Breaking the Silence, Building True Peace
A report on the disturbances in
Matabeleland and the Midlands
1980 - 1989

Summary Report

Contents   «   »

PART ONE: BACKGROUND
Part One index
I.   Introduction
II.  Data sources
III. Historical overview

III. Historical overview

2. What role did South Africa play in events?    1.«   »3.
During the 1980s, South Africa developed a far-reaching policy of destabilising the black ruled countries on its borders. This was to make it harder for these countries to back the ANC and other groups aiming at bringing about majority rule in South Africa. It was also to justify the maintenance of white rule in South Africa.

Spreading false information and military attacks
In Zimbabwe, the South Africans tried to make ZAPU and ZANU-PF dislike each other by persuading some members of the CIO to become double agents. These people then spread lies, telling the Government that elements within ZAPU were planning to overthrow them. Some of the buried weapons that were uncovered in the early 1980s and used as evidence against ZAPU, were actually planted by such agents.

In addition, there were military attacks by South Africa, such as the one that destroyed a major munitions dump at Inkomo Barracks in August 1981, and another that destroyed the ZANU-PF headquarters in December 1981. The Thornhill Air Base in Gweru was also attacked by South African agents, destroying many of Zimbabwe's Air Force aircraft. Whenever possible, the South Africans tried to blame ex-Rhodesians or ZAPU supporters for their own actions.

This behaviour by South Africa was effective in making ZAPU and ZANU-PF more and more suspicious of each other. It made the Zimbabwean Government see itself as permanently under threat, and this gave the Government an excuse to maintain emergency powers. It also made the decision to introduce curfews and massive numbers of troops into Matabeleland seem reasonable.

Operation Drama
"Operation Drama" was the code name given to the undercover support the South Africans gave to a group of dissidents known as "Super ZAPU". This group was trained in the northern Transvaal, and was active in Zimbabwe in 1983 and 1984. They were few in number, probably fewer than a hundred, but their existence made the situation worse in Matabeleland.

Not much is known about this group to this day. It seems this was not a large operation, but it all added to the problems being faced in Matabeleland.    TOP    1.«   »3.