Re-living the second Chimurenga : memories from the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Fay Chung grew up in a Chinese family in Rhodesia in the 1950s and 1960s. She studied education and literature, and became a lecturer at the University of Zambia in the early 1970s. In Zambia, she joined the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), and took part in the radicalisation of the nationalist rising, which led to Zimbabwe's independence in 1980. The memoirs of Fay Chung give an inside view of the divisions within ZANU during the late 1970s. She witnessed the change of leadership from Sithole to Mugabe, experienced the tensions between politicians and military leaders, as well as the rise and fall of the vashandi movement, which tried to change the direction of ZANU in a more socialist direction. Within ZANU, Fay Chung was prominent in preparing educational reform, and after Independence worked for the Zimbabwean Ministry of Education and Culture - eventually as Minister. Her memoirs describe the efforts to extend access to education and to bring ‘education-with-production’ principles into school curricula. Fay Chung also reflects on the ongoing crisis in Zimbabwe. While regretting the violence, she is critical of the new democratic opposition, and supports Robert Mugabe's 'Third Chimurenga' as a return to the objectives of land reform and economic justice, which she sees as the 'heartblood' of the liberation struggle. This is an account, which will be certain to provoke many readers, and which will stimulate discussions both within Zimbabwe and abroad. This edition includes an introduction by Preben Kaarsholm, which situates Fay Chung's narrative in the context of ongoing debates about Zimbabwe.

<p>Reprinted with corrections, by Weaver Press 2007 (ISBN 9781779220462)</p><p>Contents: Introduction: Memoirs of a Dutiful Revolutionary / Preben Kaarsholm -- 1. Growing up in colonial Rhodesia -- 2. An undergraduate in the '60s -- 3. Teaching in the turmoil of the townships -- 4. In exile in Britain -- 5. Learning from the Zambia of the 1970s -- 6. Joining the liberation struggle in Zambia -- 7. Josiah Tongogara: commander of ZANLA -- 8. Post-Détente intensification of the war: Nyadzonia and Chimoio -- 9. The formation of the Zimbabwe People's Army (ZIPA), 1976 -- 10. The Geneva conference: old enemies and new friends -- 11. Post-Détente and the defeat of the ZANU left wing -- 12. I end up in a military camp -- 13. Traditional religion in the liberation struggle -- 14. The formation of the ZANU department of education -- 15. The Internal settlement and intensified armed struggle -- 16. The Lancaster house agreement -- 17. Prelude to independence -- 18. The fruits of independence -- 19. A vision of Zimabwe tomorrow -- Appendix 1: The Mgagao Declaration by Zimbabwe Freedom Fighters (October, 1975) -- Appendix 2: Curriculum Vitae: Fay Chung</p>