Last modified: 2011-06-11 by bruce berry
Keywords: zimbabwe | rhodesia | pfumo revanhu |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
The statement that Pfumo reVanhu was an auxiliary force created in the
late 1970s is correct. However, the force was made up of "returned" cadres
from ZANU guerillas under the leadership of Bishop Abel Muzorewa and Ndabaningi
Sithole as opposed to ZANU (PF) forces, known as ZANLA under the leadership
of the now President, Robert Mugabe. This amalgamation of former guerillas
and Rhodesian security forces began in late 1978 and 1979. They were not
initially issued with a uniform. They basically "signed up" in what they
had worn during the bush war, a mixture of East German rice fleck camo,
miscellaneous military "bits and pieces" and the favourite - denim jeans
and jackets. The Pfumo reVanhu uniform was predominently brown and green. The
Pfumo reVanhu were armed with what they had used in the bush war, mainly
SKS, AK47, RPD and with the usual gammut of rocket launchers both rifle
launched and tube launchers, RPG2 etc. They were also issued with German
G3 assault rifles by the Rhodesian Government after their formation. As
for the flag, I have an unused one I collected as a souvenir at the conclusion of the war. Within the shield is actually an "assegai",
a short stabbing spear (hence "Spear of the People") rather than a spade
as described in your chapter.
Paul Garnett, 10 May 2001