Zimbabwe: Signs of Change

From Salisbury to Harare

Since 1890 the capital has been called Salisbury, after Robert Cecil, the 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, the British Prime Minister of the day. But as Zimbabwe, which used to be Rhodesia, marked the second anniversary of its independence from Britain, Prime Minister Robert Mugabe gave his capital a new name, Harare, after a Shona chief who ruled the region in the 19th century. Said Mugabe: "Names that are reminders of the colonial past are being changed to new names befitting the culture of the people."

The former guerrilla leader issued a list of 32 cities, towns, streets and landmarks that would receive new names. In addition, a special Cabinet committee has recommended up to 700 more name changes. According to these proposals, the capital's Rhodes Avenue, named for Rhodesia's founder, Cecil Rhodes, will become Marshal Tito Avenue. Victoria Street, named for Queen Victoria, will be Karl Marx Street. Stanley Avenue, honoring British Explorer Henry Morton Stanley, will be Vladimir Lenin Avenue.

Reaction among the country's remaining 190,000 whites, who make up less than 3% of the population, ranged from outrage to resignation. "These are insults to our history and blows to our pride," protested a white businessman. "And I'm not sure either whether Karl Marx Street, Harare, is an address that will attract much overseas business."