INTAF
Encyclopedia
INTAF is an abbreviation for the paramilitary
wing of the Rhodesian
Ministry of Internal Affairs, predominantly used during the Rhodesian Bush War
.
established the Native Affairs Department to be responsible for the welfare of black Africans living on tribal trust lands. Head of the Department was the Administrator in Council, beneath him was the Secretary for Native Affairs. Under the Secretary were the two Chief Native Commissioners of Matabeleland
and Mashonaland
. Under the Chief Native Commissioners were Native Commissioners who were responsible for the administration of their tribal districts and sub-districts. They were assisted by Assistant Native Commissionerswith the organisation having its own native police force.
In 1962 the Native Affairs Department was renamed the Ministry of Internal Affairs with Native Commissioners renamed District Commissioners.
and were involved in setting up the protected villages program. The paramilitary “Guard Force,” later responsible for security of the protected villages, also came under Intaf control. Members of Intaf initially wore a khaki
uniform with a red beret
, but at the later stage of the war also wore camouflage
.
Under the new Mugabe regime the organisation became the Ministry of Home Affairs (Zimbabwe)
.
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
wing of the Rhodesian
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
Ministry of Internal Affairs, predominantly used during the Rhodesian Bush War
Rhodesian Bush War
The Rhodesian Bush War – also known as the Second Chimurenga or the Zimbabwe War of Liberation – was a civil war which took place between July 1964 and December 1979 in the unrecognised country of Rhodesia...
.
Early history
In 1894 the British South Africa CompanyBritish South Africa Company
The British South Africa Company was established by Cecil Rhodes through the amalgamation of the Central Search Association and the Exploring Company Ltd., receiving a royal charter in 1889...
established the Native Affairs Department to be responsible for the welfare of black Africans living on tribal trust lands. Head of the Department was the Administrator in Council, beneath him was the Secretary for Native Affairs. Under the Secretary were the two Chief Native Commissioners of Matabeleland
Matabeleland
Modern day Matabeleland is a region in Zimbabwe divided into three provinces: Matabeleland North, Bulawayo and Matabeleland South. These provinces are in the west and south-west of Zimbabwe, between the Limpopo and Zambezi rivers. The region is named after its inhabitants, the Ndebele people...
and Mashonaland
Mashonaland
Mashonaland is a region in northern Zimbabwe. It is the home of the Shona people.Currently, Mashonaland is divided into three provinces, with a total population of about 3 million:* Mashonaland West* Mashonaland Central* Mashonaland East...
. Under the Chief Native Commissioners were Native Commissioners who were responsible for the administration of their tribal districts and sub-districts. They were assisted by Assistant Native Commissionerswith the organisation having its own native police force.
In 1962 the Native Affairs Department was renamed the Ministry of Internal Affairs with Native Commissioners renamed District Commissioners.
Rhodesian Bush War
Internal Affairs personnel played a prominent role in the war. They served at Joint Operational CentersJoint Operations Command
The Joint Operations Command is the supreme organ for the coordination of state security in Zimbabwe. It was established by the Rhodesian government and co-ordinated the counter-insurgency war in the Rhodesian Bush War as well as military incursions into neighbouring countries such as Mozambique...
and were involved in setting up the protected villages program. The paramilitary “Guard Force,” later responsible for security of the protected villages, also came under Intaf control. Members of Intaf initially wore a khaki
Khaki
This article is about the fabric. For the color, see Khaki . Kaki, another name for the persimmon, is often misspelled "Khaki".Khaki is a type of fabric or the color of such fabric...
uniform with a red beret
Red beret
The red beret is a military beret worn by many military police, paramilitary, commando and police forces around the world. The maroon beret has become a symbol of airborne forces, though this is often known as a "red beret", particularly when referring to the British Parachute...
, but at the later stage of the war also wore camouflage
Camouflage
Camouflage is a method of concealment that allows an otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed, by blending with its environment. Examples include a leopard's spotted coat, the battledress of a modern soldier and a leaf-mimic butterfly...
.
Under the new Mugabe regime the organisation became the Ministry of Home Affairs (Zimbabwe)
Ministry of Home Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs is a name for an interior ministry. It may refer to:*Ministry of Home Affairs *Ministry of Home Affairs...
.