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Cry Zimbabwe
This book deals with Zimbabwe's independence, and the elections crooked in ZANU-PF's favour in 1980 and at every election since. It also covers such topics as South Africa's destabilization and genocide by Mugabe's 5-Brigade in Matabeleland.
496 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 26, 2012
Peter Stiff's "Cry Zimbabwe" covers the post-Bush War period of 1980-2000 and discusses a variety of internal and external affairs that occurred in the country over that period, including the farm invasion by "war veterans", 5-Brigade's rampage against the Ndebele, and the economic and political machinations of Mugabe and ZANU-PF to maintain power and promote their agenda.
The book is generally well written in a semi-popular, semi-academic style that should appeal to most without leaving those with a more academic mindset wanting more. I personally did not find it inordinately hard to read and it was rarely unentertaining. The one area functionally, that the book does suffer in though is typos and continuity. The book has a number of minor (and generally unconfusing) typos, but its disappointing to see nonetheless. The more important issue was that sometimes it was hard to follow things given the author's tendency to skip around a bit and the book could have used a bit more editing for clarity's sake.
The book is also obviously anti-Mugabe/ZANU-PF, but with this in mind it gives a good account of the atrocities and bunglings of the regime and mind-boggling depredations that it's committed against its own population -black and white. Given that the author is an ex-Rhodesian he is naturally a bit light on the ex-Rhodies involved with post-independence attempts to destabilize the country, but again a healthy skepticism and an understanding of the bias goes a long way with any book.
Personally the most interesting section was the first third of the book, which was ,surprisingly, dedicated to Operation Barnacle/D40 - South Africa's sponsorship of Rhodesian and ZIPRA elements to sabotage and sow discord in the early 1980's. This undoubtedly will make for a good precursor to reading Mr. Stiff's "Warfare by Other Means" which is devoted solely to South African covert operations of this type domestically during the 1980's.
Overall, this book is an interesting look at the situation in Zimbabwe from outside the usual academic/journalistic point of view, and given its depth and relatively inexpensive cost, it's worth a read.
The book is generally well written in a semi-popular, semi-academic style that should appeal to most without leaving those with a more academic mindset wanting more. I personally did not find it inordinately hard to read and it was rarely unentertaining. The one area functionally, that the book does suffer in though is typos and continuity. The book has a number of minor (and generally unconfusing) typos, but its disappointing to see nonetheless. The more important issue was that sometimes it was hard to follow things given the author's tendency to skip around a bit and the book could have used a bit more editing for clarity's sake.
The book is also obviously anti-Mugabe/ZANU-PF, but with this in mind it gives a good account of the atrocities and bunglings of the regime and mind-boggling depredations that it's committed against its own population -black and white. Given that the author is an ex-Rhodesian he is naturally a bit light on the ex-Rhodies involved with post-independence attempts to destabilize the country, but again a healthy skepticism and an understanding of the bias goes a long way with any book.
Personally the most interesting section was the first third of the book, which was ,surprisingly, dedicated to Operation Barnacle/D40 - South Africa's sponsorship of Rhodesian and ZIPRA elements to sabotage and sow discord in the early 1980's. This undoubtedly will make for a good precursor to reading Mr. Stiff's "Warfare by Other Means" which is devoted solely to South African covert operations of this type domestically during the 1980's.
Overall, this book is an interesting look at the situation in Zimbabwe from outside the usual academic/journalistic point of view, and given its depth and relatively inexpensive cost, it's worth a read.
April 4, 2011
This book is well researched and it is very interesting to notice how the world, who were behind Mugabe, did nothing to stop the destruction of this, once the best country in the world.
For me very interesting as many background information at that time was unavailable to us.
An other failed country in Africa.
With so much heartbreaks, tortures and murders, just to stay in power.
Everyone is effected, including the wildlife. Except the top, who are living the high life.
For me very interesting as many background information at that time was unavailable to us.
An other failed country in Africa.
With so much heartbreaks, tortures and murders, just to stay in power.
Everyone is effected, including the wildlife. Except the top, who are living the high life.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews