Our Votes, Our Guns: Robert Mugabe And The Tragedy Of Zimbabwe

by Martin Meredith

Robert Mugabe came to power in 1980 after a long civil war in Rhodesia. The white minority government had become an international outcast in refusing to give in to the inevitability of black majority rule. Finally the defiant white prime minister Ian Smith was forced to step down and Mugabe was elected president of a country now called Zimbabwe. Initially hopes were high that he had the intelligence, political savvy and idealistic vision to help repair the damage done by colonialism and the bitter civil war, and to lead his country's economic and social development. He was admired throughout the world as one of the leaders of the emerging nations and as a model for a good transition from colonial leadership. But month by month, year by year, Mugabe became increasingly autocratic; his methods increasingly violent. In recent years he has unleashed a reign of terror and corruption in his country. Like the Congo, Angola, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Liberia, Zimbabwe has been on a steady slide to disaster. What happened in Zimbabwe? Now for the first time the whole story is told in detail by an expert. It is a riveting and tragic political story, a morality tale, and an essential text for understanding today's Africa.

Genres: Africa, Nonfiction, History, Zimbabwe, Politics

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Martin Meredith is a historian, journalist and biographer, and author of many acclaimed books on Africa.

Meredith first worked as a foreign correspondent in Africa for the Observer and Sunday Times, then as a research fellow at St Antony’s College, Oxford. Residing near Oxford, he is now an independent commentator and author.

Meredith’s writing has been described as authoritative and well-documented, despite the pessimism inherent in his subject matter.

He is the author of Diamonds, Gold and War, Mugabe: Power, Plunder – which sold over 15 000 copies in South Africa, and The Struggle for Zimbabwe’s Future, The State of Africa and Nelson Mandela: A Biography, among many others.

His most recent book is Born in Africa, published by Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Reviews

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

A totally accessible scholarly book, Martin Meredith skillfully weaves together Mugabe's biography with the recent history of Zimbabwe. Meredith's access to some of his insiders and dissidents is unparalleled. It's an amazing look at the development of a monster, and shows how the lust for power can destroy everything.

[Billy Jack Blankenship · Rating 4 out of 5]

Commentary on the current situation in Zimbabwe, Africa. Near to my heart.

[Robbie Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good introduction to Mugabe and why Zimbabwe is in such turmoil today. Very readable.

[Emerson Grossmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this in 2002 when The East African newspaper printed excerpts from the book in its weekend edition. I was enthralled with it, bought the hardcover, and I will have to read it again--I like Martin Meredith's writing anyways and have read some of his other books. I have read as many books as I could on Rhodesia and Zimbabwe.

[Colin Freebury · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll give this book three stars, but to say that 'I liked it' would incorrect. This is another depressing account of an African dictator betraying the promise of independence and leading a regime of corruption and violence, spiraling inevitably into tribal conflict, bankruptcy and chaos. The book is well researched and well written; the story it tells is hateful.

[Dhiraj Sharma Nyaupane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A succinct history of Zimbabwe's war, independence, and post-independence descent into autocracy.

[Charlie Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this my sophomore year of HS; changed my life. Not because the content itself was profound, but because I discovered a side of the world I did not know existed. Colonialism, nationalism; all concepts that set my curiosity about the world on fire.

[Laini · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book because I wanted to learn something, but Meredith's style, instead of being gripping, was merely dull.

I simply couldn't stay interested, despite the topic.

[Cory Phuong · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won't claim to know enough about the subject to rate this book based on accuracy. My research is just beginning. However, it is a very gripping biography that held my interest.