admin
Gibson Mhaka, Zimpapers Politics Hub
IN The Wretched of the Earth, Frantz Fanon, one of the most influential thinkers of the second half of the 20th century, argues, “Imperialism leaves behind germs of rot which we must clinically detect and remove from our land and from our minds as well.”
This powerful and enduring quote, presenting a psychological analysis and critique of the savagery and violence of colonialism on the individual, the community, and the nation, could not be timelier, particularly as Zimbabwe reflects on its journey since independence.
In essence, Fanon argues that true liberation requires not only political independence and the removal of colonial powers, but also a deep and critical examination of the lasting damage colonialism has inflicted on a nation’s society, culture, and the very minds of its people.
It’s a call for a comprehensive process of decolonisation that addresses both the material and the psychological realms.
Fanon also believed liberation is not simply a change in who holds power, but rather a process that demands the creation of “new men”. This process involves actively dismantling colonial structures, not only externally but also internally.
The oppressed need to cultivate a new self-conception, freed from the imposition of the oppressors’ worldview.
This is the core of his approach: A holistic liberation, both psychological and material.
Here in Zimbabwe, as the nation celebrates its 45th year of independence, Fanon’s words remain a potent reminder of the ongoing work required to fully overcome the legacies of imperialism, not only in the hearts and minds of its people but also in its physical landscape.
One significant aspect of this is the renaming of places and infrastructure.
This deliberate act seeks to reverse the colonial legacy, which included racial discrimination in accessing resources and services, and is a necessary step if true independence, in line with Fanon’s vision of psychological liberation, is to be realised.
However, those colonial-era names on the map, on buildings — they were constant, everyday reminders of that past. They subtly reinforced the old power dynamics and the colonisers’ worldview.
By changing them to reflect Zimbabwean history, culture, and heroes, the nation is actively engaging in that “deep and critical examination of the lasting damage colonialism has inflicted” and working to reshape “the very minds of its people.”
This renaming process is a concrete action in cultivating that “new self-conception” Fanon envisioned for the formerly oppressed.
It’s about creating a landscape that truly reflects a Zimbabwean identity, free from those lingering impositions of the colonial era.
It’s a material change — the names themselves — that have a psychological impact, contributing to that “holistic liberation, both psychological and material” that Fanon advocated for.
Indeed, the renaming of places in Zimbabwe after independence in 1980 can be understood as a significant aspect of this decolonial practice.
It served to assert new sovereign identities and erase reminders of the colonial era. The government of newly independent Zimbabwe undertook a renaming initiative to restore the pre-colonial names of many places or to honour African liberation heroes and local cultures.
In November 2017 Government renamed all army barracks after the country’s national heroes. The changes were made in line with Section 89 of the Defence Act (Chapter: 02). King George VI Barracks and Air Force Headquarters is now known as the Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks while the Brady Barracks in Bulawayo is now called Mzilikazi Barracks.
Cranborne cantonment and old Cranborne cantonment are now known as Charles Gumbo and Kaguvi Barracks respectively. Karuyana Barracks has changed to Chitekedza Barracks, and 3 Brigade has been renamed to Herbert Chitepo Barracks.
Chipinga cantonment is now known as William Ndangana Barracks,while 4 Brigade Barracks has changed to Gava Musungwa Zvinavashe Barracks. Second Battalion has changed to Masvingo Barracks and Gutu Barracks is now referred to as Chinomukutu Barracks.
Andrew Louw School is now called Sengwe Barracks while Stamford Dzivarasekwa has been renamed Dzivarasekwa Barracks. Inkomo Camp has changed to Inkomo Barracks and Llewellin Barracks is now called Lookout Masuku Barracks.
The Zimbabwe Military Academy in Gweru was renamed Solomon Mujuru Barracks while the Umtali cantonment is now known as the Charles Dauramanzi Barracks.
Inkomo Camp (Mounted regiment) is now called Amoth Norbert Chingombe Barracks and Battalion Battle School Headquarters and Battalion Battle Training Area are now called the Rekayi Tangwena Barracks. Flyde Air Force Base is now called Jason Ziyapapa Moyo Air Force Base while the Royal Rhodesian Thornhill Air Force Base has changed to Josiah Tungamirai Air Force Base.
The Government recognised that it was an embarrassing misnomer for a nation like ours, which endured a protracted and arduous liberation struggle, to still have symbols of that hard-won valor bearing the names of icons from the oppressive era we fought against.
Just consider that the headquarters of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces was named after a former British king, Albert Fredricks George.
It was known as King George VI Barracks, or KG VI Barracks for short.
Some of our distinguished liberation war heroes — Rex Nhongo, Vitalis Zvinavashe, Perrance Shiri, Josiah Tungamirai, and Dr Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga — operated from that very military installation that was named in honour of an individual who symbolised the abhorrent system they bravely fought and ultimately defeated in 1980.
During his address in December 2017, when officially renaming King George VI Barracks to Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks, President Mnangagwa stated that the renaming of institutions and places after the country’s national heroes is a way of exorcising the ghost of colonialism and preserving Zimbabwe’s history.
“By doing so, we rid ourselves of the colonial mentality which regards all that is associated with Europe and the West with high esteem while placing a low opinion on our own value systems,” he said then.
“The renaming of our institutions after some of these leading African military strategists goes a long way towards preserving the nation’s history that we bequeath to future generations.”
In November 2019, the Government also renamed several major roads in Harare and Bulawayo.
In Harare, Enterprise Road was renamed Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Road, Selous Avenue became John Landa Nkomo Avenue, Cameron Street is now Joseph Msika Street, and Kirkman Drive was changed to Solomon Mujuru Drive.
Livingstone Avenue was renamed Oliver Tambo Avenue, Charter Road is now Fidel Castro Road, and Fife Avenue is now Leonid Brezhnev Avenue.
In Bulawayo, the Cabinet approved the renaming of Sixth Avenue to Emmerson Dambuzo Mnangagwa Way, Ninth Avenue to Simon Muzenda Avenue, and 12th Avenue to Joseph Msika Avenue. Additionally, Fourth Avenue up to King George was renamed John Landa Nkomo Avenue, Fifth Avenue became Maria Msika Avenue, and Nikita Mangena Avenue retained its name.
In 2020, the Government also undertook a renaming of several public buildings.
The New Government Composite Office Building was renamed the Mgandane Dlodlo Building. The Immigration Building now bears the name Chingaira Makoni Building, while the Central Registry Building is now known as the Muchecheterwa Chiwashira Building.
Ambassador House was renamed Queen Lozikeyi House, and the Quality International Hotel is now the Chinengundu Mashayamombe House.
Furthermore, the Education Services Centre (Mt. Pleasant) was redesignated as the Mtshane Khumalo Complex, and Defence House is now known as Hashim Mbita House.
Thomlison Depot was renamed Chimoio Camp Depot, and Morris Depot is now the Mkuhusi Camp Depot. Harare Central Hospital was renamed Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, and the CID Headquarters Building is now the Ethan Dube Building. Harare (Cecil House) is now Ruth Chinamano House.
In other regions, the Gwanda Governorment Complex was renamed the Stephen Jege Nkomo Building, and the Tsholotsho District Office is now the John Landa Nkomo Building. The Kezi District Office was renamed the Joana Mafuyana-Nkomo Building, and the Lupane Provincial Government Complex is now the Welshman Mabhena Building.
The Hwange District Office now bears the name Thokozile Mathuthu Building, and the Chipinge District Complex is now the William Ndangana Building.
The Mutare Provincial Complex was renamed the Rekayi Tangwena Building, and the Mutare Provincial Hospital is now the Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital.
Lastly, the Marondera Provincial Complex was renamed the Ernest Kadungure Building.
It’s crucial to recognise that in every culture worldwide, a name holds significant importance. It imbues the bearer with character, identity, and dignity. It defines a people and instills pride.
It is for these compelling reasons that all newly independent states promptly adopted new, more fitting names upon achieving their independence.
Rhodesia transitioned to Zimbabwe, Salisbury became Harare, Northern Rhodesia is now Zambia, Bechuanaland is now Botswana, and The Gold Coast is now Ghana.
Online Reporter