The Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) was the military wing of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), formed in the 1960s during the struggle against British colonial rule and white minority rule in Rhodesia. ZIPRA aimed to achieve independence for Zimbabwe through armed struggle, engaging in guerrilla warfare against the government forces. ZIPRA was primarily composed of Ndebele fighters and received support from the Soviet Union and China. After Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980, ZIPRA was integrated into the national army, contributing to the establishment of a unified military force in the newly independent nation.