ENEMY PROPAGANDA !!!
We all remember propaganda
material captured or found in captured or abandoned CT bases and other places.
The Zimbabwe News magazine was one of the most detailed one and included “ Chimurenga War Communiques “. It tried to
convince the readers that ZANLA forces were victorious and the Rhodesian
Security Forces suffered an unbelievable high number of casualties and
destroyed war material.
Extract from the Chimurenga
War Communique No.19 – SEP to NOV 1978 involving Guard Force :
“ On 4th Sep 1978, ZANLA Forces ambushed and killed four
members of the regime,s guard force, seriously wounding two. The three minute
operation was carried out along the Morris Keep Road.
The
morning of the 11th of Sep 1978, was broken by the ZANLA sound of
mortar 82 mm shells, RPG firepower and submachine gun attack as Dawana enemy
military base in Uzumba reserve was devastated. 31 lifeless bodies of enemy
troops littered the ground. When the ZANLA forces and the local people went to
examine the
camp, they found a pathetic situation. The dead bodies of Canadian and American
mercenaries, some District Assistants and Guard Force lay amongst the empty beer cans which bore
silent witness to the extent the enemy is going to in an effort to raise the
morale of its troops by making them drunk to take their minds off their misery
in their beleaguered positions.
On
04 Oct 1978, ZANLA forces were involved in a pitched battle with enemy troops
in the Uzumba area. The enemy was forced to abandon its post along the Uzumba
to Mrewa road, where it left more than fifteen of its troops dead. A black
traitor [ Guard Force ] who
had participated in the battle on the side of the enemy was later captured
along the old Mrewa to Salisbury road trying to flee.He was eliminated by the
local people.
During
the months of Sep and Oct 1978, we succeeded in completely destroying most of
the keeps in the Mandeya area, blown up many enemy vehicles and carried out
effective ambushes. These glorious military victories were scored because our
strength to fight comes from the people themselves.
Chimurenga War
Communique No. 18 - JUN to AUG
1978.
“
As
part of the nation wide campaign of freeing Zimbabwean masses living in
concentration camps [ Protected Villages ], a heavily armed ZANLA mobile unit
attacked and destroyed a would -be concentration camp near Elisha’s village in
North Eastern Zimbabwe. Twenty of the
regime’s “ Guard Force “ [ a special force for guarding the keeps ] were
immobilized. This operation foiled the regime’s plans of herding the people of
Elisha’s village into the keep.
On
the 6th Jul 1978, ZANLA combatants simultaneously attacked three
concentration camps [ Protected Villages ] in the north eastern region of
Zimbabwe. Thousands of Zimbabweans were freed and resettled in the liberated
areas.
The
racist regime’s attempts to mobilize the masses of the Kamunjuwa concentration
camp were foiled when the liberation forces attacked this keep, killing several
fascist troops and seriously wounding others. These terrorist troops had to
come to persuade Zimbabwean masses to support the March 3rd sellout
agreement. This was on 7th July 1978.
Two
days later on the 9th of Jul 1978 ZANLA combatants attacked and
destroyed Nyamupunga “keep” in the same
area, freeing the imprisoned masses. This operation which was carried out with
the full participation of the local people claimed the lives of thirteen rebel
Rhodesian troops and the wounding of five others.
The
masses of the Matondo concentration camp were also freed on 11 Jul 1978 when
ZANLA combatants attacked and destroyed this keep. Eleven enemy troops who had
been called in to reinforce were killed when their vehicle detonated a ZANLA blocking mine. Several other racist troops were also
killed during the attack.”
We all knew the real situation on
the ground but what about ZANLA / ZANU
supporters within and outside the country. They believed and are still
believing these stories. HORST.
