ZANU-PF wins the first free elections in Zimbabwe

Map of Zimbabwe

Date: 4 Mar 1980
Updated: 30 Nov 2025

ZANU-PF wins the first free elections in Zimbabwe — Map of Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) won the first free elections in Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe, president of ZANU since 1977, became the prime minister. Joshua Nkomo and his Patriotic Front-ZAPU (PF-ZAPU) party trailed Mugabe's ZANU-PF by 20-57seats in the new 100-seat parliament. Mugabe formed a Government of National Unity by drawing its members from all major political parties of the fifteen-year conflict. Nkomo was offered the ceremonial post of president, but declined. PF-ZAPU under Nkomo retained a stronghold in the province of Matabeleland. The effects of this election would make both ZAPU and ZANU into tribally-based parties, ZANU with backing from the Shona majority, and ZAPU the Ndebele minority.

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01BBC News,"1980: Mugabe to lead independent Zimbabwe",From: BBC News,[Online],Available at: news.bbc.co.uk,[Accessed on:05 February 2014]
02Bute, E.L. & Harmer, H.J.P. (1997). The Black Handbook, London: Cassell.

Last updated · 30 Nov 2025

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). ZANU-PF wins the first free elections in Zimbabwe. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012410

South African History Online (2011) 'ZANU-PF wins the first free elections in Zimbabwe', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012410 (Accessed: 7 August 2026).

South African History Online, ZANU-PF wins the first free elections in Zimbabwe [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012410, (accessed 7 August 2026).

"ZANU-PF wins the first free elections in Zimbabwe." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012410. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "ZANU-PF wins the first free elections in Zimbabwe." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012410.