The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) is a political party in Zimbabwe, formed in 1987 through a merger of the Zimbabwe African National Union and the Patriotic Front. It has been the ruling party since the country's independence in 1980, led by notable figures such as Robert Mugabe, who served as Prime Minister and later as President. ZANU-PF's ideology is rooted in nationalism and socialism, focusing on land reform and economic empowerment for the black majority. The party has faced criticism for its governance, including allegations of human rights abuses and electoral fraud, particularly during the controversial elections in the 2000s.