ZAPU and the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe, 1957-1980

The Unity Accord signed by PF (ZAPU) and ZANU (PF) in 1987 saw the emergence of a 'new' party called ZANU PF. ZAPU was 'swallowed' up by a party which was formed by people who broke away from ZAPU in 1963. ZAPU's failure to win a majority in the first democratic elections and its subsequent 'disappearance' in 1987 have an impact on the manner in which ZAPU's participation in the liberation struggle is presented by some people. This study traces ZAPU's contribution to the struggle for independence in Zimbabwe by taking a look at the history of the party from the time it was formed in 1961 until the attainment of independence in 1980. Official documents from ZAPU are not easy to come by. Post-independence tension and fighting between cadres from ZAPU and ZANU resulted in the confiscation, by the government, of ZAPU war records and other documents in 1982. These documents have not yet been returned and most likely will not be returned since the party does not exist anymore. Interviews with founding members of ZAPU and some ordinary cadres who participated in the struggle shed a light on the nature of ZAPU's participation in the struggle for independence. Significant figures in ZAPU like James Chikerema, the man who was in charge of ZAPU's first armed cadres, Dumiso Dabengwa, a member of ZAPU's first armed group and subsequently ZIPRA's chief of intelligence, and Welshman Mabhena, a founding member of ZAPU who remained within the country during the struggle, are among the active members of ZAPU who were interviewed for this study. Professor Ngwabi Bhebe, Professor Phenias Makurane, and Mr. Pathisa Nyathi bring in perspectives of people who had direct dealing,s with the party without being directly involved as cadres.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Historical Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2003

Author dc:creator

• Chimhanda, Christopher Chiedza

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Saunders, Christopher

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/10235

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/10235