ZANU

ZANU, short for Zimbabwe African National Union, was a Zimbabwean nationalist political organization founded in 1963 by Ndabaningi Sithole to oppose white minority rule in Rhodesia. It pursued independence through armed resistance and organized the guerrilla movement ZANLA, which operated mainly in rural areas during the Rhodesian Bush War. The party experienced internal leadership struggles that culminated in the rise of Robert Mugabe and his faction, which became the dominant force within ZANU as the country moved toward independence. ZANU also faced competition and cooperation with ZAPU, Zimbabwe African People's Union, and its own guerrilla wing ZIPRA, shaping the broader anti-colonial struggle.

Rhodesia transitioned to independence as Zimbabwe in 1980, with a ZANU-led government under Mugabe taking power. Mugabe served as prime minister from 1980 to 1987 and then as president thereafter. In 1987, ZANU merged with PF-ZAPU, the party of Joshua Nkomo, through the Unity Accord to form ZANU-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front). Since then, ZANU-PF has been the dominant ruling party in Zimbabwe, with the ZANU name continuing to appear as part of the larger party identity.

Ideologically, ZANU originated from nationalist anti-colonialism with socialist-leaning policies and, over time, evolved into a broad left-leaning platform within Zimbabwe’s post-independence political landscape. The party’s legacy includes its pivotal role in achieving independence and its long tenure in government, alongside ongoing debates over governance and human rights in Zimbabwe.