1.0 ZANU PF – ORIGIN:
1.1
By the 1820s, theNg ni-speaking Ndebeles from modern day KwaZulu Natal (South Africa) under the leadership of Mzilikazi established themselves in the south-western part of the country, absorbing into their state some Venda, Kalanga and Shona-speaking groups.
1.2
In 1890, Cecil Rhodes` British South Africa Company (BSA Co.) occupied the country and founded the colony of Rhodesia (Beach, 1994; Rasmussen, 1978).
1.3
The imposition of colonial rule was fiercely resisted by the locals, starting with the 1893 Anglo-Ndebele war of resistance fought by the Ndebele under King Lobengula, which resulted in defeat and the destruction of the Ndebele state.
1.4
Both the Ndebele and Shona took up arms against the white settlers in what has come to be known as the First Chimurenga between 1896-7, but were also defeated. After the two successive defeats of the 1890s, organized black resistance to white supremacy did not resume until the 1920s, when black protest organizations were formed in the emerging towns of Bulawayo and Salisbury.
1.5
However, radical active resistance only started in the 1940s with the rise of black labour militancy. Among the leading organizations of this period were the Reformed Industrial and Commercial Union (RICU) led by the veteran trade unionist Charles Mzingeli, which dominated African politics in Salisbury. The other prominent leaders of this struggle for better lives for blacks and independence led by the unions were Benjamin Burombo, Masotsha Ndlovu, Stanley Culverwell,
Bradford Mnyanda, Aaron Jacha and Joshua Nkomo (Ranger, 1970; Raftopoulos & Yoshikuni, 1999).
1.6
By the late 1950s, mass nationalism was emerging, and along with it a new generation of radical and fiery leaders such as Charles Chikerema and George Nyandoro of the City Youth League (1955-1957), who later joined hands with their unionists counterparts in September 1957 to form the first country-wide mass nationalist movement – the rejuvenated Southern Rhodesia African Nationalist Congress (SRANC) which was led by Joshua Nkomo
1.7
Disturbed by its capacity to mobilize widespread support in both urban and rural areas, the Rhodesian government banned the SRANC at the beginning of 1959 and arrested most of its members.
1.8
However, hardly a year after its banning, leaders of the SRANC teamed up with various members of
the African intellectual elite, who included Herbert Chitepo (the first black lawyer in Rhodesia), Robert Mugabe and Ndabaningi Sithole (both graduate teachers), to form the National Democratic Party in January 1960(Shamuyarira, 1965; Raftopoulos, 1995; Mlambo,1972).
1.9
Both groups were banned in 1963, and they began a guerrilla campaign against the Rhodesian minority regime in 1966 – the Second Chimurenga. ZAPU, led by Joshua Nkomo, operated out of Zambia, and ZANU, initially led by Ndabaningi and later Robert Mugabe, also started its operations from Zambia but later established bases in Mozambique following the country’s independence in 1975(Chung, 2006; Bhebe & Ranger,1995; Johnson and Martin, 1981).
2.0
ZANU PF PRINCIPLES:
The preamble of the ZANU PF party’s constitution sums up the party’s principles and these are:
2.1
Whereas we are desirous:
2.1.1 to unite our nation permanently,
2.1.2 preserve peace, order and good government,
2.1.3 guarantee political stability,
2.1.4 social and economic development; and
2.2
Whereas we are convinced that political stability, peace, order and good government. social and economic development can only be achieved under conditions of national unity; and
2.3
Whereas the people of Zimbabwe desire to preserve and consolidate National Independence for all time, to build a united, progressive, permanent political and social order;
3.0
ZANU PF IDEOLOGY:
3.1
Erickson and Tedin (2003:64) define an ideology as “a set of beliefs about the proper order of society and how it can be achieved”.
3.1.1 An ideology is based on common understanding of fundamental issues, a common vision and a shared strategy on achieving our goals. When people have a common ideology they understand their challenges in the same way and they also believe in same remedies for the ills that afflict their society.
3.1.2 An ideology therefore brings about social cohesion which is an ingredient for peace and development.
3.2
ZANU-PF is a Socialist party with a Pan Africanist orientation. It believes in:
(a) Independence and sovereignty. The independence of the country came after an arduous circuitous route along which thousands perished. It was a struggle to remove colonial subjugation. ZANU PF is committed to ensure there is no repeat or reversal of the gains of our hard fought independence.
(b) Resource nationalism. The need to have control over the means of production was at the heart of our struggle. The Lancaster House settlement took the momentum off the struggle to get our resources back.
(c) Equitable distribution of resources and opportunities. Equity is at the heart of its endeavours.
(d) Democracy. Democracy is rule of the majority. This is a system whereby party members are allowed
freedom to discuss and debate matters of policy and make their submission to leadership. When the leadership takes a decision, all members are expected to uphold that decision.
(e) Protection of culture and heritage. One of the key tenets of the party ideology is protection of the Zimbabwean culture and heritage. This heritage is both tangible and intangible.
Prepared by:
Cde godFather Cde Elias
Group Administrator Group Administrator
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