Opinion / Columnist
ZANU did not fight Smith regime but it was formed to destroy ZAPU
07 Dec 2015 at 20:50hrs | Views
People need to know the truth. ZAPU was formed in 1961; its leader was Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe was the Secretary then 2 years later in 1963 a splinter group was formed and its leader was Robert Mugabe.
ZAPU fought the Smith regime through armed struggle; went on to use guerrilla warfare tactics and has bases in Zambia; Russia also supported ZAPU because ZAPU had a communist ideology which was favoured by Russia and ZANU during war did not have any ideology on what to do about land which was the main economic issue .
Thats why its leaders strategised on destroying ZAPU. ZIPA formation was supposed to have it's commander Tongogara assisted by Dumiso Dabengwa and Lookout MASUKU but this did not happen because there was a sudden death of Tongogara and at Morogoro ZANLA and ZIPRA failed to make ZIPA because ZANU was already playing tricks and working with the enemies.
When ZIPRA forces came home; their commanders were arrested and tortured and ZANLA tried to disarm ZIPRA and these are some of the incidents which led to Intumbane Battle.
Nkomo was right to stop Intumbane battle because he had discovered about the possibility deployment of 5th brigade in ZAPU strong holds.
Then the ZIPRA cadres without commanders were now called dissidents and Nkomo was called father of dissidents and he survived assassination and escaped through Botswana.
5th brigade was sent to Matabeleland to destroy ZAPU and this led to unity accord which favoured ZANU strategies.
ZANU failed to destroy ZAPU until Dabengwa and other ZAPU cadres pulled out of the unity accord which did not bring any change. Now the black bull is ready to attack.
ZAPU fought the Smith regime through armed struggle; went on to use guerrilla warfare tactics and has bases in Zambia; Russia also supported ZAPU because ZAPU had a communist ideology which was favoured by Russia and ZANU during war did not have any ideology on what to do about land which was the main economic issue .
Thats why its leaders strategised on destroying ZAPU. ZIPA formation was supposed to have it's commander Tongogara assisted by Dumiso Dabengwa and Lookout MASUKU but this did not happen because there was a sudden death of Tongogara and at Morogoro ZANLA and ZIPRA failed to make ZIPA because ZANU was already playing tricks and working with the enemies.
When ZIPRA forces came home; their commanders were arrested and tortured and ZANLA tried to disarm ZIPRA and these are some of the incidents which led to Intumbane Battle.
Then the ZIPRA cadres without commanders were now called dissidents and Nkomo was called father of dissidents and he survived assassination and escaped through Botswana.
5th brigade was sent to Matabeleland to destroy ZAPU and this led to unity accord which favoured ZANU strategies.
ZANU failed to destroy ZAPU until Dabengwa and other ZAPU cadres pulled out of the unity accord which did not bring any change. Now the black bull is ready to attack.
Source - Sikhumbuzo Moyo
All articles and letters published on Bulawayo24 have been independently written by members of Bulawayo24's community. The views of users published on Bulawayo24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Bulawayo24. Bulawayo24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
