Narratives of ZIPRA Clashes with ZANLA

Abstract

This chapter examines the armed conflict between the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) and the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA), the armed wings of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) and the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) respectively, during the Liberation War of Zimbabwe and how that shaped the sellout identities during this period. Guided by primary and secondary sources, this study argues that these nationalist armies exchanged shots leading to soaring casualties at the rear bases in Zambia, Mozambique and Tanzania as well as at the front. They labelled each other all sorts of names, including Machuwachuwa, Mazindevere, Madzviti, Tshombes, sellouts Masvina and Vapfanha (little boys). Bitter grudges from these killings caused them to fight each other in operational areas, notably Mashonaland West. Most of the ZAPU party structures were destroyed by ZANLA. Supporting Joshua Nkomo became a dangerous sellout label that led to the torture, harassment and death of ZAPU party officials and supporters during the liberation war. Nkomo was labelled Zimundevere and a descendant of the Ndebele colonisers.