Frantz Fanon once said that bad things from past rulers stay behind like germs that need cleaning from our land and minds. His words ring true for Zimbabwe today. He asks people to look closely at how past rulers harmed minds and lives. True freedom needs both outside change and inside healing. We must clear away old ways of seeing ourselves through foreign eyes. Freedom demands new people with new thoughts, free from past chains.
Zimbabwe marks 45 years free from outside rule, yet work remains to wipe away leftover marks. Changing names shows real steps toward this goal. Old names on maps and buildings reminded everyone daily about past rulers. These names kept old power feelings alive. New Zimbabwean names bring forward local heroes, stories, and culture. This helps make new ways of seeing ourselves without foreign shadows hanging over us. Name changes touch both real things and how people think about themselves.
The new government after 1980 started replacing colonial names right away. Their plan brought back ancient place names or honored freedom fighters. In 2017, army bases received new names following defense laws. The main army base changed from King George VI Barracks to Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks. Brady Barracks became Mzilikazi Barracks. Cranborne camps turned into Charles Gumbo and Kaguvi Barracks. Many other bases received similar treatment across the country.
Leaders called it strange and wrong that places meant to protect free Zimbabwe carried names from those who once ruled harshly. Think about Zimbabwe's main defense headquarters named after a British king! Famous fighters like Rex Nhongo and Josiah Tungamirai worked inside walls bearing the name of someone who stood for everything they fought against. When President Mnangagwa renamed King George VI to Tongogara Barracks, he talked about chasing away ghosts from colonial days. He said these changes help save history for future children.
Major roads changed names during 2019 in Harare and Bulawayo. Enterprise Road was transformed into Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Road. Selous Avenue switched to John Landa Nkomo Avenue. Cameron Street became Joseph Msika Street. Livingstone Avenue turned into Oliver Tambo Avenue. Charter Road changed to Fidel Castro Road. Fife Avenue became Leonid Brezhnev Avenue. Similar changes happened across Bulawayo, with Sixth Avenue becoming Emmerson Dambuzo Mnangagwa Way and others following suit.
Public buildings also received fresh names during 2020. The New Government Composite Office Building became the Mgandane Dlodlo Building. Immigration offices moved to the Chingaira Makoni Building. The Central Registry became the Muchecheterwa Chiwashira Building. Ambassador House became Queen Lozikeyi House. Quality International Hotel switched to Chinengundu Mashayamombe House. Many more buildings across Zimbabwe underwent similar transformations during this time.
Names carry deep meaning in all human groups around the world. They give character and pride to places and people. They help define who we are at our core. This explains why every freed country quickly picks new names after gaining freedom. Rhodesia became Zimbabwe. Salisbury changed to Harare. Northern Rhodesia turned into Zambia. Bechuanaland became Botswana. The Gold Coast transformed into Ghana. Each name change helped wash away colonial memories and build fresh national pride based on local history instead of foreign rule.
Zimbabwe marks 45 years free from outside rule, yet work remains to wipe away leftover marks. Changing names shows real steps toward this goal. Old names on maps and buildings reminded everyone daily about past rulers. These names kept old power feelings alive. New Zimbabwean names bring forward local heroes, stories, and culture. This helps make new ways of seeing ourselves without foreign shadows hanging over us. Name changes touch both real things and how people think about themselves.
The new government after 1980 started replacing colonial names right away. Their plan brought back ancient place names or honored freedom fighters. In 2017, army bases received new names following defense laws. The main army base changed from King George VI Barracks to Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks. Brady Barracks became Mzilikazi Barracks. Cranborne camps turned into Charles Gumbo and Kaguvi Barracks. Many other bases received similar treatment across the country.
Leaders called it strange and wrong that places meant to protect free Zimbabwe carried names from those who once ruled harshly. Think about Zimbabwe's main defense headquarters named after a British king! Famous fighters like Rex Nhongo and Josiah Tungamirai worked inside walls bearing the name of someone who stood for everything they fought against. When President Mnangagwa renamed King George VI to Tongogara Barracks, he talked about chasing away ghosts from colonial days. He said these changes help save history for future children.
Major roads changed names during 2019 in Harare and Bulawayo. Enterprise Road was transformed into Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Road. Selous Avenue switched to John Landa Nkomo Avenue. Cameron Street became Joseph Msika Street. Livingstone Avenue turned into Oliver Tambo Avenue. Charter Road changed to Fidel Castro Road. Fife Avenue became Leonid Brezhnev Avenue. Similar changes happened across Bulawayo, with Sixth Avenue becoming Emmerson Dambuzo Mnangagwa Way and others following suit.
Public buildings also received fresh names during 2020. The New Government Composite Office Building became the Mgandane Dlodlo Building. Immigration offices moved to the Chingaira Makoni Building. The Central Registry became the Muchecheterwa Chiwashira Building. Ambassador House became Queen Lozikeyi House. Quality International Hotel switched to Chinengundu Mashayamombe House. Many more buildings across Zimbabwe underwent similar transformations during this time.
Names carry deep meaning in all human groups around the world. They give character and pride to places and people. They help define who we are at our core. This explains why every freed country quickly picks new names after gaining freedom. Rhodesia became Zimbabwe. Salisbury changed to Harare. Northern Rhodesia turned into Zambia. Bechuanaland became Botswana. The Gold Coast transformed into Ghana. Each name change helped wash away colonial memories and build fresh national pride based on local history instead of foreign rule.
