Leftist groups began the Rhodesian Bush War in the mid 1970s in an attempt to overthrow the conservative government in place in Salisbury. The militant ZANU group (Zimbabwe African National Union) led by [[Robert Mugabe]] were given assistance by communists and adopted Moaist teaching. Liberals often deny the communist influence of the "liberation" groups that fought against teh Rhodesian government. Liberals also try to make the Rhodesian government look racist; it was not.