ABSTRACT
Chapter 1 A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE WAR FOR ZIMBABWE 1965-1979
1.1 The Early Years By 1890 there were already a number of white sett lers inhabiting what was later known as the British colony of Southern Rhodesia. The impingement of white interests upon indigenous black customs and property, however, led to racial tension. So, in 1893 and again in 1895, the Matabele regiments rose up under their king, Lobengula, in the first free dom struggles or Chimurenga against the whites. Al though the black warriors were overwhelmingly defea ted this did not secure the position of the white settlers, who remained ill at ease in their isola ted outposts across Mashonaland. White military preparedness was consequently directed towards securing internal security and remained so for a number of years.
