Nyadzonya: Day of rivers of blood

THE sheer cold-bloodedness of the Rhodesian security forces was laid bare when it descended on Nyadzonya Refugee Camp predominantly inhabited by refugees and wantonly shot at everyone in sight at close range after being led by a former Zanla commander Morrison Nyathi. Nyathi had defected to the Rhodesian forces and had intricate knowledge of the camp’s structure, including its daily schedules.

In his book, “The Struggle for Land in Zimbabwe, 1890- 2010” the late Dr Felix Muchemwa says the Nyadzonya Massacre was a callous attempt to deflate major military in-roads by Zanla forces along the eastern front.

Prior to the attack, Agnew Kambeu (Chimombe) had led an attack on Rutenga-Beitbridge railway line before ambushing and killing four South African tourists; J Sziliagyi, Gavin Adcock, Julius Mojzes and Vonda Hope on April 16, 1976.

Quoting Moorcraft and McLaughlin, 1982, Dr Muchemwa says; “The immediate Rhodesian response had been to mount mandatory convoys along the Beitbridge-Rutenga Road and railway line whenever there was civilian movement. By May 1976, the heavy Zanla infiltration through Chimanimani and Gaza had prompted the Rhodesians to launch “Operation Repulse” based at Fort Victoria town (now Masvingo).”

The Rhodesian security forces were particularly irked by an attack on Ruda Military Base in Mutare commanded by Cdes Rex Nhongo and Nyika. By the time the Rhodesian forces attempted to retaliate, the Zanla cadres had already retreated 20 kilometres from Ruda Base Camp. Three days later, three Rhodesian soldiers were killed by a heavy mortar and rocket attack on Burma Valley.

With the intensification of the war, white settlers in the then Umtali Town felt encircled and vulnerable. Out of panic and desperation a plan was hatched to raid Nyadzonya Refugee Camp on the banks of Nyadzonya River, a tributary of Pungwe River.

Code named “Operation Eland” the attack was approved by Peter Walls, the Head of the Rhodesian Army. It was carried out by 72 Selous Scouts commanded by South African Captain Bob Warracker.

A report by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees representative Hugo Idoyaga in Maputo at the time indicated that a section of the raiding party sabotaged the main bridge across the Pungwe River near Nyadzonya Refugee Camp and another section laid ambushes on the road leading to the refugee camp.

Support units with 81 mm mortars were also strategically deployed to deal with fleeing refugees and, the main party was then led into the refugee camp by Nyathi who had been captured and “turned” into a Selous Scout. The armoured vehicles and the fatigues were disguised as those of Frelimo.

At the main gate, an SAS with a good command of Portuguese ordered the Frelimo guards to open the gate and the column drove straight onto the parade at exactly 8:25 AM. More than 5 250 refugees were on the routine morning parade for verification and allocation of daily duties.

The refugees rushed to the oncoming column after Nyathi blurted out familiar slogans.

On close range, some of the refugees realised that they had been tricked as the black paint that covered the white Rhodesian faces and arms was beginning to melt away. It was at that point that Warracker ordered the soldiers to fire at point blank.

Wave after wave of refugees reportedly fell on the ground and Unimog Pigs drove around heartlessly crushing the bodies.

Some survivors of the massacre recount of a whirlwind that raised a heavy cloud of dust that lasted for half an hour over the camp as if to give refugees a chance to escape. A total of 1 028 refugees died out of the 5 250 that occupied the camp.

The dead were buried in 10 mass graves while more than 1 000 seriously injured were admitted at Chimoio, Beira, Tete and Katandica Hospitals in Mozambique.

In an interview published in Sunday News some time ago, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri who survived the massacre and was a member of Zanla’s General Staff at the time recounted how she saw about 10 planes flying towards the camp.

“We didn’t suspect anything as we thought they were Mozambicans, but the planes suddenly started dropping bombs and parachutes . . . As the bombs fell those who tried to escape faced helicopters which were targeting the outskirts of the camp,” Cde Muchinguri- Kashiri said.

She said the Nyadzonya massacre was one of the worst heinous crimes ever committed by the Rhodesians during the war and said it was time Zimbabweans reflected on the sacrifices of those who perished to set the country free.