Mugabe and others in the NDP were furious at Nkomo's compromise.
Commenting on ZANU-PF's activities in eastern Rhodesia, Nkomo complained that“the word intimidation is mild.
Both he and others rejected Nkomo's proposal that they establish a government-in-exile in Dar es Salaam.
There, he and Nkomo presented themselves as part of the“Patriotic Front”, but established
separate headquarters in the city.
Describing Nkomo as“a cobra in the house” Mugabe sacked him from the government,
and seized ZAPU-owned businesses and properties.
Likening Nkomo to“a cobra in the house”,
Mugabe sacked him from the government, and ZAPU-owned businesses, farms, and properties were seized.
Mugabe insisted that in the election, ZANU would stand as a separate party to ZAPU,
and refused Nkomo's request for a meeting.
Nkomo led an NDP delegation,
which hoped that the British would support the creation of an independent state governed by the black majority.
Following negotiations, Nkomo agreed to a proposal which would allow the black
population representation through 15 of the 65 seats in the country's parliament.
Nkomo wanted to present himself as a moderate while Mugabe played
up to his image as a Marxist revolutionary, with Carington exploiting this division.
To avoid further violence, in December 1987 Nkomo signed a Unity Accord in which ZAPU was officially disbanded
and its leadership merged into ZANU-PF.