The culture of defending Zimbabwe dates back to the pre-Colonial era where king’s soldiers and warriors mobilised to deal with threats to societal existence. This culture has its genesis from the Changamire wars of resistance to initial European encroachment, the Anglo-Ndebele War of Dispossession (1893) and the First Chimurenga (1896-97). Despite the initial setbacks, this culture was re-ignited in the 1960’s during the war of liberation that gave birth to Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe African People’s Union and Zimbabwe African National Union’s military wings exploits (the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army ZIPRA and the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army ZANLA) proved heroic. These could not be ignored when negotiations for independence at the Lancaster House were crafted. The ZNA drew its membership from 3 former belligerent Armies, namely; the Rhodesian Army, the ZANLA and ZIPRA.

Lieutenant General George Peter Walls was assigned to supervise the forces’ integration process. Later the Joint High Command (JHC), was established in March 1980 to spearhead the integration of forces into the ZNA. These were, the Rhodesian Army Commander Lieutenant General LC Maclean, ZANLA and ZIPRA represented by their respective Commanders, Generals TRS Mujuru and L Masuku respectively.