The british colony of rhodesia had effectively ruled itself since the 1920s, and by the 1960s. The conflict pitted three forces against one another. Naming it chimurenga was an act of reasserting control over ideological space that had been taken by the settlers in the first chimurenga. This cooperation spilled into the subsequent struggles for selfdetermination in zimbabwe. Mar 31, 20 the lessons of the zimbabwe liberation war arm, unrest, 1994 the victory of a seemingly militant zanu zimbabwe african national union in zimbabwes 1980 independence elections, following a long guerrilla war the chimurenga against white colonialism, was greeted with jubilation. Thirdly, the black bourgeoisie reconciled itself with its white counterparts, buying commercial farms, assuming senior positions in private corporations, and giving the white upper class prominent positions and a large say in the running of the state. Home notes ordinary level notes o level history notes causes of the second chimurenga and the udi. The ndebele equivalent, though not as widely used since the majority of zimbabweans are shona speaking, is umvukela, roughly meaning revolutionary struggle or uprising. Many other factors also caused the outbreak of the chimurenga ranging from reformist pressure politics to armed confrontation the grievances of the locals such as land deprivation, cattle keeping restrictions, inequalities in the education and health sector and poor working conditions were not addressed. The bsacs defeat of the 1896 shona and ndebele rebellion the first chimurenga secured the country for widespread european settlement. Causes of the second chimurenga and the udi free zimsec. Known to the englishspeaking world as the rhodesian bush war or the zimbabwe war of independence, the second chimurenga the shone term for revolutionary struggle saw a threeway competition for control of the landlocked, southern african former british colony. Jan 22, 2009 there was a basic similarity between the way in which rhodesian colonial historians looked at the central shona chimurenga rising of 1896 and t. The name chimurenga developed from the name murenga soro renzou, a zimbabwean chief of the munhumutapa dynasty.
Published in 2006, giving time for reflection and the benefit of hindsight, one would have expected fay chungs book, reliving the second chimurenga, to have adopted a revisionist stance. To the whites it was the rhodesian bush war and to the blacks it was the second chimurenga, the first having been the failed attempt at independence that happened in 18967. Ranger reconstruction of the organization of the chimurenga. Descriptions of the white rhodesian and black african personalities and strategies have been done and more work obviously is currently under way. Rhodesian bush war second chimurenga zimbabwe liberation. In march 1896, the ndebele matabele people revolted against the authority of the british south africa company in what is now celebrated in zimbabwe as the first war of independence. Fay chung the nordic africa institute 2006 in cooperation with weaver press. The role of oral traditions in the war of national. In what was then the british colony of southern rhodesia, the black uprising took place between 1964 and 1980. The international studies group at the university of the free state, south africa and the centre for historical and political studies on africa and the middle east of the department of political and social sciences at the.
The name chimurenga was coined by sororenzou murenga, who had led his people during first matabele war in 1893. The uprisings, which are examples of early african resistance movements capable of fighting with their own weapons and active methods, were a. The words modern interpretation broadly denotes a struggle for human rights, political dignity and social justice. Aug 09, 2012 second chimurenga celebrating our heroes part 1. The book is mainly a hispart iv which deal with political action attempts to evaluate african states within the context of their achieve ments, specifically in terms of the twin but related goals of. Mar 20, 2012 the first chimurenga is now celebrated in zimbabwe as the first war of independence, but it is best known in the anglosaxon world as the second matabele war. At age 15, i was ripe for the task cde rhodas karimakwenda, at the age of 15, took a decision not many teenagers could. Her account of the first years of independence is less substantial, but. Kubatana archive the third chimurenga and zimbabwes. It will evaluate historiography available on the subject, analyzing various weaknesses in scholarship due to the. The indigenous people waged what became known as chimurenga 1 and chimurenga 2 wars against the settlers which led to independence on the 18th of april 1980.
Beyond the third chimurenga theological reflections on the. The need to spread christianity and replace african traditional religion which was widely spread among africans led to the first chimurenga the influence of religious leaders such as mbuya nehanda, mlimo and sekuru kaguvi who were offering emotional and psychological support to the warriors led to the first chimurenga. Chimurenga war, 1964 known to the englishspeaking world as the rhodesian bush war or the zimbabwe war of independence, the second chimurenga the shone term for revolutionary struggle saw a threeway competition for control of the landlocked, southern african former british colony. But she considers the bsac worse than the dutch and the british. Reliving the second chimurenga 10 the narrative dealing with the liberation struggle and the period between 1973 and 1980 is by far the longest and the most important part of fay chungs memoirs. Rhodesian bush war second chimurenga zimbabwe liberation struggle. The first chimurenga waroccurred in 189697, inspired by spirit mediums of. Fay chungs revisionist attitude in reliving the second chimurenga. The first circumscribed lobengulas power in foreign policy issues while the second gave rhodes agents complete mineral rights and full powers to procure them in lobengulas territory. The first two parts deal with political forces and political. Her account of the first years of independence is less substantial, but it is valuable to have her version of the. Zimbabwe fought a bitter, extended liberation struggle against white minority misrule between 1966 and 1979, a war known as the second chimurenga second umvukela.
Zimbabwe had originally been part of the british colony rhodesia. Oct 27, 2016 the first chimurenga umvukela of 18961897 was an outraged reaction by locals against white invaders. The war of liberation which was dubbed chimurenga chechipiri or the second revolution was a fulfilment of the prophesy of a great shona spirit, mbuya nehanda, sister of the great shona prophet chaminuka. In the second quarter of 1896 limited resistance to european rule was being carried on. State six causes of the chimurenga war of 1896 1897. In the history of zimbabwe, the word was first used to refer to the wars of resistance 189697 fought by the local shona and ndebele peoples against colonisation by the. Other causes of tension were forced labour supply, hut tax of 10 shillings. Outline three causes of the franco mandika war 1891 1898 date posted. In specific historical terms, it also refers to the ndebele and shona insurrections against administration by the british south africa company during the late 1890sthe second. Posted in africa, democracy, governance, political freedoms. The victory of a seemingly militant zanu zimbabwe african national union in zimbabwes 1980 independence elections, following a long guerrilla war the chimurenga against white colonialism, was greeted with jubilation. Mar 15, 2018 in this video manners msongelwa explains the role which was played by ordinary citizens in support of the second chimurenga. In specific historical terms, it also refers to the ndebele and shona insurrections against administration by the british south africa company during the late 1890sthe second matabele war, or.
In this article, it will be argued that the first chimurenga, or uprising in southern rhodesia was a complex set of struggles over land, cattle, and taxes rather than a planned, unified movement intended to overthrow the whites. This conflict refers to the 18961897 ndebeleshona revolt against colonial rule by the british south africa company. The second matabele war, also known as the matabeleland rebellion and in zimbabwe as, took place from 189697. It can be roughly translated as revolutionary struggle. Mar 24, 2018 the resistance offered in 18967 became known as the first chimurenga by the africans but the second matabele war by the british. Nov 20, 2017 the resistance offered in 18967 became known as the first chimurenga by the africans but the second matabele war by the british. In this video manners msongelwa explains the role which was played by ordinary citizens in support of the second chimurenga. The uprisings, which are examples of early african resistance movements capable of fighting with their own weapons and active methods, were a fight for the stolen dignity, land and heritage by blacks. But this is exactly what does not exist in this country. Heroes who contributed zimbabwes liberation the chronicle. Beyond the third chimurenga theological reflections on. These passages provide an opportunity to engage students in a discussion about the historical legacy of the. As such, in zimbabwe during the first chimurenga, the traditional leaders and religious authorities were coordinated. It is also known in the english speaking world as the second matabele war.
It was on the basis of the rudd concession that the british government granted rhodes a. What exists is one chimurenga originating from one source and inspired by that one source but that first broke out in matebeleland and then. We conclude narrating the political life of cde gilbert msebele, whose war. Posted on august 9, 2012 by researchandadvocacyunit. The first chimurenga war occurred in 189697, inspired by spirit mediums of. The first chimurenga is now celebrated in zimbabwe as the first war of independence. Mbuya nehanda led the first war, chimurenga chekutanga against british colonial rule in zimbabwe and was hanged in the late eighteen hundreds. C publication the 96 rebellions, earl grey, the administrator of rhodesia cites two principle causes of the rebellion in matabeleland. Historically, a lot of material has been written and published on the second chimurenga war.
Jun 03, 2011 naming it chimurenga was an act of reasserting control over ideological space that had been taken by the settlers in the first chimurenga. The struggle for independence in colonial zimbabwe 19001980. This conflict refers to the 18961897 ndebeleshona revolt against the british south africa companys administration of the territory mlimo, the matabele spiritualreligious leader, is credited with fomenting much of the anger that. Below the inscription is a list of names of rhodesian settlers slain in the first organised resistance to colonial settlers, dubbed first chimurenga 1896 to 1898. In recent precolonial times two main ethnic groups used to inhabit zimbabwe.
In the local shona language, the word chimurenga refers to a violent uprising or revolt. We conclude narrating the political life of cde gilbert msebele, whose war name. In this article, it will be argued that the first chimurenga, or uprising in southern rhodesia was a complex set of struggles over land, cattle, and taxes rather than a planned, unified movement. This conflict refers to the 18961897 ndebeleshona revolt against the british south africa companys administration of the territory. The second part of the article will explore the vision of the liberation struggle in post independent zimbabwe. During the second chimurenga, oral traditions manifested themselves as part of the ideology of liberation from colonialism.
The second chimurenga started in the 1960s and ended in 1979 with the attainment of majority rule. The international studies group at the university of the free state, south africa and the centre for historical and political studies on africa and the middle east of. What are the causes of the first chimurenga answers. Instead the memoirs are a partisan statement putting forward a particular. Apr 26, 2018 in what was then the british colony of southern rhodesia, the black uprising took place between 1964 and 1980. Thirdly, the black bourgeoisie reconciled itself with its white counterparts, buying commercial farms, assuming senior positions in private corporations, and giving the white. The first chimurengaumvukela of 18961897 was an outraged reaction by. Land invasions on a small scale were beginning as early as 1997. Chimurenga is a word in the shona language, roughly meaning revolutionary struggle.
There was a basic similarity between the way in which rhodesian colonial historians looked at the central shona chimurenga rising of 1896 and t. The resistance offered in 18967 became known as the first chimurenga by the africans but the second matabele war by the british. It had been a selfgoverning colony since 1923, but with a. First it incorporated the hurundwende, guerrilla forces, trade unions and womens groups into the state and zanu. Pdf on may 15, 2018, tsiidzai matsika and others published regendering zimbabwes.
Education, or rather the lack of it, was an area that caused bitter re sentment. In both davis first and second inaugural addresses, he repeatedly connects the cause of the confederacy in maintaining the racial structure that undergirded slavery as part of the revolutionary legacy of the founding fathers. Mugabe was under pressure from all quarters politically for the first time, and internally from his staunchest allies, the war veterans of the second chimurenga, many of whom were landless and povertystricken. It was on the basis of the rudd concession that the british government granted rhodes a charter for the colonisation of zimbabwe. Causes of the second chimurenga and the udi ian smith signing the udi.