On this day in 1925, politician and religious leader Bishop Abel Muzorewa was born in Old Umtali (Mutare), Zimbabwe. Muzorewa studied theology at Old Umtali Bible School, he was ordained as a Methodist priest in 1963 and in 1968 he was ordained as Bishop. In 1971, together Canaan Banana, they formed the United African National Congress (UANC). In 1978-79, he was the principal negotiator with Ian Smith and the negotiations led to the formation of the Interim Government making him the first black Prime Minister of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia under the Internal Settlement. However, other parties (ZANU and ZAPU) did not support rather they continued with the armed struggle. Muzorewa’s reign as Prime Minister ended at the Lancaster in 1980 when Zimbabwe was declared independent. He died in 2010.
On this day in 1940, Lieutenant General Lookout Khalisabantu Vumindaba Masuku was born. During the Second Chimurenga Masuku commanded the Zimbabwe People’s Reolutionary Army a military wing of the Zimbabwe African People’s Revolutionary Army (ZAPU) and after independance he served the country as the deputy commander of the Zimbabwe national Army (ZNA) up until 1982. In 1982, Lookout Masuku, Dumiso Dabengwa were arrested for allegedly planning to overthrow then Prime Minister Robert Mugabe. The supreme Court acquitted them on all counts but the police detained the officials for 4 years. Masuku was released from prison in March 1986 due to poor health and he died the following month.
On this day in 1978, Rhodesian military troops ZAPU rebels at their base in Luangwa, Zambia. The attack went on up to the 8th of March, 53 fighters including Zambian soldiers lost their lives.
On this day in 1978, the attack on ZAPU rebels by Rhodesian forces in Luangwa came to an end, resulting in the deaths of 42 ZAPU rebels ten Zambian military personnel and one Rhodesian government soldier.
The Rhodesian air-force attacked the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) in Zambia on this day in 1979. This clash ended on the 23rd resulting in the death of eighteen (18) individuals.
On this day in 1979, the attack launched By Rhodesian army and military on ZAPU rebels between Lusaka and Malungushi, Zambia came to an end. Twelve ZAPU rebels died.
On this day in 1980, Robert Mugabe was declared prime minister of Zimbabwe after his ZANU (PF) party won 57 seats out of 80 seats in the general elections held to elect a government which would lead the country after being granted independence. In his speech, Mugabe mentioned that he will negotiate for a coalition government with Joshua Nkomo leader of the ZAPU (PF) party.
The Zimbabwean Prime Minister Robert Mugabe dismissed ZAPU members from coalition government including Joshua Nkomo on this day in 1982.
On this day in 1982, commander of the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA), a militant wing of Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) Lookout Masuku died due to cryptococcal meningitis at Parirenyatwa Hospital. General Masuku died a few weeks after his release from prison at the age of 45.
On this day in 1987, the House of Assembly elected Robert Mugabe as executive president of Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo signed the Unity Accord, which provided for the merge of ZANU and ZAPU into ZANU-PF on the same day. This was a turning point in Zimbabwe’s post-independence history as it marked the forging of an alliance between the countries major political players. The signing of the document ended the so called nationwide conflict that existed since 1963 between ZANU and ZAPU.