THE bombing of Chimoio in 1977 forced the ZANLA High Command to organise a ‘revenge’ attack on one of the biggest Rhodesian air bases, the Grand Reef in Mutare.
Rhodesian war planes and helicopters which came from Grand Reef created problems in Tete and Gaza where most of the ZANLA guerillas were being trained.
Retired Major General Gibson Kudzai Mashingaidze was assigned to train a company of more than 200 commandos who were to destroy the Grand Reef.
The training was done in six weeks at Pungwe base which was also an operational base for Chimoio.
The commandos were trained on using anti-tanks and anti-air recoilless riffle, bazookas, mortar 62 mm and 82 mm and heavy machineguns up to 35mm.
Cde Mashingaidze said he is happy for the smart victory of his trainees at Grand Reef.
“As a trainer you train your trainees to be champions and victors,” said Cde Mashingaidze.
“My trainees managed to destroy the enemy’s base without any casualty.
“We caught the Rhodesians by surprise and proved to them our military brilliance and strength.
“Rhodesians never thought ZANLA forces would attack them at their base, but we did it smartly, to their surprise.”
Cde Mashingaidze said the training was successful because of combined effort of the dedicated cadres.
He said he got conviction of success of the Grand Reef attack after his trainees gunned down a Rhodesian helicopter upon completion of the training.
Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri alias ‘Stephen Chocha’ was assigned to go for reconnaissance at the target.
Since he was coming from Mozambique, Cde Chihuri went to Gandari Mountains where he met Cde Aaron Nhepera alias ‘Simbi Chinembiri’ who was in charge of the Monomutapa Sector which was under Manica Province.
On returning to Mozambique, Cde Nhepera joined Cde Chihuri and his section for preparations of the attack.
“In Mozambique we met the company of about 200 soldiers who were trained for the mission,” said Cde Nhepera.
“The guerrillas were fired up and raring to go.
“It only took us three days to ‘rehearse’ the attack of Grand Reef.”
After the ZANLA leadership was satisfied with preparations the guerrillas were dispatched under the command of Cde Paradzai Zimondi, now Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Commissioner General.
“Cde Josiah Tongogara sang a song of encouragement to instil braveness in us and he addressed us reminding us of our responsibility of liberating Zimbabwe,” said Cde Zimondi.
According to Cde Zimondi, the guerillas marched towards Grand Reef and rested in Mwambere Village where they were well received by the villagers.
“The villagers gave us a very good welcome and killed a beast for us,” he said.
“Although the group was big, the villagers managed to feed us to our satisfaction.”
At 5 O’clock before sunset ZANLA guerillas arrived at their target, the Grand Reef.
“We arrived at 5 O’clock before the sun set,” said Cde Zimondi.
“We took positions and waited for darkness.
“The Rhodesian soldiers were having a Christmas party.
“They were busy drinking, singing and dancing when I fired the first shot as the commander.”
Cde Zimondi said when they started firing, civilian captives who had been captured for assisting guerillas escaped.
For a good hour the ZANLA guerillas were relentless and the Rhodesians could not repel them.
The base was destroyed together with helicopters and jets on it.
“We destroyed Grand Reef in an hour’s time,” he said.
“They could not return meaningful fire because we caught them by surprise.
“No one died from our side, but there were many Rhodesian mercenary casualties.”
After the battle, ZANLA forces fled and they were followed by Rhodesian soldiers who were riding horses, but the chase was futile.
“Helicopters could not follow us we had almost destroyed them all,” said Cde Zimondi.
“Rhodesians could not believe the attack as they underestimated the strength and ability of the ZANLA forces.
“The attack was brilliant, tactful and carried out swiftly.”
Cde Zimondi described the Grand Reef victory as a collective effort.
“ZANLA’s victories in the liberation struggle came out of proper planning,” he said.
“The leadership we had during the liberation struggle was brilliant and the leaders were committed and dedicated to the struggle.”
Cde Aaron Nhepera, now the current Deputy Director General of the Central Intelligence Organisation who was among the guerrillas gave credit to the villagers.
“War collaborators and villagers played a vital role in supplying information to the guerillas,” he said.
“We could not have succeeded without them.”