Our War of Liberation: Speeches and Writings (1983)

Summary

Robert Mugabe's "Our War of Liberation: Speeches and Writings (1983)" argues that the armed struggle was the inevitable and necessary means to achieve genuine African liberation and self-determination in Zimbabwe, condemning settler colonial rule as inherently oppressive and illegitimate. The speeches and writings collected here, primarily from the period of the Rhodesian Bush War, articulate the ideological underpinnings of the liberation movement, focusing on the need for armed resistance to dismantle the racist and discriminatory structures imposed by the white minority government. Mugabe frames the conflict as a just war, a continuation of historical African resistance against foreign domination, and emphasizes the sacrifices required for victory.

The book provides insight into the strategic and rhetorical strategies employed by ZANU-PF and Mugabe himself to mobilize popular support, justify the armed struggle, and define the vision for post-independence Zimbabwe. Key themes include national unity, the critique of imperialism and neocolonialism, and the assertion of African nationalism. Readers gain an understanding of the historical narrative constructed by the liberation movement, its justifications for violence, and its vision for a new, independent nation free from colonial legacies. The collection serves as a historical record of ZANU-PF's ideology during a pivotal…

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Key concepts

• Chimurenga — The Shona term for "struggle," used to denote specific periods of armed resistance against colonial rule in Zimbabwe, particularly the liberation war.
• Settler Colonialism — A form of colonialism where colonizers settle on the land and establish permanent dominance, creating a distinct social and political structure separate from the metropole.
• African Nationalism — A political ideology advocating for the self-determination, independence, and unity of African peoples and states.
• Imperialism — A policy or ideology of extending a country's rule and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means.