ZANLA (Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army) – The military wing of the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), one of the two main nationalist movements that fought against white minority rule in Rhodesia during the Rhodesian Bush War (1964-1979). Led by Robert Mugabe and relying primarily on Maoist guerrilla warfare tactics, ZANLA operated mainly from bases in Mozambique and conducted insurgent operations in eastern and northern Rhodesia. The organization received training and support from China and sympathetic African states. ZANLA forces, along with their rival liberation movement ZIPRAZIPRA (Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army) – The military wing of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), one of the two primary nationalist mov... More (Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army), eventually merged to form the Zimbabwe National Army following independence in 1980. The Bush War resulted in approximately 30,000 deaths before the conflict ended with the Lancaster House Agreement and Rhodesia’s transition to independent Zimbabwe.
