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Critically examine the view that the first Chimurenga war of 1896 and 1897 was a necessity to the people of Zimbabwe

Critically examine the view that the first Chimurenga war of 1896 and 1897 was a necessity to the people of Zimbabwe.

Answers

Lauri
The Chimurenga war of 1896 was a follow-up of the first resistance by the Ndebele against the British in 1893. The Ndebele under king Lobengula had been compelled to resist the British in 1893 because of the latter’s activities and treachery, in that the British had tricked the Ndebele king into signing a series of treaties, including the Rudd concession, which led to the loss of their land and independence. The British had also occupied Matebeleland, thereby ending the Ndebele dominance over their Shona subjects and had also incited the Shona to fight the Ndebele. The Ndebele Indunas thus provoked, had attempted to punish the Shona thereby attracting the wrath of the British in 1993, who ostensibly were defending the Shona, but in real sense were practicing a policy of divide and rule between the two communities. The Ndebele war of 1993 had ended in defeat for the Ndebele. Feeling bitter and more determined to resist, they engaged the British once again in 1896-1897, this time around with the support of their Shona neighbors , who had at last woken up to the reality that the British were not their friends.
The 1896-7 war is famously known as the Chimurenga resistance or war. It was the first united resistance against the British by the people of Zimbabwe. It was therefore important to the people of Zimbabwe in a number of ways.
It united the African communities in Zimbabwe against the British, thereby paving the way to organized nationalism in the struggle for independence.
It made the people of Zimbabwe realize the importance of uniting against a common enemy.
It woke the passive communities to to the reality that the British were foe and not friends.
It brought about the realization that the British had every intention of staying on a permanent basis when after their defeat, the Africans were pushed into infertile reserves and their best land occupied.
The Zimbabwe people realized that it would take more than faith to rid themselves of the intruders when the Mwari cult failed to protect their warriors against British bullets.
It also made the people of Zimbabwe realize that they would need to match their enemies in training and ammunition in order to put up sustainable armed resistance against them. This led to more advanced training and resistance in the struggle for independence.
It was the foundation of long term, united resistance that led to the independence of Zimbabwe during the second Chimurenga war of 1966-1979.
The war led to the unification of the Shona and Ndebele under company rule, establishing the basis for the formation of one nation, namely, modern day zimbabwe.
Lauri answered the question on March 18, 2018 at 14:36

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