International Encyclopedia of Revolution and Protest

Extract

In late 1975 a movement of young Marxist-inspired guerrillas formed the Zimbabwe People's Army (ZIPA). ZIPA's combination of a persuasive approach to politics, a transformational vision, and aggressive military tactics altered the course of the liberation struggle against Ian Smith's Rhodesia. However, its success also paved the way for its downfall and the rise to power of Robert Mugabe . ZIPA grew out of the flood of young people who fled Rhodesia in the 1970s to join the respective military wings of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) and the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU). In 1975 the key nationalist leaders became entangled in factional strife and long-running and unproductive peace talks with Smith. By 1975 the young recruits who would go on to form ZIPA sought to take charge as the war stalled and the old leaders became increasingly sidelined. In October 1975 a group of ZANU officers from the training camps in Tanzania approached President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and the leader of newly independent Mozambique, President Samora Machel , for support to restart the war against Smith. Both Machel and Nyerere had supported peace negotiations and a ceasefire with Rhodesia, but as little real progress had been made, they were sympathetic to the young officers’ proposal. The ZANU officers also sought unity with ZAPU. They won its backing and in November ... log in or subscribe to read full text