Insights into the impacts of Guerrilla violence in shaping war-time relationships in Rural Zimbabwe, 1966–1979

Abstract

Using Zaka, a district located in Masvingo province, this study scrutinises the nature and dynamics of Zimbabwe's liberation war in the countryside. It focuses on the memories of the liberation war in Zaka to demonstrate how guerrilla violence defined guerrilla–civilian relations in rural Zimbabwe. The study shows that the liberation war in the countryside was a struggle for power, domination and influence right from the peasants, chimbwidos and mujibhas (young female and male guerrilla assistants respectively) to the lowest-ranked guerrilla up to the top general.