Zimbabwe’s interior minister Joshua Nkomo is dismissed

Date: 17 Feb 1982
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Joshua Nkomo, long time friend of Robert Mugabe, was dismissed as minister of the interior on the accusation of plotting a coup in Zimbabwe. This triggered bitter fighting between Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) supporters in the Ndebele-speaking region of the country and the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU). Between 1982 and 1985 the military brutally crushed armed resistance in Ndebeleland and Mugabe's rule was left secure. At least 20 000 died in the ensuing massacres.

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How we know this

01News24, Key Dates in Zim's post-independence history, from News24, [online], Available at www.news24.com [Accessed: 21 January 2014]
02sirnige.com, Key Dates in Zim's post-independence history, from Sir Nigel's Journey..., [online], Available at sirnige.com [Accesed: 21 January 2014]
03BBC, (1999), Obituary: Joshua Nkomo, from BBC News, 01 July, [online], Available at news.bbc.co.uk [Accessed: 21 January 2014]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Zimbabwe’s interior minister Joshua Nkomo is dismissed. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012511

South African History Online (2011) 'Zimbabwe’s interior minister Joshua Nkomo is dismissed', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012511 (Accessed: 17 August 2026).

South African History Online, Zimbabwe’s interior minister Joshua Nkomo is dismissed [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012511, (accessed 17 August 2026).

"Zimbabwe’s interior minister Joshua Nkomo is dismissed." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012511. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Zimbabwe’s interior minister Joshua Nkomo is dismissed." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012511.