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Mugabe Removes Rhodes
26 February 2017
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“We are not the ones who killed him. We don’t know where he died in South Africa but he demanded that he be buried here…”

Cecil John Rhodes’ grave

President Robert Mugabe has presided over the removing of the late Cecil John Rhodes’ name from the Rhodes Preparatory School (Reps) in Matobo District.

The school which was named after Cecil John Rhodes, who led the colonilisation of Zimbabwe and is buried at the Matobos Hills, has been changed to Matopos Junior School.

The name was changed at the instigation of the authorities and the Schools Development Committee in honour of President Mugabe, whose 93rd birthday celebrations were held at the school yesterday.

This was announced to President Mugabe by Zanu-PF National Youth League Commissar, Innocent Hamandishe who was the director of ceremonies at the event.

“Your Excellency, this school at which we are holding your birthday is called Rhodes Preparatory School. However, the school authorities and the SDC said since you are holding your birthday party here, you can’t hold it with this school still depicting Rhodes’ colonial legacy. They said the school’s name has been changed to Matopos Junior School in your recognition President,” said Hamandishe.

Commenting on the school’s name change in his address to delegates, President Mugabe said he was surprised that the school was still named after Cecil John Rhodes.

“Where is Rhodes’ ghost or spirit coming from? If he is today, protrude his head from the grave saying I am arising; I am not going to order the boys to fire one bullet or use an AK. I was going to order them to use a machine gun to crush that head like that of a snake called a cobra,” said President Mugabe amid laughter.

He said Rhodes was buried at the Matobo Hills at the behest of colonialists who respected what he had written in his will before he died in South Africa.

“We are not the ones who killed him. We don’t know where he died in South Africa but he demanded that he be buried here. The colonialists here in Zimbabwe listened to his wish which was written in his will and buried him here. It was done by the colonisers, not us,” he said.

Last week during a preparatory meeting for the birthday bash, the Minister of Rural Development, Promotion and Preservation of National Culture and Heritage who is also Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Matabeleland South, Abednego Ncube said the Government was working on a number of initiatives to capture the legacy of President Mugabe and many other heroes.

“We’re looking at institutions like Reps to change because Rhodes is not our hero. He was an oppressor so I think there was an oversight on the aspect of institutions like this school which should be changed,” said Ncube.

“We’ll advise them to correct this. A school must actually be named after our heroes. We have many heroes in Zimbabwe like President Mugabe, the late Dr Joshua Nkomo and many other heroes of this country.” -state media

0 Replies to “Mugabe Removes Rhodes”

  1. These guys forget that it’s a private School they are talking about. They didn’t contribute a penny into building that school and typical of ZANOIDS they shamelessly want to change a name of a school that somebody else built. They should learn to put their mouths where their money is.

  2. Nonsense. The Tea-pot shaped boundary of the country was drawn by whites at the Berlin conference. That is not Zimbabwe; its Rhodesia. Stop daydreaming!!

  3. This is just cheap politics; the nation has millions who are out of work and starving, these are the big issues the nation should be dealing with and not how to fight imaginary foes of whites who died years ago!

  4. Surprisingly all Bob does is perfectly English. From clothing talking with a cockney accent to the love of ennglish food. He barely finishes a conversation without an english phrase.
    All around state house including his new residence. Blue roof. English name. Borrowdale english name. Zidofo rake aka drug dealer went to a school with english name. Now spending our tax money on english girls. Iye Mugabe has two english names. Robert Gabriel. But when we do the same its counter revolutionary.

  5. Does that bring 2,2 million promised jobs? Failure in leadership is exhibited when those in power fail to address bread & butter issues & direct efforts to immaterial issues.I’m an African myself but people like Mugabe tarnish African leadership.We cannot think beyond tomorrow.What matters is my close family & my entourage.Greedy & selfishness is whats in the mind as if you live forever.Your kids will pay for this.