Zimbabwe African National Union
Encyclopedia
The Zimbabwe African National Union was a militant organization that fought against the standing government in Rhodesia
, formed as a split from the Zimbabwe African People's Union
(ZAPU). ZANU won the 1980 elections under the leadership of Robert Mugabe
, and seven years later merged again with Joshua Nkomo
's ZAPU to form ZANU-PF, the current governing party of the country.
Its founder was the Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole
(1920–2000) in conjunction with an able, activist, black lawyer Herbert Chitepo
, who were dissatisfied with the militant tactics of Nkomo. In contrast to future developments, both parties drew from both the Shona
and the Ndebele
— the two major tribes of the region. Both ZANU and ZAPU formed political wings within the country (under those names) and military wings: the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA
) respectively to fight the struggle from neighbouring countries — ZANLA from Mozambique after the Portuguese withdrew, and ZIPRA from Zambia and other countries.
Robert Mugabe
unilaterally assumed control of ZANU after the assassination of Herbert Chitepo
on March 18, 1975. Later that year, there was a factional split along tribal lines caused the Ndebele
to follow Sithole into the moderate ZANU (Ndonga) party, who renounced violent struggle, while the Shona
followed Mugabe with a more militant agenda.
Sithole joined a transitional government of whites and blacks in 1979, led by Bishop Abel Muzorewa
. When sanctions remained in place, he joined Muzorewa for the Lancaster House Agreement
in London, where a new constitution and elections were prepared. His small breakaway opposition group failed to win any seats in independent elections that swept Mugabe under the ZANU flag to power in 1980.
In 1987, after 7 years of low-level civil war termed Gukurahundi
, the opposition Zimbabwe African People's Union
(ZAPU), led by Joshua Nkomo
, merged with ZANU to form ZANU-PF with the added moniker of Patriotic Front
.
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
, formed as a split from the Zimbabwe African People's Union
Zimbabwe African People's Union
The Zimbabwe African People's Union was a militant organization and political party that fought for the national liberation of Zimbabwe from its founding in 1961 until it merged with the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front in December 1987....
(ZAPU). ZANU won the 1980 elections under the leadership of Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
, and seven years later merged again with Joshua Nkomo
Joshua Nkomo
Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo was the leader and founder of the Zimbabwe African People's Union and a member of the Kalanga tribe...
's ZAPU to form ZANU-PF, the current governing party of the country.
Its founder was the Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole
Ndabaningi Sithole
Ndabaningi Sithole founded the Zimbabwe African National Union, a militant organization that opposed the government of Rhodesia, in July 1963. A member of the Ndau ethnic group, he also worked as a Methodist minister. He spent 10 years in prison after the government banned ZANU...
(1920–2000) in conjunction with an able, activist, black lawyer Herbert Chitepo
Herbert Chitepo
Herbert Wiltshire Chitepo led the Zimbabwe African National Union until he was assassinated on March 1975. Although his murderer remains unidentified, the Rhodesian author Peter Stiff says that a former British SAS soldier, Hugh Hind was responsible.Chitepo became the first black citizen of...
, who were dissatisfied with the militant tactics of Nkomo. In contrast to future developments, both parties drew from both the Shona
Shona people
Shona is the name collectively given to two groups of people in the east and southwest of Zimbabwe, north eastern Botswana and southern Mozambique.-Shona Regional Classification:...
and the Ndebele
Ndebele people (Zimbabwe)
The Ndebele are a branch of the Zulus who split from King Shaka in the early 1820s under the leadership of Mzilikazi, a former general in Shaka's army....
— the two major tribes of the region. Both ZANU and ZAPU formed political wings within the country (under those names) and military wings: the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA
ZIPRA
Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army was the armed wing of the Zimbabwe African People's Union, a political party in Rhodesia. It participated in the Second Chimurenga against white minority rule in the former Rhodesia....
) respectively to fight the struggle from neighbouring countries — ZANLA from Mozambique after the Portuguese withdrew, and ZIPRA from Zambia and other countries.
Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
unilaterally assumed control of ZANU after the assassination of Herbert Chitepo
Herbert Chitepo
Herbert Wiltshire Chitepo led the Zimbabwe African National Union until he was assassinated on March 1975. Although his murderer remains unidentified, the Rhodesian author Peter Stiff says that a former British SAS soldier, Hugh Hind was responsible.Chitepo became the first black citizen of...
on March 18, 1975. Later that year, there was a factional split along tribal lines caused the Ndebele
Ndebele people (Zimbabwe)
The Ndebele are a branch of the Zulus who split from King Shaka in the early 1820s under the leadership of Mzilikazi, a former general in Shaka's army....
to follow Sithole into the moderate ZANU (Ndonga) party, who renounced violent struggle, while the Shona
Shona people
Shona is the name collectively given to two groups of people in the east and southwest of Zimbabwe, north eastern Botswana and southern Mozambique.-Shona Regional Classification:...
followed Mugabe with a more militant agenda.
Sithole joined a transitional government of whites and blacks in 1979, led by Bishop Abel Muzorewa
Abel Muzorewa
Bishop Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa served as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia from the Internal Settlement to the Lancaster House Agreement in 1979...
. When sanctions remained in place, he joined Muzorewa for the Lancaster House Agreement
Lancaster House Agreement
The negotiations which led to the Lancaster House Agreement brought independence to Rhodesia following Ian Smith’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965. The Agreement covered the Independence Constitution, pre-independence arrangements, and a ceasefire...
in London, where a new constitution and elections were prepared. His small breakaway opposition group failed to win any seats in independent elections that swept Mugabe under the ZANU flag to power in 1980.
In 1987, after 7 years of low-level civil war termed Gukurahundi
Gukurahundi
The Gukurahundi refers to the suppression by Zimbabwe's 5th Brigade in the predominantly Ndebele regions of Zimbabwe most of whom were supporters of Joshua Nkomo. A few hundred disgruntled former ZIPRA combatants waged armed banditry against the civilians in Matabeleland, and destroyed government...
, the opposition Zimbabwe African People's Union
Zimbabwe African People's Union
The Zimbabwe African People's Union was a militant organization and political party that fought for the national liberation of Zimbabwe from its founding in 1961 until it merged with the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front in December 1987....
(ZAPU), led by Joshua Nkomo
Joshua Nkomo
Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo was the leader and founder of the Zimbabwe African People's Union and a member of the Kalanga tribe...
, merged with ZANU to form ZANU-PF with the added moniker of Patriotic Front
Patriotic Front
The Patriotic Front can mean:* Patriotic Front * Manuel Rodríguez Patriotic Front* Patriotic Front * Patriotic Front * Patriotic Front * Rwandese Patriotic Front* Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front...
.
See also
- Politics of ZimbabwePolitics of ZimbabwePolitics of Zimbabwe takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential republic, whereby the President is the head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government...
- Rhodesian propaganda warRhodesian propaganda warThe Rhodesian propaganda war was an information and political warfare campaign between the ZANU/ZAPU political parties, the British Commonwealth and Ian Smith's Rhodesian Front...
- Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU)