TODAY everywhere you go people talk about the problems in the country’s economy.
That there is no liquidity in the economy and the country’s economy itself is barely moving.
In the various discussions that are taking place a variety of solutions are proffered to solve the present economic crisis.
Sadly what is never mentioned as being an important part of the solution is the issue of security.
Many of us forget that Zimbabwe’s economy would have totally collapsed if the bandit gang RENAMO had been allowed to have the upper hand during the Mozambican war of the 80s and 90s.
Thankfully, Zimbabwe’s armed forces intervened successfully in the Mozambican war leading to RENAMO’s defeat and saving of our economic routes to the sea.
In this article we celebrate Zimbabwe’s armed forces’ successful intervention in the Mozambican war and the economic benefits that accrued to the country because of that intervention.
First let us look at who RENAMO are. RENAMO are a bandit organisation that was created by the Rhodesian racists during Zimbabwe liberation war of the 70s whose sole mission was to destroy the Mozambican economy, government and forestall Mozambican support to the Zimbabwean liberation struggle.
And so RENAMO went on a mad spree destroying economic installations up and down the Mozambican countryside.
When the liberation war in Zimbabwe ended with the victory of the liberation forces over the racist Rhodesians in 1980, everyone expected the Rhodesians to disband RENAMO and throw it into the dustbin of history.
The Rhodesians instead handed over RENAMO to the apartheid racists in South Africa.
The apartheid racists were joined by the British and the Americans in making RENAMO a formidable force, who started a new big war in Mozambique in the 1980s and 90s.
“The war not only continued, but intensified in many parts of Mozambique as apartheid South Africa pushed men and supplies across the border in the form of a golden handshake to RENAMO.
“The war quickly spread to engulf every province of Mozambique —- forcing FRELIMO to spread its forces even thinner.
“RENAMO not only consolidated its position in northern Sofala and Manica provinces but came to dominate most of the countryside in the centre of Mozambique.
“The situation was rapidly deteriorating and FRELIMO needed help.”
Happily, the Zimbabwe armed forces threw their hats into the ring and entered the fray.
After all, the Mozambican and Zimbabwean armed forces had always fought numerous battles together against racists.
Besides, “Zimbabwean economic interests were also clearly threatened by the rising tide of RENAMO insurgency.
“Early December 1982 an attack on the Zimbabwean fuel depot in Beira resulted in the loss of two-and-a-half months’ supply of petroleum which precipitated an acute fuel shortage in Zimbabwe.
“The country was nearly brought to a standstill for lack of fuel.
“At one point there was, but one day’s supply of petrol and Zimbabwe became entirely dependent on apartheid South Africa’s fuel.”
And so without further ado, the Zimbabwe armed forces moved into Mozambique to fight alongside FRELIMO.
Chimoio became their headquarters.
Over 1 000 troops as a start were deployed into Mozambique on a permanent basis.
They began “safeguarding the road, rail and pipeline network from the Zimbabwean border town of Mutare to Chimoio putting them squarely into the heart of the war.”
To start with, the Zimbabwean armed forces played a purely defensive role looking after the major transport and fuel lines but not taking part in operations. This did not help FRELIMO’s war effort because RENAMO’s attacks up and down the country kept growing by the day “averaging 100 a month with every province affected”.
The above situation left the Zimbabwe armed forces with no choice, but to go on the offensive.
More Zimbabwean soldiers poured into Mozambique.
In no time, they were over 6 000.
They then went on the offensive against RENAMO bandits in the centre of Mozambique.
Their aim was to annihilate RENAMO and so they targeted the RENAMO headquarters called ‘Casa Banana’ near a mountain called Gorongoza.
It was a huge undertaking and they codenamed their attack ‘Operation Grapefruit’ where the Airforce of Zimbabwe was also involved.
The RENAMO camp was completely circled.
The plan was that the Airforce of Zimbabwe was to strike the base first.
When the RENAMO fighters fled from their burning camp it was expected that they would run into the waiting arms of the ground forces.
This is what happened and lots of RENAMO were killed; plus or minus 500 of them.
Their leader Alfonso Dhlakama fled away on a motor cycle.
It was a very successful operation which resulted in the capture of the Casa Banana Camp itself.
After the fall of Casa Banana, the Zimbabwean armed forces and their Frelimo friends went on the rampage destroying RENAMO strongholds.
“Zimbabwean and Mozambican forces continued to operate aggressively in the Gorongoza, Maringue, and Macosa districts of northern Sofala and Manica provinces keeping RENAMO off balance.”
There were, however, some reverses as time went on.
But instead of the Zimbabwean armed forces giving up the fight they in fact “upped the ante”.
They expanded training assistance to FRELIMO as well as signing another joint military co-operation agreement with FRELIMO in 1988.
This resulted in Zimbabwean troops being permanently stationed south of the Save river in Mozambique.
And the Zimbabwean armed forces managed to safeguard the transport corridors completely.
The Zimbabwean armed forces were so effective against RENAMO that when eventually they (RENAMO) threw in the towel in Rome in 1992, they were happy that the Zimbabwean armed forces left their country at last.
The economic role the Zimbabwean forces played in safeguarding the economic routes to Beira against RENAMO should never be forgotten.
It should always act as a reminder that whenever you are talking about the economy of the country one of the major economic fundamentals you should never ignore is security in general.