Zimbabwe’s Liberation with Takawira Chatambudza

In this episode, we explore the Zimbabwean liberation struggle—a war that redefined Southern Africa and left lasting political and military scars across the region.

Takawira Chatambudza joins us to unpack the origins of the nationalist movements, the split between ZANU and ZAPU, and how their armed wings—ZANLA and ZIPRA—fought on different fronts with different doctrines. We talk about guerrilla tactics, ideological influence from China and the Soviet Union, and how newly independent frontline states like Mozambique and Angola changed the course of the war.

Taka also offers a grounded, firsthand view of Rhodesian counterinsurgency tactics, including the controversial role of the Selous Scouts and their deep infiltration operations, and we revisit pivotal moments like the Lancaster House Agreement, ZIPRA’s cross-border raids, and the collapse of internal unity efforts like ZIPA.

This episode brings together politics, warfare, and memory from a perspective rarely heard in Western military history circles.

Takawira’s work

Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Zimbabwe’s Liberation Struggle (Edited) – https://amzn.to/3H3f3XT

Want more?

For Better Or Worse? Women And ZANLA In Zimbabwe's Liberation Struggle – https://amzn.to/43gKeXe

The Army and Politics in Zimbabwe – https://amzn.to/43kG1St

More from Underground Strategy

Discover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7

Join the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.