MUGABE WAS A SCAB: ZAPU's leader (Joshua Nkomo) was basically the father of the Zimbabwean independence movement, and was mainly concerned about getting independence with ideology as an afterthought. His forces were trained by the Soviets, but their strategy didn't work: ZAPU basically built up its army in Zambia, preparing to invade Rhodesia like in a conventional war, but the Rhodesian airforce was simply able to attack ZAPU troops in Zambia and destroy Zambian transport infrastructure.
ZANU's leadership (including Mugabe) were generally younger and more radical politically, being influenced by Maoism. They felt Nkomo was out of touch and was treating his party as his personal property, obstructing any criticism. Likewise, in military affairs ZANU studied Mao's approach, infiltrating cadres into Rhodesia's countyside, establishing connections with villages, and carrying out a guerrilla warfare.
There were also tribal differences: Nkomo belonged to the Ndebele people, Mugabe and others to the more numerous Shona, so there were accusations by both sides of favoritism toward their respective peoples.
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https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/03/21/thatcher-mugabe-papers_n_2924997.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42003217
https://www.newstatesman.com/world/africa/2018/07/when-margaret-thatcher-rode-robert-mugabe-s-rescue
MUGABE WAS A SCAB:
ZAPU's leader (Joshua Nkomo) was basically the father of the Zimbabwean independence movement, and was mainly concerned about getting independence with ideology as an afterthought. His forces were trained by the Soviets, but their strategy didn't work: ZAPU basically built up its army in Zambia, preparing to invade Rhodesia like in a conventional war, but the Rhodesian airforce was simply able to attack ZAPU troops in Zambia and destroy Zambian transport infrastructure.
ZANU's leadership (including Mugabe) were generally younger and more radical politically, being influenced by Maoism. They felt Nkomo was out of touch and was treating his party as his personal property, obstructing any criticism. Likewise, in military affairs ZANU studied Mao's approach, infiltrating cadres into Rhodesia's countyside, establishing connections with villages, and carrying out a guerrilla warfare.
There were also tribal differences: Nkomo belonged to the Ndebele people, Mugabe and others to the more numerous Shona, so there were accusations by both sides of favoritism toward their respective peoples.