IN just two weeks time Zimbabwe celebrate Heroes Day.
To build up to this very important holiday, we shall, starting this week look back at some interesting highlights from the First and Second Chimurenga.
This week we are looking at highlights from the early days of the decisive phase of the Second Chimurenga beginning end of 1972.
Here we are giving an opportunity to the Rhodesian racists to make confessions about the early successes the freedom fighters made against them.
Furthermore, we highlight the desperate measures the Rhodesian racists resorted to in a desperate effort to stop the revolutionary war once it had broken out in earnest.
The decisive phase of the Second Chimurenga began when freedom fighters attacked a farm called Altena in Muzarabani district, Mashonaland Central Province in December 1972.
Because the start of decisive phase’s of the Second Chimurenga was executed after thorough intelligent planning, the Rhodesian racists were left with no choice, but to shower our freedom fighters with praises.
Below are the praises.
One of the Rhodesian soldiers who fought in the liberation war, one Chris Cocks picks up the story.
“Altena Farm!
“The war proper begins.
“Rhodesian intelligence operatives at ground level had for some time been warning their hierarchy that things were not what they seemed.
“Their traditional information were suddenly drying up (due of course to freedom fighter operations).
“They sensed that something was afoot, but their superiors brushed off their fears accusing them of being alarmist.
“The senior Rhodesian authorities had been lulled into a sense of arrogant self-confidence.
“This slumber beneath a banana tree was to be rudely disrupted as a decisive new ball game was about to begin.”
The racists then go on to talk about the new ball game that had been introduced by the freedom fighters in the liberation war.
“Having established a presence, (in the North-East) the ZANLA cadres attacked a white farm, Altena Farm, on December 27 1972.
“The Rhodesians were now confronted with the problem of their enemy living among their own kind.
“The system of (Rhodesian) joint command was tested (but) the Rhodesians did not understand just how serious ZANLA penetration of the North-East was and were slow to evolve a counter insurgency strategy.”
One of the Rhodesian soldier’s belonging to the Rhodesian Light Infantry who was in a group that was sent to respond to the Altena Farm attack tells us below how clueless the Rhodesian army was in dealing with the new situation.
“In December 1972, the message was sent over movie screens and other media that all Rhodesian Light Infantry personnel were required to report to camp immediately.
“What was in store for us we knew not.
“We drew kit, rations, but had no clue as to what was going on.
“At the orders group it was learnt that a farm in the Centenary (Muzarabani District) area had been attacked by terrorists (freedom fighters).
“In the ensuing follow – up some support commando guys had been killed.
“We had been told to deploy to a position 100 or so kilometres from the area (Altena Farm) and wait, – the whys and wherefores of this move was only known to the hierarchy.
“We arrived at our destination after dark, no orders were given to the troops, but the Officer Commanding (OC) and troop commanders spent the night poring over maps and discussing a plan of action – but even they did not have a clue as to what was going on.
“I don’t think anyone knew what was going on.
“They actually just seemed to be waiting for someone to bring the war to us.”
Yes, the Rhodies had no clue on how to tackle the new war situation.
No wonder that Rhodesian soldier says in the end.
“This (attack in the North-East) was (a clever) start by the enemy (ZANLA).
“The beginning of the Chimurenga – their war of liberation.
“And so commenced ‘Operation Hurricane’.
“From here on, building a steady momentum over the next three or four years, the trickle would slowly become an unstoppable deluge.”
Thank you Rhodesian racists for all the above praises you heaped on the heroic freedom fighters!
Since the Rhodesians were faced with a cleverly crafted war plan by the freedom fighters for the decisive phase of the liberation war, but had no clue on how to handle the situation, they went into panic mode big time.
They began to use all forms of intimidation, blue lies etc to try and contain their desperate situation.
Below are some of the desperate messages, lies etc they began sending out to freedom fighters and their supporters in a vain attempt to hoodwink them to stop fighting and end the war.
The first message below which was typed on government paper with a full Rhodesian government crest was an attempt to fool and at the same time intimidate freedom fighters to think that Rhodesian soldiers had killed lots of freedom fighters in battles after the Altena Farm attack.

TO ALL TERRORISTS
Many terrorists have been killed by security forces.
If you continue as a terrorist you too will be killed.
Your life will be spared if you give yourself up.
Keep this paper as your proof.
Look for a soldier, policeman or somebody from the
District Commissioner and tell him you want to give yourself up.
Before giving yourself up hide your weapons in a secret
place.
If you are seen with your weapons you may be shot
before you have time to give yourself up.
In your own interests do this as soon as possible.
Security Force Commanders
Shame!
How childish the Rhodies had become!
The notice below was also to fool freedom fighters to think that the war was then over through an agreement purportedly signed between the racist and freedom fighters’ leaders in Lusaka.
NOTICE
You are hereby notified by the Rhodesian Government
that arising from meetings in Lusaka an agreement has been
reached that all acts of terrorism in Rhodesia will end
immediately and all fighting will cease.
If any of you have been operating as terrorists you
must now take the following action:-
Either:
A. (i) Hide your weapons in a secret place and report
to the nearest soldier, policeman or somebody
from the District Commissioner.
(ii)Keep this paper as your proof and you will be
well treated by those who receive you.
(iii)If you are seen with your weapons you may be
mistaken for a law breaker.
Or:
B. Make your way out of Rhodesia immediately.
This order remains in force until further notice.
In your interests act as soon as possible.

BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNMENT OF RHODESIA
Once more the above message was stupid and had no impact at all.
If anything the silly and desperate messages send out to freedom fighters by the Rhodesians spurred the freedom fighters to go after the racists with a lot of venom.
And that’s what the freedom fighters did resulting in them winning the war in the end.

Next week we look at some heroic actions from the First Chimurenga.