The Zimbabwe Liberation War

African nationalists in Rhodesia turned to armed struggle after peaceful protest was banned. Two movements led the fight: ZAPU under Joshua Nkomo, with its army ZIPRA, backed by the Soviet Union and based in Zambia; and ZANU, which split from ZAPU in 1963, later led by Robert Mugabe, with its army ZANLA, backed by China and drawing support mainly from Shona-speaking areas. Nationalists called the war the Second Chimurenga, recalling the risings of the 1890s.

An early clash at Chinhoyi in April 1966 is remembered as its start, but the war intensified from 1972. Mozambique's independence in 1975 opened a long border for ZANLA guerrillas. Rhodesian forces responded with cross-border raids and moved rural people into 'protected villages'. Around 30,000 people were killed, most of them Black civilians. In 1978 Smith agreed an 'internal settlement' with moderate Black leaders, creating Zimbabwe-Rhodesia under Bishop Abel Muzorewa, but the war continued because the main guerrilla movements were excluded.