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

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unpublished documentary evidence, oral interviews and internet sources the study argues that the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.