Zanu: back to the beginning

As we approach the 50th anniversary of Zanu’s founding, it might be interesting to compare their position, plans, promises and hopes then with subsequent events. The text which begins below finally went to press in November 1973, but had largely been written in 1971:

POLITICAL PROGRAMME

Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU)

Introduction

The Zimbabwe African National Union was founded in the African Township of Highfield in Salisbury, Rhodesia, on 8th August 1963 to reorganise and mobilise the masses – the five million African people – for the purpose of confronting and wresting power from the 234,000 white settlers. It was dedicated to the policy of national independence and national liberation through violent revolution. It sought to unite all the African people behind a leadership committed to this policy.

The founding of ZANU opened a new chapter in the just and historical struggle of the people of Zimbabwe for national independence and self-determination. Preceding nationalist organisations had sought liberation through constitutional means and mass-meetings. ZANU moved away from this policy. In the words of the President, Ndabaningi Sithole:

“We have turned away from reformist politics. We now enter the era of take-over politics.”

He once described the method by saying that: “We are our own liberators by direct confrontation.”

Immediately he started an underground movement that struck at elements of white power in 1964, and a mighty freedom-fighting force that launched “Chimurenga” or the war of liberation, in 1966.

In launching “Chimurenga” (the war of liberation) ZANU was continuing the struggle against colonialism, imperialism and settlerism started by our forefathers in 1896, and contributed in various forms in the last 80 years. A new dimension was added to this struggle by the demand for minority independence from Britain made by 234,000 foreign white settlers. The seizure of illegal and minority independence in November 1965 was clearly foreseen by ZANU, for in April 1964 President Sithole called on all African people to keep food and cattle, and sharpen their spears for the expected protracted struggle against the foreign element in our midst supported by Britain and other western colonialists and imperialists.

For the last 7 years, ZANU has been committed to a policy of violent revolution in order to change totally and completely the existing social and political system. Revolution means systematic change or, in other words, turning around completely. It does not mean replacing white bosses by black bosses or white by black privileged classes, but creating an entirely new society and system in which classes and privileges cease to exist. It means that:

a. Where political power is in the hands of a foreign minority, it will be wrested from them and placed in the hands of the indigenous African majority;

b. Where today the foreigner enjoys economic and financial privileges, these will be abrogated and the right of the indigenous people to all natural resources and economic and financial betterment restored to them; and,

c. Where exploitation and degeneration exist today, there will be real equality, freedom and social justice.