Records of the Zimbabwe African National Union

Political papers from the Zimbabwe African National Union, 1974-1976; publicity material, 1975-1977; and papers from other organisations, 1974-1976. Includes some papers relating to the circumstances surrounding the death of Herbert Chitepo, the ZANU National Chairman who was assassinated in March 1975 in Lusaka (Zambia). They include press releases; a memorandum to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Foreign Ministers calling for a repudiation of Southern African detente policies; and documents from ZANU support groups in the United States.

The Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) was formed in August 1963 after a group of Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) members, disenchanted with the leadership of Joshua Nkomo, decided to found a new, more militant organisation. The movement, under the leadership of Ndabaningi Sithole and Robert Mugabe, was banned by Ian Smith's governing Rhodesian Front in 1964 and its leadership detained. ZANU nevertheless continued to be active and began guerrilla operations in 1969, basing itself in neighbouring Mozambique from 1974.
Mugabe assumed unilateral control of ZANU on 18th March, 1975. Later that year, a factional split along tribal lines led the Ndebele to follow Sithole into the moderate ZANU (Ndonga) party, who renounced violent struggle, while the Shona followed Mugabe with a more militant agenda.
ZANU won the 1980 elections under the leadership of Mugabe, and seven years later merged again with Joshua Nkomo's ZAPU to form the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF).

Cde Enos Chamunorwa Chikowore was a member of the Zanu-PF Politburo and later a Cabinet Minister in Robert Mugabe's government. In 1963, when the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) was formed, Chikowore became its first National Secretary for Youth Affairs. He left the country in 1966 for Zambia where he was instrumental in the formation of the Dare reChimurenga. In 1967, he went to the United Kingdom and studied for a Diploma in Public Administration from the University of York, before proceeding to study Law at the University of Leeds. While in the United Kingdom, Chikowore was a ZANU student representative.
Together with others, Chikowore was responsible for the welfare of the nationalists during the Lancaster House talks, which lasted for three months from October to December 1979. At Independence in 1980, Chikowore was elected into the House of Assembly where he became the Parliamentary Deputy Chief Whip. He was later appointed to various ministerial positions.

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws.

The documents were deposited with the Borthwick Institute as part of a collection formed by the Centre for Southern African Studies Documentation Project (1974-1976) at the University of York. Funded by the Leverhulme Trust Fund the Documentation Project was established to build up a collection of primary source material on southern Africa.

The Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) was formed in August 1963 after a group of Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) members, disenchanted with the leadership of Joshua Nkomo, decided to found a new, more militant organisation. The movement, under the leadership of Ndabaningi Sithole and Robert Mugabe, was banned by Ian Smith's governing Rhodesian Front in 1964 and its leadership detained. ZANU nevertheless continued to be active and began guerrilla operations in 1969, basing itself in neighbouring Mozambique from 1974.
Mugabe assumed unilateral control of ZANU on 18th March, 1975. Later that year, a factional split along tribal lines led the Ndebele to follow Sithole into the moderate ZANU (Ndonga) party, who renounced violent struggle, while the Shona followed Mugabe with a more militant agenda.
ZANU won the 1980 elections under the leadership of Mugabe, and seven years later merged again with Joshua Nkomo's ZAPU to form the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF).

Cde Enos Chamunorwa Chikowore was a member of the Zanu-PF Politburo and later a Cabinet Minister in Robert Mugabe's government. In 1963, when the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) was formed, Chikowore became its first National Secretary for Youth Affairs. He left the country in 1966 for Zambia where he was instrumental in the formation of the Dare reChimurenga. In 1967, he went to the United Kingdom and studied for a Diploma in Public Administration from the University of York, before proceeding to study Law at the University of Leeds. While in the United Kingdom, Chikowore was a ZANU student representative.
Together with others, Chikowore was responsible for the welfare of the nationalists during the Lancaster House talks, which lasted for three months from October to December 1979. At Independence in 1980, Chikowore was elected into the House of Assembly where he became the Parliamentary Deputy Chief Whip. He was later appointed to various ministerial positions.

Anne V Akeroyd and Colin P Lunt (eds.), A Guide to the Southern African Archives in the University of York, (York, 1979).
A typescript catalogue, to file level, is available for consultation in the Borthwick Institute's searchrooms.

Description compiled by James Towe on 3 July 2009.

A reprographics service is available to researchers. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute, University of York, terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought.

Further deposits are not expected.

Published

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