Zimbabwe African People's Union

Zimbabwe African People's Union
AbbreviationZAPU
LeaderMichael Nkomo
Foundedby Joshua Nkomo on 17 December 1961 (historic)
13 December 2008 (13 December 2008) (current)
Preceded byNational Democratic Party
HeadquartersBulawayo
Armed wingZIPRA (until 1980)
IdeologyCommunism[1]
Marxism-Leninism[2]
African nationalism[3]
Political positionFar-left
House of Assembly
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Senate
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Pan African Parliament
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Party flag

The Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) is a Zimbabwean political party. It is a militant communist organization and political party that campaigned for majority rule in Rhodesia, from its founding in 1961 until 1980. In 1987, it merged with the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU – PF).[4]

The party was formed on 17 December 1961, 10 days after the Rhodesian government banned the National Democratic Party (NDP). It was founded by Joshua Nkomo[5] as president, Samuel Parirenyatwa as vice-president, Ndabaningi Sithole as chairman, Jason Moyo as treasurer, Robert Mugabe as information and publicity secretary, and Leopold Takawira as external secretary. ZAPU was banned in 1962 by the Rhodesian white minority government, and later engaged in a guerrilla war against it. The armed wing of ZAPU, known as the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA), was founded by Moyo and commanded by General Lookout Masuku.

ZAPU was separate from ZANU as its armed wing, ZIPRA, was aligned with the Soviet Union,[6] who prioritised mobilizing urban workers, whereas ZANU had a pro-People's Republic of China orientation which prioritised mobilizing the rural peasantry.

It was relaunched in 2008 by Joshua Nkomo's son, Michael Nkomo.[7]

  1. ^ Smith, Evan (2020). "'A last stubborn outpost of a past epoch': The Communist Party of Great Britain, national liberation in Zimbabwe and anti-imperialist solidarity". Twentieth Century Communism. 18 (18): 64–92. doi:10.3898/175864320829334825. S2CID 219842778.
  2. ^ Smith, Evan (2020). "'A last stubborn outpost of a past epoch': The Communist Party of Great Britain, national liberation in Zimbabwe and anti-imperialist solidarity". Twentieth Century Communism. 18 (18): 64–92. doi:10.3898/175864320829334825. S2CID 219842778.
  3. ^ "newsatelier - Afrikaserie: Simbabwe". www.newsatelier.de. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  4. ^ Sibanda, Eliakim M. (2005). The Zimbabwe African People's Union 1961–87: A Political History of Insurgency in Southern Rhodesia. Trenton, New Jersey: Africa World Press. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-59221-275-0.
  5. ^ "Joshua Nkomo | Zimbabwean political leader". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  6. ^ "newsatelier - Afrikaserie: Simbabwe". www.newsatelier.de. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  7. ^ Radio, Nehanda (27 April 2021). "Nkomo' son ventures into full-time politics". Nehanda Radio. Retrieved 26 June 2023.