ISSN 2756-3456
Global Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 9 (4), pp. 001-014, April, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
War legacy: A reflection on the effects of the Rhodesian Security Forces (RSF) in south eastern Zimbabwe during Zimbabwe’s war of liberation 1976 - 1980
Mediel Hove
War and Strategic Studies-Department of History, University of Zimbabwe, Box MP 167, MP, Harare, Zimbabwe. E-mail: [email protected].
Accepted 17 October, 2019
Abstract
As its central thesis, this paper discusses the effects of the Rhodesian Security Forces (RSF) operations during Zimbabwe’s liberation war on the Hlengwe/Shangaan (a minority group in the south eastern Zimbabwe) from 1976 to 1980. Their homeland was a deeply contested terrain (part of what was dubbed the Gaza province by ZANLA) between the RSF and the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA). Supported by archival, published and unpublished documentary evidence, oral interviews and internet sources the study argues that the Hlengwe/Shangaan area is laden with sites of wartime violence, its inhabitants were; terrorized largely by the RSF, susceptible to the chemical and biological warfare and the deplorable conditions of the protected villages and lost a significant number of cattle to the contending forces. Furthermore the establishment of the Malvernia-Crooks Corner minefield displaced and separated them from their kin on the Mozambican side. As a result of the establishment of the lethal anti-personnel minefield, which continues to kill and maim people and animals long after the war ended, socio-economic development can not take place in the mined area until the anti-personnel mines are removed.
Key words: Rhodesian Security Forces, Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army, south eastern Zimbabwe, PVS, landmine, Shangaan.