We Fight for Liberty!

After the annexation of Southern Rhodesia from the British South Africa Company in 1961, a constitution was formed that favored powerful white men (F). The newly formed government declared its independence from the United Kingdom, but instead of recognizing this act, the UK demanded more complete voting rights for the native majority in Rhodesia (F). At the same time, the black African majority in Rhodesia brewed a growing dissent against the white minority. They soon began to demand equal access to jobs and the participation in their own government. The Zimbabweans formed the National Democratic Party (NDP) to achieve African rule through riots and acts of arson (F).

The Rhodesian government banned the NDP, but Joshua Nkomo formed another group with the same purpose called the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU). They reconstituted their objectives:

1.  “The establishment of one-man-one-vote as the basis of government in Zimbabwe” (F)
2.  “The unification of the African people so as to allow them to liberate themselves from imperialism and colonialism” (F)
3. “The elimination of oppression in all forms” (F)
4. “The development of the best values in the African tradition to facilitate the establishment of a desirable order” (F)

Eventually, both the Rhodesians and the Africans realized that in order to gain independence, bloodshed and war was inevitable. The Rhodesian government also banned the ZAPU, but instead of disbanding the ZAPU split into the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) under Ndabaningi Sithole (F). Both the ZANU and the ZAPU envisioned a near freedom, but while the ZANU advocated immediate armed response, the ZAPU sought international intervention and help (F). This division limited a strong united front against the common enemy, the Rhodesians. However, in the late 1960’s the ZANU and the ZAPU came together for both political and military unity. Soon, a combined force of ZANU and ZAPU opposed the Rhodesians mostly through politics and some small military actions.