’s first prime minister, a position he held until 1987 when he was elected as President. For nearly three decades, Mugabe monopolized the highest position in Zimbabwe. It was a tumultuous period that was characterized, among else, by a period of hyperinflation and widespread corruption and human rights abuses.

This dark but eventful period in Zimbabwe’s contemporary history marked by tyranny has been integrated into the works of many a writer, among them was NoViolet Bulawayo. Her critique of her home country’s troubled past was already palpable in her debut novel, We Need New Names. Published in 2013, it was a coming-of-age story with details of her nation’s troubled recent past astutely woven into its tapestry. It established Bulawayo as a rising literary voice. However, it would take her nearly a decade before she could finally produce a new work. Her long-awaited sophomore novel, Glory, was released in 2022, to an even greater fanfare. A deviation from her debut novel, her sophomore novel was a scathing examination of the heritage of Zimbabwe’s tumultuous political landscape.

“This war was as complicated thing, Mother of Destiny. If I don’t write this book then one day animals calling themselves the Real Liberators and True Patriots will call ugly names and then erase us from the story of the very country we sacrificed so much for because now that the war is over many will be perceived of the wrong ethnic group, the wrong clan, the wrong gender, the wrong clique, the wrong politics, the wrong whatever else they decide constitutes authentic Jidadaness. If I don’t write, who will I blame when I then wake up One day to find myself in the belly of a crocodile that calls itself History, that devours the stories of everyone else and goes on to speak for us.”

~ NoViolet Bulawayo, Glory

Bulawayo’s second novel is set in the kingdom of Jidada with a -da and another -da. It was no ordinary kingdom as Jidada was populated by various anthropomorphic animals. The story commenced with a political rally where The Old Horse, the country’s elderly leader, was warmly welcomed by the people (read: animals) of Jidada. The Old Horse was a prominent political figure who was in power for decades following the country’s successful campaign during the War of Liberation from the colonizers. Also referred to as His Excellency and Father of the Nation, The Old Horse was joined by his wife, Marvellous the Donkey, referred to as Dr. Sweet Mother with her “Gucci heels”. Over the course of the political rally, The Old Course shared several milestones of his administration, most of which focused on his roles in such achievements. He even commemorated the role he played during the Jidadan Liberation War.

However, the implications behind his flowery words were not lost on his audience. Sure, the crowd was comprised primarily of his supporters but thrown into the mix were some protesters. During the rally, The Old Horse’s speech was interrupted by a group of female protesters. Over his decades-long reign, the denizens of Jidada witnessed cruelty, violence, and even outright murder. Corruption and greed undermined all the institutions that were meant to ensure the welfare of Jidadans. There was a growing dichotomy between ordinary Jidadans and their leaders. The growing discontent of the Jidadans was palpable during the political rally. The veil of illusion that once made Jidadans believe in The Old Horse was now pierced. It was ironic that Jidada managed to successfully eradicate colonial rule but in its place was a tyrant and an authoritarian regime.

The ire of the Jidadans for the regime was exacerbated by the excessive lifestyle of Dr. Sweet Mother who, over the days following the rally, contemplated her plans of replacing her aging husband as president of Jidada. The Jidadans were tired of the regime and its corrupt ways but they were also not without hope. With the rising call for reform and the aspirations of the citizenry backing him up, Tuvius Shasha, the former Vice President spearheaded a military coup aided by the top brass of Jidada’s military. The coup resulted in the ouster of The Old Horse. Following his ouster, The Old Horse and his wife were put under house arrest and eventually went into exile.

With the country seemingly entering a period of peace, Destiny, a gentle female goat, returned to Jidada after years of being in exile. She fled her village of Lozikeyi when she was younger, leaving behind her family. As the story moved forward, it was revealed that the reason for her untimely departure was the political violence instigated by The Old Horse during the election of 2008. The Old Horse, with the support of his attack dog paramilitary police force The Defenders, suppressed opposition. The passage of time, however, has not dulled Destiny’s yearning for her family. She also wanted to reconnect with her history. Back in Lozikeyi, Destiny learned that her mother, Simiso, who spent a decade of her life looking for her daughter, went missing. After a prayer meeting at Simiso’s house, Destiny’s mother magically reappeared.

“Time veers, leaps backward. We trip on our own hopes, we teeter, hurtle into a red past we now know has been here all along, lurking like a crocodile. And before we can ask ourselves if what we’re seeing is really what we’re seeing—war is upon us. As it was upon us in the last election, just like it was upon us in the one before that, as it was upon us in the election prior to that, yes, tholukuthi as it has always been upon us. There is the all-too-familiar thwack-smash of hard weapon on flesh, gunshots, screams.”

~ NoViolet Bulawayo, Glory

Now at the helm of Jidada, Tuvy announced that Jidada will finally hold its first democratic elections. For his part, Tuvy campaigned for the idea of a New Dispensation. New Dispensation held the promise that Jidadans would thrive. The irony is not lost as dispensation literally means exemption from the usual requirement. Will organic change really prosper or will corruption assume a new face? As can be expected, the flowery promises politicians made during the election campaign did not materialize. The change everyone was hoping for did not happen. Corruption, by now endemic, again takes root. The situation of Jidada did not improve, with the economy further dipping into new lows. The discontent amongst the denizens, weary of dirty politics, was again percolating, waiting to implode.

Through Destiny’s unflinching gaze, the readers witness how the hopes of a nation were once again betrayed. Poverty was rampant. State infrastructure was falling into a state of disrepair. The educational system and basic amenities were abysmal. It was palpable that the story of Jidada was an allegory of Bulawayo’s home country’s recent struggles. The novel was built around the military coup of 2017, a seminal event that triggered Bulawayo’s return to her country. In a way, Destiny was her conduit. Upon her return, what Bulawayo witnessed was pandemonium as the hopes of the nation were undone by a sham election in the guise of being the first democratic election. Bulawayo originally planned to write a nonfiction book based on the 2017 coup but, in the end, she settled for a political satire.

Beyond Destiny, the book was populated by anthropomorphized characters who were fleshed out of real-life figures. The Old Horse was a representation of Robert Mugabe while Dr. Sweet Mother was Grace Ntombizodwa Mugabe, the former first lady. Tuvy, on the other hand, was inspired by the former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The ouster of Mnangagwa was the primary driver for the military coup that led to Mugabe’s ouster in 2017. Interestingly, Mnangagwa’s nickname, Ngwena, is a Nguni surname which means crocodile. His faction of war veterans would be referred to as Team Lacoste. With the perpetuity of corruption, the nickname was, ironically, fitting.

In laying out the groundwork for Zimbabwe’s destiny, Glory also examined the different factors that led to the country’s current state. One such factor was the country’s colonial history. While it was able to obtain its independence from its colonizers, Zimbabwe faced similar struggles that other former colonies faced. There was a lack of overall direction and a willful leader who would steer the country to glory. Post-colonial struggles abounded, exacerbated by corruption and the insatiable greed for money and power. These elements threatened the stability the young nations and its denizens were aspiring for. Other details of Zimbabwe’s post-colonial history were referenced in the story, including the Gukurahundi genocide of 1982 to 1987 and the military suppression of the opposition following the 2008 elections.

“She’d learn too that not only were they breathing fiascoes with no love or respect whatsoever for the nation they purported to serve, yes, tholukuthi toads with no leadership, no ethics, no principles, no sense of justice, no compassion, no discipline, no honesty, no idea of what real service to the nation looked like, but they were also no better than the very oppressors they’d replaced.”

~ NoViolet Bulawayo, Glory

While the novel was deeply rooted in Zimbabwe’s contemporary history, understanding it is not required in appreciating the novel. The plethora of subjects that were tackled in the novel resonates on a global scale. The plight of former colonies was vividly captured by the story. Glory evocatively captured how former colonies struggled to establish stability after years of colonial rule. They have become vulnerable to despotic rule – this is prevalent among African nations – and authoritarian regimes. Corruption of public funds and plunder of the country’s resources are also prevalent. Bulawayo’s stroke of brilliance lies in how she managed to, through the story of Jidada, indict leaders beyond the fictional kingdom for their oppression of the people they were supposed to serve.

As much as the novel was a story of the past, it was also a story of the present, of the modern world. With the ubiquitous quality of the Internet, information and news traveled across the world quicker than it had been. In one section, the Jidadans watched a video of an American policeman killing a Black man. There was also an entire section of the novel comprised primarily of Twits, highlighting how activism has shifted to social media spaces. But clicktivism, particularly from those who liberally share their opinions despite being disconnected from the actual events, also reeked of hypocrisy. Clicktivism is convenient but several clicktivists only criticize for clout, to satisfy their own needs. This new form of activism had very little impact. Nods to folklore rendered the story a distinct texture.

In her sophomore novel, Bulawayo, born Elizabeth Zandile Tshele, worked from strength to strength. Shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize, Glory is an ambitious undertaking that sheds light on Zimbabwe’s recent troubled past, captured through the stories of a couple of animals representing important figures in the country’s social and political landscape. Bulawayo captured the plight of a country reeling from the adverse impact of colonization and tyrannical rule, subjects that resonate well beyond the borders of Jidada. With animals as primary characters, the novel is shrouded in a layer of quirkiness. But while they were animal in form, they were very much human. They tweeted and engaged in political discourses, but most important of all, they were brimming with hope. Indeed, the novel concluded with a hopeful message.

“Don’t even be fooled by how things may appear right now — I mean the terrible roads that kill people, the potholes, the broken sewer systems, the decrepit hospitals, the decrepit schools, the decrepit industrial sector, the decrepit rail system, or should I say a generally decrepit infrastructure. Then of course there’s the poor standard of living, the millions who’ve crossed and still cross borders in search of better, the misery and such things that may look depressing at first glance, that’ll make you think you’re maybe looking at a ruin. All these things happen to countries, it’s a fact of countryness, but rest assured we were in top form once. Plus, the point is not to judge a book by its cover. Because what remains is that Jidada is still a jewel, Africa’s jewel. And that right there is the Father of the Nation’s God-given legacy, reigning over a real gem. And moreover, he liberated and has protected that jewel so that Jidada will never be a colony again!”

~ NoViolet Bulawayo, Glory
Book Specs

Author: NoViolet Bulawayo
Publisher: Viking
Publishing Date: 2022
Number of Pages: 400
Genre: Satire, Political

Synopsis

Glory follows the fall of the Old Horse, the long-serving leader of a fictional country, and the drama that follows for a rumbustious nation of animals. Inspired by the unexpected ouster by coup in November 2017 of Robert G. Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s president of nearly four decades, Glory shows a country’s imploding, narrated by a chorus of anima voices that unveil the ruthlessness required to uphold the illusion of absolute power and the imagination to overthrow it completely.

By immersing readers in the lives of a population in upheaval, NoViolet Bulawayo reveals the dazzling life force and irrepressible wit that lie barely concealed beneath the surface of seemingly bleak circumstances. At the center of this is Destiny, who returns to Judada from exile to witness revolution – and to recount the unofficial history of the females who have quietly pulled the strings in this country.

Glory was written in a time of global clamor, with resistance movements across the world challenging different forms of oppression. Here Bulawayo has crystallized a turning point in history with the texture and nuance that only the greatest fiction can.

About the Author

To learn more about NoViolet Bulawayo, born Elizabeth Zandile Tshele, click here.