Zanu PF thrives on dividing nation
THERE has, arguably, been no greater dividing force in modern-day Zimbabwe than the ruling Zanu PF party. Ever since the party was formed on August 8, 1963, its modus operandi has always been the same: Dividing the people of Zimbabwe. In fact, Zanu PF’s existence and survival have been premised on fomenting disunity and chaos within the country.
Let us go back to the founding of the party.
At that time, the main nationalist movement was the Zimbabwe African People's Union (Zapu), led by Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, who birthed the party from the National Democratic Party which had been banned by the Rhodesia regime in 1961.
This organisation was genuinely national by character — with its influence spanning the width and breadth of Zimbabwe — whether in Bulawayo, Harare, Mutare or Kariba.
Even just before the country’s independence from colonial rule in 1980, Zapu and Nkomo were believed to be more popular than Zanu and then leader Robert Gabriel Mugabe.
I remember my mother telling me her father from deep rural Rusape was convinced Nkomo was poised to win the country’s first independence elections.
Nkomo had the clout and broad influence which required a cleverlycrafted devious plan to outdo Zapu and its leader. And by breaking away from Zapu, the Zimbabwe African National Union (Zanu) sowed the seed of division of the nation which persists today.
Their strategy was to sow tribal hatred and divisions among the peaceful black people by portraying Zapu as a Ndebele party and Zanu as for the Shona. Suddenly, in such areas as Highfields in Harare (then Salisbury), violent black-on-black clashes erupted as Shona and Ndebele began fighting one another.
Any Shona who was known or suspected of supporting Zapu and Nkomo was labelled a “sellout” and subjected to savage brutality.
Homes were petrol-bombed and people were even killed.
This was how Zanu came onto the political scene.
As a matter of fact, Frelimo (then a Mozambique liberation movement) characterised Zanu as “guided by power-hunger”, that it “represented dangerous divisions and tribal secessionist tendencies”, as well as being “racist and undisciplined”.
Throughout the 1960s and 70s liberation struggle, Zanu was viewed with disdain by the Frontline States, as its policies clearly ran contrary to the aspirations of the people.
When Frelimo opened up the western part of Mozambique on March 7 and 8, 1968 during its own liberation struggle, it offered Zapu to use this front as an entry into Rhodesia to fight.
However, at that time, Zapu was embroiled in fierce divisions and was not ready to commence fighting.
As it turned out, the fighting within Zapu was being orchestrated by Zanu’s Mugabe through his proxy James Chikerema, who was the Zapu vice-president and leader in exile.
In 1967, Mugabe was trying to form a “Zezuru alliance” with Chikerema so that if Zapu ousted Nkomo, then they could form a united party led by Zezurus.
In the meantime, Mugabe (who was permanent secretary) was busy potting to oust then Zanu leader Ndabaningi Sithole — who was a Ndau.
However, the divisive and tribalistic machinations between Mugabe and Chikerema reportedly resulted in the debilitation of Zapu, which made it unable to take up Frelimo’s offer.
Since Frelimo was eager for the liberation struggle to take off in Rhodesia, it then reluctantly opted for Zanu. Frelimo leader, the late Samora Machel stated at the time: “We do not support Zanu, but support the people of Zimbabwe.”
He could have not put it any better.
Fast-forward to the immediate post-colonial period.
Zanu-PF was up to its old divisive tricks again. This time, they launched the most brutal atrocities ever witnessed in modern-day Zimbabwe.
In this genocide against the Ndebele-speaking people of this country, over 20 000 innocent unarmed civilians were massacred in cold blood in the Midlands and Matebeleland provinces between 1982 and 1987.
This was believed to have been motivated by Zanu PF’s fear of Nkomo and PF Zapu eventually winning elections and taking over power. It was clear that, at the back of their minds, Zanu PF was fully aware that Nkomo and PF-ZAPU were still more popular and better organised.
Let me rewind again a bit.
It is widely suspected that Zanu’s split from Zapu in 1963 was backed by the British. This was on account of the “Cold War” geopolitical manoeuvres of that time.
After the Second World War, Britain was already granting independence to its colonies — with such African countries as Sudan and Ghana being free in the 1950s.
Through their “no independence without majority rule” policy, the British were eager to shed off their colonies. However, due to resistance faced in Rhodesia for “majority rule” — with the subsequent declaration of UDI in 1965 — Britain was willing to indirectly support the liberation movement.
Since Zapu was receiving immense support from the Soviet Union, the British had to come up with a way to prevent these people from taking over the country. Thus, Britain is thought to have had a hand at encouraging this revolt against Nkomo and the eventual split.
As much as Zanu publicly worked with China, the British were not bothered — considering how globally and politically insignificant the Asians were at that time. In the broader mix of things, the British still held covert influence over Zanu.
That is why, at independence in 1980 — when the country had temporarily reverted to being a British colony, after the 15-year-long Unilateral Declaration of Independence by Ian Smith — Zanu is suspected to have been “helped” by our former colonial masters to “win” the elections.
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