GP. 5 MREWA

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.