Zimbabwe: liberation nationalism - old and born-again

Abstract

In April 1980 Zimbabwe was born amid equal measures of celebration for the triumph over Rhodesian colonialism and expectation of the challenges that lay ahead. After seven years of armed struggle and decades of economic and political repression, inequality and conflict under white colonialism, the prospect of a new progressive order under two avowedly leftist liberation movement parties pointed to opportunities for substantial redistribution and development, and the establishment of an inclusive, participatory government in place of white minority rule. Under majority rule, the new Zimbabwean state was envisaged as the primary vehicle for this project, with the liberation movements led by Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) providing political guidance and legitimacy, and popular sections of civil society - the labour movement, collective cooperatives, progressive media, churches and rights organisations, and others - providing support in consultation and...