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Rhodesian Bush War
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Four soldiers in camouflage uniforms stand near the wreckage of an Air Rhodesia passenger plane, with twisted propeller and burned fuselage, in a wooded area. Map of Africa highlighting the region historically known as Rhodesia, located in south-central Africa, with present-day Zimbabwe shaded in orange for emphasis. Surrounding countries and major bodies of water are shown for geographic context. Rhodesian leader Ian Smith Rhodesian soldiers in uniform stand and crouch beside a row of seized heavy machine guns and other weapons outdoors, with buildings and trees in the background. Delegates including Bishop Abel Muzorewa, Lord Carrington, Dr. Nkomo, and Robert Mugabe seated at a long table signing the agreement on Zimbabwe's independence at Lancaster House.
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Four soldiers in camouflage uniforms stand near the wreckage of an Air Rhodesia passenger plane, with twisted propeller and burned fuselage, in a wooded area.
The wreckage of an Air Rhodesia passenger plane shot down by the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) during the Rhodesian Bush War, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), February 13, 1979

Rhodesian Bush War

Southern African history
Also known as: Second Chimurenga, Zimbabwe Liberation War, Zimbabwe War of Independence(Show More)
Written by
Chinatsu Tsuji
Chinatsu Tsuji was an assistant editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Chinatsu TsujiAll
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
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•History

Rhodesian Bush War, the war (c. 1965–79) in Rhodesia—a self-declared country without international recognition, now Zimbabwe—in Southern Africa that began between the forces of the white minority-led government and two Black nationalist insurgent groups, the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) and the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA). Prior to the conflict, the territory that became Zimbabwe was a British colonial holding. The war was precipitated by the white minority-led government’s resistance to British overtures...

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