Opinion / Columnist
The occupation of Northern Mashonaland by freedom figghters
24 Jun 2017 at 19:15hrs | Views
Northern Mashonaland was infiltrated and totally occupies by the freedom fighters in a bid to liberate Zimbabwe from Rhodesia in the early 70s until 1979.
The Northern Mashonaland included, Sipolilo now Guruve, Umvukwes (Mvurwi) together with Centenary and the Zambezi valley.
During that period it witnessed a lot of activities, it swallowed up murder, abduction ,of both soldiers and civilians .
White farmers were also captured so were locals before being murdered by soldier, there was uncertainty on the part of members of Rhodesian soldiers therefore they sweated day and night due to sporadic attacks.
In the late 70s a number of freedom fighters who were called externally trained hard cores by the Smith regime infiltrated in the Northern remote part of Sipolilo Guruve with the intention of recruiting the locals to join the liberation struggle.
The freedom fighters recruiting campaign in the part of the Zambezi valley was met with success.
The use of sophisticated weapons such as Anti-AIR, Kanyau and having a life of luxury after the struggle motivated the locals to join the liberation armed struggle.
The combined Rhodesian security, intelligence agencies who operated in subverted areas of now Mashonaland Central, questioned the locals who were suspected of having assisted freedom fighters, made arrests detentions and torture.
This resulted in the death of many civilians.
War intensified 1978-9where I witnessed one of the first aerial bombardments of locals, comrades at Chingurwi Mts in Kachuta, Sipolilo in September 1978.
There were more than 10 aeroplanes including 2 jet fighters, a Dakota, Spotter plane one known as Kadidiya in Shona, one gated plane and 5 helicopters.
Jet fighters were displaying their aerobatics styles by bombarding innocent civilians and comrades.
This resulted in gnashing of teeth for many locals since our dear brothers and sisters were being virtually bombarded.
Two helicopters were gunned down by freedom fighters; some areas in Sipolilo were declared liberated zones by both ZANLA and ZIPRA forces.
They used to say "WE ARE OUR LIBERATED ZONES DIRECT BY CONFONTATION."
The Northern Mashonaland included, Sipolilo now Guruve, Umvukwes (Mvurwi) together with Centenary and the Zambezi valley.
During that period it witnessed a lot of activities, it swallowed up murder, abduction ,of both soldiers and civilians .
White farmers were also captured so were locals before being murdered by soldier, there was uncertainty on the part of members of Rhodesian soldiers therefore they sweated day and night due to sporadic attacks.
In the late 70s a number of freedom fighters who were called externally trained hard cores by the Smith regime infiltrated in the Northern remote part of Sipolilo Guruve with the intention of recruiting the locals to join the liberation struggle.
The freedom fighters recruiting campaign in the part of the Zambezi valley was met with success.
The use of sophisticated weapons such as Anti-AIR, Kanyau and having a life of luxury after the struggle motivated the locals to join the liberation armed struggle.
This resulted in the death of many civilians.
War intensified 1978-9where I witnessed one of the first aerial bombardments of locals, comrades at Chingurwi Mts in Kachuta, Sipolilo in September 1978.
There were more than 10 aeroplanes including 2 jet fighters, a Dakota, Spotter plane one known as Kadidiya in Shona, one gated plane and 5 helicopters.
Jet fighters were displaying their aerobatics styles by bombarding innocent civilians and comrades.
This resulted in gnashing of teeth for many locals since our dear brothers and sisters were being virtually bombarded.
Two helicopters were gunned down by freedom fighters; some areas in Sipolilo were declared liberated zones by both ZANLA and ZIPRA forces.
They used to say "WE ARE OUR LIBERATED ZONES DIRECT BY CONFONTATION."
Source - Givestar Kamuzonde
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