2 - Fireborn I

Summary

Chapter 2 relies on unique access to Mujuru’s family members to make known his traumatic and nomadic upbringing. The chapter traces the roots of Mujuru’s nationalist political consciousness, which saw him leave Rhodesia for Zambia in 1967 to join the liberation struggle with ZAPU. It argues that some of Mujuru’s character and political perceptions were shaped by his time in 1960s Bulawayo, an urban site of colonial oppression and home to a vibrant cultural life. The chapter also argues that there are some pointers to the future from Mujuru’s upbringing, namely his great courage, proximity to violence and continual displacement. Lastly, the chapter details Mujuru’s military training in ZAPU and the reasons for and nature of his defection to ZANLA in 1971.