World Notes ZIMBABWE

Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe joined hands in 1980 to fight a guerrilla war against their country's white-minority government. But soon after Rhodesia became Zimbabwe, the longtime rivals parted acrimoniously. Mugabe ruled the country as Prime Minister with the support of his ethnic group, the Shona, who make up about 80% of the population. Nkomo headed the main opposition party, composed of the Ndebele people. He was accused by the government of being behind Ndebele freedom fighters in the area of southwestern Zimbabwe known as Matabeleland. Since 1982 the rebels and the Shonas have waged a war that has claimed thousands of lives.

Last week Mugabe and Nkomo agreed to merge their factions to form a single- party Marxist-Leninist state. "We are one," said Mugabe. The Prime Minister will assume leadership of the new party, which will bear the name of his Zimbabwe African National Union (Patriotic Front). Nkomo is likely to become one of his two deputies.