Joshua Nkomo

Politics

Nkomo founded the National Democratic Party (NDP), and in 1960, the year British prime minister Harold MacMillan spoke of the "wind of change" blowing through Africa, Robert Mugabe joined him.

Related Topics:
1960 - Harold MacMillan - Robert Mugabe

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The NDP was banned by Ian Smith's white minority government, and it was subsequently replaced by the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU), also founded by Nkomo and Mugabe, in 1962, itself immediately banned. ZAPU split in 1963 and while some have claimed this split was due to ethnic tensions, more accurately the split was motivated by the failure of Sithole, Mugabe, Takawira and Malianga to wrest control of ZAPU from Nkomo. ZAPU would remain a multi-ethnic party right up until independence.

Related Topics:
Ian Smith - Zimbabwe African Peoples Union - 1962

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An unpopular government called Zimbabwe-Rhodesia led by Abel Muzorewa was formed in 1979 between Ian Smith and Ndabaningi Sithole's ZANU, which by now had also split from Robert Mugabe's more military ZANU faction. However, the civil war waged by Nkomo and Mugabe continued unabated, and Britain and the USA did not lift sanctions on the country. Britain persuaded all parties to come to Lancaster House in September 1979 to work out a constitution and the basis for fresh elections. Mugabe and Nkomo shared a delegation, called the Patriotic Front (PF), at the negotiations chaired by Lord Carrington. Elections were held in 1980, and to most observers' surprise Nkomo's ZAPU lost in a landslide to Mugabe's ZANU. The effects of this election would be horrendous from Zimbabwe, as it made both ZAPU and ZANU into tribally-based parties, ZANU with the majority Shona, ZAPU the minority Ndebele. Nkomo was offered the ceremonial post of President, but declined. He was appointed to the cabinet, but in 1982 was accused of plotting a coup after South African double agents in Zimbabwe's Central Intelligence Organization, who were attempting to cause distrust between ZAPU and ZANU, planted arms on ZAPU owned farms, and then tipped Mugabe off to their existence. Mugabe unleashed the notorious Fifth Brigade upon Nkomo's Matabeleland homeland, operation Gukurahundi, in an attempt to destroy ZAPU and create a one-party state.

Related Topics:
Zimbabwe-Rhodesia - Abel Muzorewa - 1979 - Ian Smith - Ndabaningi Sithole - ZANU - Robert Mugabe - Lancaster House - Lord Carrington - 1980 - ZAPU - President - 1982 - Fifth Brigade - Gukurahundi

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After the Gukurahundi, in 1987 Nkomo consented to the absorption of ZANU into Zanu-PF, leaving Zimbabwe as effectively a one-party state, and leading some Ndebeles to accuse Nkomo of selling out. In a powerless post, and with his health failing, his influence declined.

Related Topics:
Gukurahundi - 1987 - Zanu-PF - Ndebele

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