During the Rhodesian Bush War two rival nationalist parties , Robert Mugabe 's Zimbabwe African National Union ( ZANU ) and Joshua Nkomo 's Zimbabwe African People 's Union ( ZAPU ) , had emerged Coming_to_be to challenge Rhodesia 's predominantly white government .

The conflict Hostile_encounter pitted Hostile_encounter three forces against one another : the Rhodesian government , led by Ian Smith ( later the Zimbabwe-Rhodesian government of Bishop Abel Muzorewa ) ; the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army , the military wing of Robert Mugabe 's Zimbabwe African National Union ; and the Zimbabwe People 's Revolutionary Army of Joshua Nkomo 's Zimbabwe African People 's Union .