Names and naming: Expressions representations and manifestations of past and present realities

NOT so long ago, streets, roads and Government buildings were renamed. They were not being named for the first time. Use of the word renaming does suggest that the roads and buildings already had names but new names were adopted. This was not happening for the first time. Soon after independence some names were changed but the exercise was not completed, nor has it been completed this time around. For example, in Bulawayo names such as Fife Street had retained their old colonial names. Sixth Avenue too retained its expressive name.

As we seek to understand why names were changed, we should, in the first instance, appreciate that names for the roads and buildings continued to exist. It is a practice everywhere that iconic buildings and roads bear names which are useful for one seeking directions and compass points. Imagine the difficulty that would exist if names for roads and buildings did not exist. Recently as Amagugu Publishers we launched a history book. It became necessary to direct invited guests to the place of launch. We directed them that the venue was between Fort Street and 8th Avenue (new names have not stuck yet), almost opposite York House. It is part of the Public Library Building. Buildings and roads have been cited as compass points. Location would be quite a challenge if sites were not named. One just would not know how to proceed.

What names are then chosen reflects historical reality, which is not cast in stone, but always fluid. A look at the latest names will reveal, at the highest level, transition from the colonial period to the post-colonial one. Colonists extolled the sacrifices made and values venerated, by their white ancestors in creating Rhodesia. No wonder the majority of names were of white individuals somewhat connected with the establishment of Rhodesia. Ruling political, economic social and cultural interests are thus reflected and expressed in names. Various historical epochs are manifested in names. It took a bitter and protracted armed struggle that culminated in the attainment of independence on 18 April 1980.

Transformation of the struggle is indeed reflected in the new names that were chosen to replace colonial ones. Trade unionism was in the forefront in fighting for better living and working conditions. When it was realised that trade unionism was not yielding the desired results, it was transformed into nationalist struggles. Benjamin Burombo, who lived in Bulawayo, epitomises trade union activism. Many who were his colleagues knocked and sooner than later realised they were not making any headway. They then transitioned to nationalist agitation. Many names were taken from within the nationalist fraternity. Men such as Joseph Msika, Clement Muchachi, Edward Ndlovu and Simon Muzenda, all of whom lived in Bulawayo, ended up as nationalists. They all had started as trade unionists like Joshua Nkomo, Edward Ndlovu, Jason Moyo and Boysen Mguni.

Similarly, nationalist agitation did not yield positive results. There was strong white intransigence. It became necessary to opt for more transformation. The next stage in the struggle for self-determination was recourse to the armed liberation struggle. Some former nationalists graduated to armed cadres who underwent differing levels of military training. Men such as Jason Ziyapapa Moyo did undergo rudimentary military training in order for them to appreciate the complexity and demands of military campaigns. Names such as Zidube have been captured in the new names. The man who led the group that fired the first shots in the armed struggle, Moffat Hadebe is complaining. He is happy with the choice of name as it documents their history in the struggle, but prefers it were named after a road or building in Matabeleland.

What all this boils down to is that names are markers of an altered political situation. Independence and its preceding struggles replaced some colonial names. The process seemed to have run out of steam at some point. When the new dispensation was ushered in 2017, there was some more urgency, not only to capture the names embedded in anti-colonial struggles, but also to capture the new thrust reflected in the accommodation of new names that would otherwise not have been captured in the earlier First Republic. What is perhaps clouding the picture, making it extremely fuzzy and out of focus is the poisoned political climate prevalent in Zimbabwe and the reduction of nationalists to village and regional leaders.

Gukurahundi has not helped the situation either. Deep ethnic mistrust, nay, hatred, flourishes to a point where Shona leaders who were PF-Zapu and lived in Bulawayo are conveniently forgotten. It’s not just the knowledge of history of PF-Zapu and Bulawayo that is necessary, but also to deal with the Gukurahundi-spawned tribal animosity. If this goes on unchecked as a result of selfishness and personal aggrandisement, a united Zimbabwe shall forever remain a pipe dream.

There is thus more to names and naming than meets the eye. Names reflect changing political and economic power relations. The powerful name the world, their world. Their history is captured in the names of streets and buildings. Scanning of the names that were given in the recent exercise will reveal a lot of what goes on in the process of naming and its final product. The kaleidoscope of names is a reflection of a landscape of political power distribution, primary and ruling economic interests. Names are celebratory and will celebrate selectively. What is celebrated is in line with values that the ruling elite values, cherishes and seeks to perpetuate for purposes sometimes of legitimation.

Names are critical and fundamental manifestations, expressions and representations of deep-seated phenomena, phenomena that are not visible to an undiscerning mental eye. Dare we ask what is in a name? There is everything in a name ranging from politics, economics, history, tradition, culture worldview and a lot more. The world we know is a named world. What we have not named belongs to the unknown, unexplored and unchartered world.

Roads and building structures are not named after figures who are not iconic. Narratives capture values, ideas and principles that the iconic individuals are associated with, capture narratives surrounding the names that grace streets. The young and future generations look upon to their heroes and heroines for inspiration, dedication and emulation. That way a community or society regenerates itself by giving new life to the ideals, values and principles epitomised by those whose names grace roads and other structures. It is thus absolutely important to capture the narratives surrounding the names that grace streets.

Local communities must be in the front-line in terms of accepting chosen names. Where names are imposed in the absence bottom up democratic and participatory processes, the risk of rejection is high. Old names may persist in preference to new names that are perceived as an imposition. To what extent has Selborne Avenue (uSolobhoni) existed despite the new name given soon after independence? It should never be assumed that locals know the given names that reside in the past, in the names of iconic individuals in the various epochs. Narratives on the name-bearers is critically important for full appreciation and justification of choice of names.

Recognition and acceptability are very important for effortless adoption of new names especially where the local process has not been made use of. The heroes and heroines are first and foremost locally recognised somewhere and then at the next or second level, they are recognised nationally. Local relevance ought to take precedence over national relevance and not the other way round. Reversal of the pecking order translates to imposition which is devoid of the necessary democratic processes of both devolution and self-determination.

Short of extensive and intensive research, how qualified would I be to name the roads and structures in Mutoko or Chiredzi?