The Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU)

Nkomo and Garfield Todd

• It was formed eight days after the NDP was banned
• The Whitehead government was planning for election in 1962 under the new constitution
• It constricted its repressive laws and continued arresting and harassing African nationalists
• ZAPU was also most likely going to face the same fate as its predecessors but the leaders agreed that there would be no successive party as ZAPU was to remain till independence
• ZAPU Vice President Dr. Samuel Parirenyatwa was killed in a suspicious accident on 14 August 1962
• The colonial government banned ZAPU on 19 September 1962 and leaders were once again confined to their birth areas
• The 1962 elections were won by a more racist party, the Rhodesian Front under Winston Field
• Harassment and repression worsened and many nationalist leaders were arrested and tried and sentenced to imprisonment

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