The armed struggle

Early phase 1966- 1968

The armed struggle officially started in 1966 and ended with the achievement of independence in 1980.

The early phase began in 1966- 1968,several battles were fought during the first phase of the armed
struggle, but the freedom fighters were not successful. The main battles fought during this phase were
the Chinhoyi battle, Hwange battle and the Guruve battle.

The armed struggle in Zimbabwe was started in Manicaland by a ZANU group called the crocodile gang
led by William Ndangana. The group created a roadblock in the Chimanimani area and killed Peter
Johannes Andres Oberholzer who was the chairman of the local branch of the Rhodesian Front party of
Ian Smith.

The first battle was the Chinhoyi battle which was fought four kilometers from Chinhoyi town (Sinoia) on
the banks of the Hunyani River. Only seven ZANLA fighters confronted the Rhodesian army, these were
David Guzuzu, Arthur Maamaba, Christopher Chatambudza, Simon Chimbodza, Godfrey Manyerenyere,
Godwin Dube,Chubby Savanhu, Simon Nyandoro was the commander of the group.

The aim of Simon Nyandoro's group was to hit the Kariba Hydro Power Station pillars that supported
high voltage cables that supplied Rhodesia with eletricity. They wanted to attack at night so that the
other groups would start fighting the Rhodesian forces during the period of darkness.

The plan failed because when the electricity was hit only Sinoia town experienced darkness, Fighting
started on 28 April 1966. The Rhodesian forces used jet bombers, helicopters and gunships. The seven
ZANLA fighters fought until they ran out of ammunition and all seven died in combat.

In 1966 the ZIPRA forces entered the country from Zambia, the Rhodesian forces on patrol detected
their presence in the Wankie area and on 13 August 1967 the Rhodesian forces attacked the ZIPRA
fighters and the ANC ( uMkonto weSizwe). This battle took place on the banks of Nyatuwe River
between Wankie and Dete, the Rhodesian forces used helicopters and aircraft, again all the five freedom
fighters died In action.

After the Wankie battle the ZIPRA and ANC forces decided to open another war front in the Guruve
area(formerly called Sipolilo), this group was called the Pyramid group, Moffat Hadebe was their
commander. The Rhodesian forces attacked one of their six bases first using aircraft and helicopters
while foot soldiers walked towards the base firing their guns. There were more attacks on 26 March and
18 April in which the Rhodesian forces used the search and destroy policy.

After the Chinhoyi, Hwange and Guruve battles both ZIPRA and ZANLA continued to fight the Rhodesian
forces without success as a result both suspended all military operations in order to revise their strategy.

REASONS FOR THE FAILURE OF THE EARLY PHASE OF THE ARMED STRUGGLE

i) The freedom fighters were outnumbered by Rhodesian troops eg at the Chinhoyi and Wankie battles
ii) The Rhodesian forces had superior war weapons eg they used aircraft and helicopters to transport
their weapons while freedom fighters had to carry their weapons by themselves from Zambia, this is
why the freedom fighters ran out of ammunition.

iii) Poor war strategies were used by the freedom fighters eg they confronted the enemy directly with
the aim of fighting the Rhodesian forces and win quickly.

iv) The freedom fighters lacked mass support, this meant that they did not have collaborators or
informers who could provide them with information on the movements of the enemy, there was no
boys and girls to carry their weapons, food and provide shelter for them.

v) There were local traitors who sold out the freedom fighters to the Rhodesian forces eg in all battles
Rhodesian forces knew the freedom fighters movements and attacked first.

SECOND PHASE OF THE ARMED STRUGGLE(1972-1980)

Between 1968 and 1972 both ZANU and ZAPU stopped fighting and reorganized themselves, they came
up with ideas on how to fight the powerful Rhodesian army.

The two movements realized the need for mass support in the war, so there was need to educate the
masses and also listen to their grievances which included land shortage, racial discrimination, lack of
education opportunities, poor health facilities and general poverty.

Both movements also realises the need for political political education which would teach the freedom
fighters why they were fighting in the war, grievances of the masses, how to treat the masses and the
type of govt to be established in an independent Zimbabwe.

The ZANLA forces began to work with Front for Liberation of Mozambique(FRELIMO) freedom fighters in
order to gain more practical battle experience, they secretly entered colonial Zimbabwe through
Mozambique.

Role of the Masses in the armed struggle