Dzino: Memories of a Freedom Fighter

By late 1975, in the détente that followed the coup in Portugal, the guerilla war in Rhodesia was almost at a standstill. But so were the talks about a negotiated settlement. In January 1976, frustrated with the failure of the politicians to make progress, the Zimbabwe People's Army (ZIPA) resumed the war. ZIPA brought together fighters from both of the guerilla forces, ZANLA and ZIPRA. One of its commanders was Wilfred Mhanda, known more famously during the liberation struggle as Dzinashe 'Dzino' Machingura. His story tells of Zipa's bold attempt to provide a more unified, radical and focussed leadership for the struggle at a time of the assassination and arrest of key nationalist leaders, intense nationalist party rivalries, and a range of imperialist interventions in the region. It also provides the most comprehensive description to date of Robert Mugabe's rise to power in ZANU-PF. Dzino is a compelling blend of the personal and the political, and makes an invaluable contribution to the country's written history.