In the early 1890s, many explorers, hunters, and fortune hunters left their home countries in Britain, France, and Germany in search of a better future for themselves and their families. These groups landed in South Africa and decided to move north. One such group, called the British South Africa Company, crossed the Limpopo River and found land rich in minerals, wildlife, and open land ideal for agriculture. They set up a camp and with rifles and other weapons they fought against the indigenous people they found there. They wanted the land for themselves! They set out to hand over parcels of land to each other and decided to farm there using local people as cheap labor. They were led by a man named Cecil John Rhodes. They decided to form a government and called their “new” country Rhodesia.

In 1961 a constitution was formulated favoring white supremacy. This gave all power to a few whites and discriminated against the majority, the local blacks they had encountered there. They used them as cheap labor for their farms and mining operations. However, they had to trade with other countries; they were not recognized as a country by the United Kingdom and other major powers of the time. His only ally was South Africa.

In 1965, the Rhodesia Front political party led by Ian Douglas Smith declared the country a sovereign and independent state. Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI). The United Kingdom and the United Nations lobbied to impose sanctions on this new government, but due to the great wealth of the country’s nature reserves, the country prospered. There were schools, hospitals, industries, and many agricultural products. The country was paradise except there was discrimination against the local black people. There were no blacks in the white schools, no blacks in the white hospitals, and no blacks in the white residential areas (except as domestic servants and gardeners!)

This infuriated the black man: their country had been stolen from them and they were mistreated in their own country! In 1961 ZAPU was formed under Joshua Nkomo (a Ndebele man!). All blacks rallied behind him and he was banned by whites in 1962. He did not stop activities, but went underground. Secret meetings were held in all the black towns. In 1963 ZANU – a new political party was formed under Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole – a man from the Manicaland region of the country! (Robert Gabriel Mugabe was a member of the new committee) and this party was primarily a party of the Shona people! There were 3 struggles: against the two black parties and also against the white regime! ZANU was banned in 1964.

The black man’s struggle intensified and many people went to Zambia or Mozambique, the party leaders were arrested, including Robert Mugabe (imprisoned between 1964 and 1974). The black man decided to wage a guerrilla war against the white regime!

In 1971, the British government attempted to agree with the Rhodesian government to end the sanctions in exchange for a smooth transition to majority black rule. Two clergymen, Bishop Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa and Reverend Canaan Banana, led an opposition to this movement and formed a new initiative: the United African National Council and the two exiled parties (ZAPU under Joshua Nkomo and ZANU under Reverend Sithole) stood under this advice. At this stage, the initiative was only a forum and not a political party. Therefore, it was legal! He opposed the violence and therefore had the support of the white government. However, when Abel Muzorewa transformed this into a party, the members had their doubts and infighting began.

Meanwhile, all was not well in the ZANU party: leadership disputes had started and this led to a split in the party. One faction became ZANU-PF (Patriotic Front) and the other ZANU (Ndonga – after its symbol of a knobkerrie)

On March 3, 1978 an agreement was signed in Harare (then Salisbury) between Muzorewa, Sithole, Jeremiah Chirau and Ian Smith which paved the way for an interim government with the signatories as Executive Council, to administer the affairs of the state in preparation for a general election with black men voting for the first time. However, it still had a racial bias, reserving some seats along racial lines: 10 in the Senate, 28 in parliament, and a quarter of the cabinet seats! A predominantly white referendum voted in favor of this constitution!

There were elections and since blacks had no other black party to vote for, and they were a majority, the UANC won! A new nation was born – Zimbabwe Rhodesia, with Josiah Gumede as President (non-executive – remember Clifford Dupont? And John Wrathall?) And Abel Muzorewa as Prime Minister! This did not sit well with the old guard: Joshua Nkomo (and ZAPU) and Robert Mugabe (with ZANU) and the guerrilla warfare escalated. International recognition did not come either as these two strong parties had not participated in the elections! Plans to end the civil war had not worked.

A solution had to be found to end the civil war! Once again, the British government took the initiative and called for talks in London with all parties involved. ZAPU and ZANU decided to attend under a common banner: Patriotic Front! The Lancaster House talks took place from September to December 1979, peppered with many disagreements and threats to collapse. The land question was the main bone of contention. The then British Foreign Secretary, Lord Carrington, presided. It was agreed to hold new elections in early 1980.

These elections took place in late February 1980 and there was much intimidation, violence and threats to the continuation of the war if ZANU-PF lost. People were tired of war and guess who won: ZANU-PF! The UANC won 3 seats out of the 80, reserved for blacks. A new nation was born: the Republic of Zimbabwe! With Robert Mugabe as Prime Minister and Canaan Banana as President!