Fighting for Time: Rhodesia’s Military and Zimbabwe’s Independence by Charles D. Melson

Author:Charles D. Melson [Melson, Charles D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781952715075
Google: iv0hEAAAQBAJ
Publisher: Casemate Academic
Published: 2021-02-04T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 7

Cross-border Attacks

No Sanctuary

Rhodesian cross-border, or “external,” operations were variously denied, considered hot-pursuit, or known as column attacks. Of direct interest were incursions conducted into the Frontline States of Zambia, Botswana, and Mozambique that provided support, basing, and access to Rhodesia for the nationalists.¹ These started against ZPRA in Zambia as early 1966. In 1967, operations along with South Africans within Rhodesia and with Portuguese armed forces in Mozambique began. By 1970, ZPRA was being targeted in Botswana with direct action to follow. To this point, external operations were clandestine or covert and kept hidden. External operations in Zambia and Botswana were run for the Operations Coordinating Committee by the CIO and by the military with the Portuguese and South Africans. This changed in 1973 with JOC Hurricane activities from Mukumbura and Macombe of a more autonomous nature against ZANLA in Mozambique. While the efforts directed at Zambia and Botswana were against supposed neutrals and fellow Commonwealth members, the 1974 exit of Portugal from Mozambique was seen to create hostile territory open to unilateral action by the security forces. Activities were put on hold for a time as an attempt was made through 1975 to secure an agreed-upon ceasefire with all parties. Infiltration from Mozambique increased as ZANLA’s support by the Marxist independence government became a major factor. A new phase began in 1976, after the guerrilla staging areas closest to the border were pushed back by the Rhodesian policy of “hot pursuit.” This remained the case until the camps extended in size and area that could no longer be effectively contained. The result was expanded air attacks and switching to transportation or economic targets. From 1977, cross-border raids were conducted by Combined Operations of a joint or combined character which were often complex and large scale, with significant political or diplomatic impact.

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