Zimbabwean Independence and Gukurahundi

Zimbabwe became independent in April 1980 after the Lancaster House settlement and an election won by Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF. The new state inherited institutions, land disputes and military forces shaped by the liberation war.

Tension between ZANU-PF and Joshua Nkomo’s ZAPU escalated into military operations in Matabeleland. The Fifth Brigade’s campaign, known as Gukurahundi, caused large-scale civilian deaths and displacement before the 1987 Unity Accord.