ZIMBABWE: Festive Birth of a Nation

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A new vision for new hearts, and lots of problems after a long war

Africa's 51st independent state was born at a midnight ceremony that was almost like a love-in. Representatives of 96 nations, headed by Britain's Prince Charles, were among the 40,000 spectators* who jammed a football stadium in Salisbury (soon to be renamed Harare, after a famed tribal chief), as the Union Jack was lowered for the last time in what had been Rhodesia. In its place rose the multistriped banner of Zimbabwe. To honor the historic occasion, there were tribal dances and a parade that seemed to symbolize the peaceful end to seven years of civil war: white Rhodesian soldiers marched smartly into the stadium alongside fatigues-clad black guerrillas whom they had fought for so long. There was a brief moment of magic when Prime Minister Robert Mugabe lit an eternal flame to commemorate the 27,000 people of his new nation who had died during the war.

In a speech to the nation shortly before the ceremony, Mugabe once again vowed his government's commitment to peace and reconciliation. "Tomorrow we are born again," he said, "born again collectively as a nation of Zimbabweans. Our new mind must have a new vision and our hearts a new love and a new spirit that must unite and not divide." Some of his words were explicitly addressed to the country's 200,000 whites. "If yesterday I fought you as my enemy," he said, "today you have become a friend and ally with the same national interest." Mugabe graciously praised Lord Soames, the British governor who had ruled the country from the cease-fire through the elections and until independence, as "a great man, good friend and counselor."

The festive mood was marred by only a few minor incidents. Two people were killed and 27 wounded by a grenade thrown by youths in a township outside the capital; 234 inmates overpowered their jailers and escaped from Salisbury's Central Prison. Nonetheless, the majority of Zimbabweans, black or white, probably agreed with Soames' assessment that "this has been nothing less than a series of miracles. The greatest among them is that there is now the positive promise of rebuilding this country, with Mr. Mugabe encouraging everyone to help."

Just how the new government intends to shape the future of the war-torn nation remains unclear. Mugabe has announced few specific policies, and according to several Cabinet members, will probably not do so fully for another six months. But there is no doubt about his most urgent priorities: removing all racist institutions, reconstructing the country's devastated rural areas and redressing the present 10-to-1 ratio between white and black incomes.

The government is considering some partial nationalization programs, like reclaiming ownership of mineral lands but leasing the mining operations back to their present white managements. Also under study are plans to establish self-sufficient agricultural cooperatives on newly acquired land. But Mugabe has renounced the idea of sweeping nationalization and expropriations. "We have recognized that this is a capitalistic country," he declared last week, adding inscrutably that "you cannot nationalize the structure and hope to achieve the goals of socialism."