Zimbabwe National Army
Encyclopedia
The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) is the land warfare branch
of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. The ZNA currently has an active duty strength of 30,000.
, integrated to a greater or lesser extent with combatants from the ZANLA and ZIPRA
guerrilla
movements (the armed wings of, respectively, ZANU and ZAPU.
Following majority rule in April 1980 and the cantonment of the ZANLA and ZIPRA under Operation Agila
, British Army
trainers (the British Military Advisory and Training Team, BMATT) oversaw the integration of guerrilla fighters into one unified army. A battalion
structure was overlaid on the existing Rhodesian Army
. For the first year a system was followed where the top-performing candidate became battalion commander. If he or she was from ZANLA, then his or her second-in-command was the top-performing ZIPRA candidate, and vice versa. This ensured a balance between the two movements in the command structure. From early 1981 this system was abandoned in favour of political appointments, and ZANLA/ZANU fighters consequently quickly formed the majority of battalion commanders in the ZNA.
The ZNA was originally formed into four brigade
s, 1 Brigade, Matabeleland, 2 Brigade, Mashonaland, 3 Brigade, Manicaland, and 4 Brigade, Masavingo. These comprised a total of 29 battalions. The brigade support units were composed almost entirely of specialists of the former Rhodesian Army, while unintegrated battalions of the Rhodesian African Rifles
were assigned to the 1st, 3rd and 4th Brigades. A North Korean-trained 5th was formed in 1981 and was used in genocidal operations against Ndebele
-ethnic Mugabe opponents in Matabeleland
.
The ZNA is under the command of Lieutenant General Philip Velario Sibanda, who took over from General Constantine Chiwenga
following his elevation to the post of Commander Zimbabwe Defence Forces in December 2003.
Raids On Gorongosa
Some Renamo
elements had crossed from Mozambique
into Zimbabwe several times, had robbed some shops along the border and had burned down a timber factory. After several meetings with Mozambican officials it was agreed that the ZDF could pursue into Mozambique any Renamo
elements that might have committed atrocities in Zimbabwe. This was the basis on which the ZDF started planning follow-up operations which took them deep into Mozambique culminating in occupation of former Renamo bases at Gorongosa.
, code-named Operation Lemon. The operation lasted from the 5-9 December 1984. It comprised elements of 3 Brigade, the Parachute Group, Special Air Service (SAS)
, and was supported by the Air Force of Zimbabwe
(AFZ). Bad weather conditions and the difficult mountainous terrain reduced the use of aircraft, and all the trooping had to be done by helicopters. The movement of troops on the ground was also difficult. Four contacts were made and two Renamo
bases were destroyed. However, most Renamo
elements in the bases managed to escape and only eight were captured.
The ZDF considered this operation as a major failure and the code word Lemon was corrupted to mean any failure in all subsequent operations. It was further established that there were no other permanent bases in the area, only some advance posts and temporary bases used by Renamo
as launching pads for food raids into Zimbabwe. It was also revealed for the first time that the main Renamo bases were at Messinse, Chito, Nyazonia, Buetoni, Gorongosa Central Base and Casa Banana.
operation were carried out at Inkomo Barracks near Harare
. Three infantry brigades were mobilised together with the Parachute Group, One Commando Battalion
and the AFZ. Men and equipment were moved to Chimoio
in Mozambique, with a Forward Replenishment Point (FRP) being established at Grand Reef near Mutare
.
Intelligence sources had indicated that Renamo
's main regional base in Manica province was at Muxamba and that Casa Banana was the national stronghold of Renamo. Both bases had to be attacked and Muxamba was targeted first, being only 70 kilometres south of Chimoio
. The most important consideration however, was the hope that activities around Muxamba might divert Renamo's attention from monitoring too closely the movement of the three heavily armed Zimbabwean infantry battalions marching from Chimoio towards the Gorongosa
Mountains.
Muxamba was believed to hold at least 400 Renamo
elements commanded by Major General Mabachi. The attack on Muxamba was launched on the 20th of August 1985 by elements of 3 Brigade, supported by the Parachute Group
and the AFZ. The operation went on for four days with minor problems for the ZDF. One helicopter was riddled with small arms fire but managed to return to Chimoio
.
elements. At Chimoio
a Fireforce
was being given final briefing, and five AFZ planes were given orders for a first light take-off for Gorongosa on the morning of 28 August.
Although the Renamo elements captured at Katiyo had given a grid reference for Cassa Banana, further intelligence had cast some doubt as to which of the several Renamo bases scattered on all sides of the Gorongosa Mountains was the actual headquarters of Renamo. It was because of this uncertainty that the Fireforce was divided into three sections each with one helicopter gunship, two transport helicopters and two transport aircraft with paratroopers.
Each Fireforce section was detailed to attack specific suspected Renamo positions around the Gorongossa Mountains. It was during this three pronged attack that one helicopter flew overhead Cassa Banana airstrip and the pilot noticed a green pickup truck disappearing into some bushes. It was then that the pilot recognised the place as that given at the briefing as Cassa Banana. The jets from Thornhill
, which were already in place overhead a predetermined Initial Point (IP), were then talked on to the target, and the raid on Cassa Banana began.
The aircraft attacked the target, knocking out several Anti-Aircraft gun positions. Two helicopter gunships continued to hit suspected strategic positions and managed to flash out several pockets of resistance. A third helicopter was directing the dropping of the first wave of paratroopers. When the paratroopers had entered the base, the infantry battalions, which were close by, were ordered to move in and occupy strategic positions. The Fireforce then moved on to deal with the several pockets of resistance from the smaller Renamo bases all along the Gorongosa Mountains. It took the whole day to silence all of these pockets of resistance.
There is no official Zimbabwean record of the number of casualties on the first raid on Cassa Banana. However, considering the amount of effort, the numbers of troops involved on both sides, and the time it took to capture the base, there must have been a lot of deaths and injuries on both sides. http://ccrweb.ccr.uct.ac.za/archive/defencedigest/defdigest03.html
It was in the wake of these developments that in June 1984 the governments of Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe formed a joint security committee 13. The aim of the committee was to monitor operations on a day-to-day basis and to attempt to remove all security threats along the Tete Corridor. Zimbabwe's First Mechanised Battalion was ordered to move into Mozambique and they established their headquarters in Tete thereby securing the strategic bridge crossing the Zambezi River. In 1985, President Samora Machel of Mozambique formally requested the governments of Tanzania and Zimbabwe to contribute troops for "the restoration of law and order" in Mozambique. This led to the deployment of Tanzanian troops north of the Zambezi river and Zimbabwean troops to the south.
The decision to send Zimbabwean troops to help restore law and order in Mozambique was partly influenced by Zimbabwe's close relationship with the Mozambican government which dates back to Frelimo's assistance during Zimbabwe's war of liberation. There was also the underlying fact that Frelimo and ZANU shared a common Marxist ideology of scientific socialism. The South Africa-backed Renamo professed to be an anti-communist movement, as did Jonas Savimbi's Unita movement, which was fighting against the Marxist MPLA government of Angola. There was thus an ideological alliance of the Maputo - Harare - Luanda axis, with support for these governments from the Soviet Union. The fact that the United States of America was providing covert and overt support to opposition movements such as Unita in Angola and Renamo in Mozambique reflected the extension of the Cold War to Southern Africa.
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. The ZNA currently has an active duty strength of 30,000.
History
The Zimbabwe National Army was formed in 1980 from elements of the Rhodesian ArmyRhodesian Army
The Rhodesian Security Forces consisted of the Rhodesian Army, Royal Rhodesian Air Force, British South Africa Police, Rhodesian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Guard Force.- Rhodesian Army :...
, integrated to a greater or lesser extent with combatants from the ZANLA and ZIPRA
ZIPRA
Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army was the armed wing of the Zimbabwe African People's Union, a political party in Rhodesia. It participated in the Second Chimurenga against white minority rule in the former Rhodesia....
guerrilla
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
movements (the armed wings of, respectively, ZANU and ZAPU.
Following majority rule in April 1980 and the cantonment of the ZANLA and ZIPRA under Operation Agila
Operation Midford
Operation Midford was New Zealand's contribution to the Commonwealth Monitoring Force in Rhodesia in late 1979 and early 1980.-Background:The Rhodesian War had dragged on for some 14 years from 1965 until 1979, being largely overshadowed by the television driven Vietnam War...
, British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
trainers (the British Military Advisory and Training Team, BMATT) oversaw the integration of guerrilla fighters into one unified army. A battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
structure was overlaid on the existing Rhodesian Army
Rhodesian Army
The Rhodesian Security Forces consisted of the Rhodesian Army, Royal Rhodesian Air Force, British South Africa Police, Rhodesian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Guard Force.- Rhodesian Army :...
. For the first year a system was followed where the top-performing candidate became battalion commander. If he or she was from ZANLA, then his or her second-in-command was the top-performing ZIPRA candidate, and vice versa. This ensured a balance between the two movements in the command structure. From early 1981 this system was abandoned in favour of political appointments, and ZANLA/ZANU fighters consequently quickly formed the majority of battalion commanders in the ZNA.
The ZNA was originally formed into four brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
s, 1 Brigade, Matabeleland, 2 Brigade, Mashonaland, 3 Brigade, Manicaland, and 4 Brigade, Masavingo. These comprised a total of 29 battalions. The brigade support units were composed almost entirely of specialists of the former Rhodesian Army, while unintegrated battalions of the Rhodesian African Rifles
Rhodesian African Rifles
The Rhodesian African Rifles, or RAR, was the oldest regiment in the Rhodesian Army, dating from the formation of the 1st Rhodesian Native Regiment in 1916 during the First World War. This was followed by the creation of the Matabeleland Native Regiment, and the 2nd Rhodesian Native Regiment,...
were assigned to the 1st, 3rd and 4th Brigades. A North Korean-trained 5th was formed in 1981 and was used in genocidal operations against Ndebele
Ndebele
- Ethnic groups :*South Ndebele people, located in the South Africa*Northern Ndebele people, located in Zimbabwe, and Botswana- Languages :*Southern Ndebele language, the language of the South Ndebele...
-ethnic Mugabe opponents in 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...
.
The ZNA is under the command of Lieutenant General Philip Velario Sibanda, who took over from General Constantine Chiwenga
Constantine Chiwenga
- Personal life :He was born in 1956 in Hwedza district of Mashonaland East Province. General Chiwenga was educated up to Form 4 at St Mary's Mission in Hwedza, together with Air Marshal Perence Shiri and Brigadier General Shungu, Commander Mechanised Brigade....
following his elevation to the post of Commander Zimbabwe Defence Forces in December 2003.
Angola
After several hints , some of which the Zimbabwean Government denied, for the first time the ZDF Commander, General Constantine Chiwenga, acknowledged ZNA involvement in the Angolan Civil WarAngolan Civil War
The Angolan Civil War was a major civil conflict in the Southern African state of Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with some interludes, until 2002. The war began immediately after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. Prior to this, a decolonisation conflict had taken...
Raids On GorongosaGorongosaGorongosa is a town in the Gorongosa District of Mozambique, situated on the country's main north-south highway . Gorongosa National Park is a few kilometers east of the town....
Some RenamoMozambican National Resistance
The Mozambican National Resistance is a conservative political party in Mozambique led by Afonso Dhlakama. It fought against the FRELIMO in the Mozambican Civil War and against the ZANU movement led by Robert Mugabe from 1975 to 1992....
elements had crossed from Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
into Zimbabwe several times, had robbed some shops along the border and had burned down a timber factory. After several meetings with Mozambican officials it was agreed that the ZDF could pursue into Mozambique any Renamo
Mozambican National Resistance
The Mozambican National Resistance is a conservative political party in Mozambique led by Afonso Dhlakama. It fought against the FRELIMO in the Mozambican Civil War and against the ZANU movement led by Robert Mugabe from 1975 to 1992....
elements that might have committed atrocities in Zimbabwe. This was the basis on which the ZDF started planning follow-up operations which took them deep into Mozambique culminating in occupation of former Renamo bases at Gorongosa.
Operation Lemon
The first of these Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) follow-up operations was launched from Katiyo and Aberdeen in northern ManicalandManicaland
Manicaland is a province of Zimbabwe. It has an area of and a population of approximately 1.6 million . Mutare is the capital of the province. -Background:...
, code-named Operation Lemon. The operation lasted from the 5-9 December 1984. It comprised elements of 3 Brigade, the Parachute Group, Special Air Service (SAS)
Special Forces of Zimbabwe
Special Forces of Zimbabwe describes the units of the Zimbabwe National Army that operate as special forces. These forces have been deployed in several African conflicts, including the Mozambique Civil War and the Second Congo War....
, and was supported by the Air Force of Zimbabwe
Air Force of Zimbabwe
The Air Force of Zimbabwe is the air force of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. It was known as the Rhodesian Air Force until 1980. The Air Force of Zimbabwe saw service in the Mozambican Civil War in 1985 and the Second Congo War of 1998–2001....
(AFZ). Bad weather conditions and the difficult mountainous terrain reduced the use of aircraft, and all the trooping had to be done by helicopters. The movement of troops on the ground was also difficult. Four contacts were made and two Renamo
Mozambican National Resistance
The Mozambican National Resistance is a conservative political party in Mozambique led by Afonso Dhlakama. It fought against the FRELIMO in the Mozambican Civil War and against the ZANU movement led by Robert Mugabe from 1975 to 1992....
bases were destroyed. However, most Renamo
Mozambican National Resistance
The Mozambican National Resistance is a conservative political party in Mozambique led by Afonso Dhlakama. It fought against the FRELIMO in the Mozambican Civil War and against the ZANU movement led by Robert Mugabe from 1975 to 1992....
elements in the bases managed to escape and only eight were captured.
The ZDF considered this operation as a major failure and the code word Lemon was corrupted to mean any failure in all subsequent operations. It was further established that there were no other permanent bases in the area, only some advance posts and temporary bases used by Renamo
Mozambican National Resistance
The Mozambican National Resistance is a conservative political party in Mozambique led by Afonso Dhlakama. It fought against the FRELIMO in the Mozambican Civil War and against the ZANU movement led by Robert Mugabe from 1975 to 1992....
as launching pads for food raids into Zimbabwe. It was also revealed for the first time that the main Renamo bases were at Messinse, Chito, Nyazonia, Buetoni, Gorongosa Central Base and Casa Banana.
Operation Grape Fruit
The report for Operation Lemon was taken seriously by the commanders of the ZDF, and in July 1985 preparations for major offensive operations were started. Rehearsals for a FireforceFireforce
Fireforce is a variant of the tactic of vertical envelopment of a target by helicopter-borne and parachute infantry developed by the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Rhodesian Bush War...
operation were carried out at Inkomo Barracks near Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
. Three infantry brigades were mobilised together with the Parachute Group, One Commando Battalion
Special Forces of Zimbabwe
Special Forces of Zimbabwe describes the units of the Zimbabwe National Army that operate as special forces. These forces have been deployed in several African conflicts, including the Mozambique Civil War and the Second Congo War....
and the AFZ. Men and equipment were moved to Chimoio
Chimoio
Chimoio is the capital of Manica Province in Mozambique. It is the fifth-largest city in Mozambique.Chimoio's name under Portuguese administration was Vila Pery. Vila Pery developed under Portuguese rule as an important agricultural and textiles centre.The town lies on the railway line from Beira...
in Mozambique, with a Forward Replenishment Point (FRP) being established at Grand Reef near Mutare
Mutare
Mutare is the fourth largest city in Zimbabwe, with a population of around 170,000. It is the capital of Manicaland province.-History:...
.
Intelligence sources had indicated that Renamo
Mozambican National Resistance
The Mozambican National Resistance is a conservative political party in Mozambique led by Afonso Dhlakama. It fought against the FRELIMO in the Mozambican Civil War and against the ZANU movement led by Robert Mugabe from 1975 to 1992....
's main regional base in Manica province was at Muxamba and that Casa Banana was the national stronghold of Renamo. Both bases had to be attacked and Muxamba was targeted first, being only 70 kilometres south of Chimoio
Chimoio
Chimoio is the capital of Manica Province in Mozambique. It is the fifth-largest city in Mozambique.Chimoio's name under Portuguese administration was Vila Pery. Vila Pery developed under Portuguese rule as an important agricultural and textiles centre.The town lies on the railway line from Beira...
. The most important consideration however, was the hope that activities around Muxamba might divert Renamo's attention from monitoring too closely the movement of the three heavily armed Zimbabwean infantry battalions marching from Chimoio towards the Gorongosa
Gorongosa
Gorongosa is a town in the Gorongosa District of Mozambique, situated on the country's main north-south highway . Gorongosa National Park is a few kilometers east of the town....
Mountains.
Muxamba was believed to hold at least 400 Renamo
Mozambican National Resistance
The Mozambican National Resistance is a conservative political party in Mozambique led by Afonso Dhlakama. It fought against the FRELIMO in the Mozambican Civil War and against the ZANU movement led by Robert Mugabe from 1975 to 1992....
elements commanded by Major General Mabachi. The attack on Muxamba was launched on the 20th of August 1985 by elements of 3 Brigade, supported by the Parachute Group
Special Forces of Zimbabwe
Special Forces of Zimbabwe describes the units of the Zimbabwe National Army that operate as special forces. These forces have been deployed in several African conflicts, including the Mozambique Civil War and the Second Congo War....
and the AFZ. The operation went on for four days with minor problems for the ZDF. One helicopter was riddled with small arms fire but managed to return to Chimoio
Chimoio
Chimoio is the capital of Manica Province in Mozambique. It is the fifth-largest city in Mozambique.Chimoio's name under Portuguese administration was Vila Pery. Vila Pery developed under Portuguese rule as an important agricultural and textiles centre.The town lies on the railway line from Beira...
.
Raid on Cassa Banana
Intelligence sources had indicated that Cassa Banana, Renamo's national headquarters had a strength of 400 elements. However, the organisation maintained a string of other smaller bases along the Gorongosa Mountains, which were considered as part of the main base. This raised the total estimated strength in the area to 1 000 elements. During the night of 27 August 1985, three Zimbabwe infantry battalions were established in their Form Up Points (FUP) with the help of the SAS and CommandoSpecial Forces of Zimbabwe
Special Forces of Zimbabwe describes the units of the Zimbabwe National Army that operate as special forces. These forces have been deployed in several African conflicts, including the Mozambique Civil War and the Second Congo War....
elements. At Chimoio
Chimoio
Chimoio is the capital of Manica Province in Mozambique. It is the fifth-largest city in Mozambique.Chimoio's name under Portuguese administration was Vila Pery. Vila Pery developed under Portuguese rule as an important agricultural and textiles centre.The town lies on the railway line from Beira...
a Fireforce
Fireforce
Fireforce is a variant of the tactic of vertical envelopment of a target by helicopter-borne and parachute infantry developed by the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Rhodesian Bush War...
was being given final briefing, and five AFZ planes were given orders for a first light take-off for Gorongosa on the morning of 28 August.
Although the Renamo elements captured at Katiyo had given a grid reference for Cassa Banana, further intelligence had cast some doubt as to which of the several Renamo bases scattered on all sides of the Gorongosa Mountains was the actual headquarters of Renamo. It was because of this uncertainty that the Fireforce was divided into three sections each with one helicopter gunship, two transport helicopters and two transport aircraft with paratroopers.
Each Fireforce section was detailed to attack specific suspected Renamo positions around the Gorongossa Mountains. It was during this three pronged attack that one helicopter flew overhead Cassa Banana airstrip and the pilot noticed a green pickup truck disappearing into some bushes. It was then that the pilot recognised the place as that given at the briefing as Cassa Banana. The jets from Thornhill
Gweru-Thornhill
Gweru-Thornhill Air Base is one of the two main air bases of the Air Force of Zimbabwe located near the central city of Gweru, Thornhill Air Base is home to air force fighter squadrons and the Pilot Training School...
, which were already in place overhead a predetermined Initial Point (IP), were then talked on to the target, and the raid on Cassa Banana began.
The aircraft attacked the target, knocking out several Anti-Aircraft gun positions. Two helicopter gunships continued to hit suspected strategic positions and managed to flash out several pockets of resistance. A third helicopter was directing the dropping of the first wave of paratroopers. When the paratroopers had entered the base, the infantry battalions, which were close by, were ordered to move in and occupy strategic positions. The Fireforce then moved on to deal with the several pockets of resistance from the smaller Renamo bases all along the Gorongosa Mountains. It took the whole day to silence all of these pockets of resistance.
There is no official Zimbabwean record of the number of casualties on the first raid on Cassa Banana. However, considering the amount of effort, the numbers of troops involved on both sides, and the time it took to capture the base, there must have been a lot of deaths and injuries on both sides. http://ccrweb.ccr.uct.ac.za/archive/defencedigest/defdigest03.html
Operation Lifeline-Tete Corridor
This corridor is a tarred 263-kilometre road running from Nyamapanda on the Zimbabwean border through the Mozambican city of Tete to Zobue on the Malawi border. After UDI in 1965, this route carried Rhodesian goods to and from Malawi, which had not applied United Nations sanctions against the Smith regime. After the independence of Mozambique in 1975, the bulk of Malawi's trade with South Africa went through Rhodesia by road via Tete. It was only in 1984 that trade via this route declined because of Renamo attacks.It was in the wake of these developments that in June 1984 the governments of Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe formed a joint security committee 13. The aim of the committee was to monitor operations on a day-to-day basis and to attempt to remove all security threats along the Tete Corridor. Zimbabwe's First Mechanised Battalion was ordered to move into Mozambique and they established their headquarters in Tete thereby securing the strategic bridge crossing the Zambezi River. In 1985, President Samora Machel of Mozambique formally requested the governments of Tanzania and Zimbabwe to contribute troops for "the restoration of law and order" in Mozambique. This led to the deployment of Tanzanian troops north of the Zambezi river and Zimbabwean troops to the south.
The decision to send Zimbabwean troops to help restore law and order in Mozambique was partly influenced by Zimbabwe's close relationship with the Mozambican government which dates back to Frelimo's assistance during Zimbabwe's war of liberation. There was also the underlying fact that Frelimo and ZANU shared a common Marxist ideology of scientific socialism. The South Africa-backed Renamo professed to be an anti-communist movement, as did Jonas Savimbi's Unita movement, which was fighting against the Marxist MPLA government of Angola. There was thus an ideological alliance of the Maputo - Harare - Luanda axis, with support for these governments from the Soviet Union. The fact that the United States of America was providing covert and overt support to opposition movements such as Unita in Angola and Renamo in Mozambique reflected the extension of the Cold War to Southern Africa.
Commanders
- 1 Brigade - Brigadier General Eliah Bandama
- 2 Brigade - Brigadier General Francis Noel Mutisi
- 3 Brigade - Brigadier General Douglas Nyikayaramba
- 4 Brigade - Brigadier General Davidson Manyika
- 5 Brigade - Brigadier General Luke Z Ncube
- Artillery Brigade- Brigadier General Etherton Shungu
- Mechanised Brigade - Brigadier General Paul Chima
- Artillery Brigade - Colonel Morgan Urayai Munawa
- Parachute Regiment - Lieutenant Colonel Chosen Mpatiwa
- Commando Regiment - Lieutenant Colonel Hwami Vengesai
- Special Air Service - Lieutenant Colonel Panga Kufa
- Presidential Guards -Colonel Anselem Sanyatwe
- Mounted Infantry Regiment - Lieutenant Colonel Bothwell Brian Chigaba
- Corps of Engineers - Colonel Mkhululi Bhika Ncube
- Corps of Intelligence - Colonel M. Mzilikazi
Formations
- Five Infantry brigades with three battalions each.
- The Presidential Guard: Three battalions at Dzivarasekwa barracks led by Brigadier Armstrong Gunda. http://allafrica.com/stories/200706141067.html Also known as the Presidential Guard Group or the Presidential Guard Brigade
- A number of infantry battalions (possibly between ten and twenty battalions)
- The Tank Regiment
- The Mechanised Regiment (IFVs)
- Two Field Artillery Regiments
- 1 Air Defence Artillery Regiment based at Redcliffe
- Two Combat Engineer Regiments at Pomona Barracks
- ZDF Construction Regiment
- The Commando Regiment (part of the Special Forces of ZimbabweSpecial Forces of ZimbabweSpecial Forces of Zimbabwe describes the units of the Zimbabwe National Army that operate as special forces. These forces have been deployed in several African conflicts, including the Mozambique Civil War and the Second Congo War....
) - The Parachute Regiment (also known as the Parachute Group or Parachute Battalion) (part of the Special Forces of ZimbabweSpecial Forces of ZimbabweSpecial Forces of Zimbabwe describes the units of the Zimbabwe National Army that operate as special forces. These forces have been deployed in several African conflicts, including the Mozambique Civil War and the Second Congo War....
) - The Special Air Service (part of the Special Forces of ZimbabweSpecial Forces of ZimbabweSpecial Forces of Zimbabwe describes the units of the Zimbabwe National Army that operate as special forces. These forces have been deployed in several African conflicts, including the Mozambique Civil War and the Second Congo War....
) - The Boat Squadron (part of the Special Forces of ZimbabweSpecial Forces of ZimbabweSpecial Forces of Zimbabwe describes the units of the Zimbabwe National Army that operate as special forces. These forces have been deployed in several African conflicts, including the Mozambique Civil War and the Second Congo War....
) - The Zimbabwe Mounted Infantry (a horse-mounted unit indirectly derived from Grey's ScoutsGrey's ScoutsGrey's Scouts were a Rhodesian mounted infantry unit raised in July 1975 and named after George Grey, a prominent soldier in the Second Matabele War. Based in Salisbury , they were known for their participation in the Rhodesian Bush War...
) (part of the Special Forces of ZimbabweSpecial Forces of ZimbabweSpecial Forces of Zimbabwe describes the units of the Zimbabwe National Army that operate as special forces. These forces have been deployed in several African conflicts, including the Mozambique Civil War and the Second Congo War....
) - Armoured Reconnaissance Squadron
Infantry Brigade Organisation
Each infantry brigade has:- Three infantry battalions with 31 APCs each
- Reconnaissance Company (12 EE-9)
- Signals Company
- Mortar Battery (6 81/82mm or 120mm)
- AA gun battery
- Engineer company
- Supply and transport
- Workshop
- Medical units
Armour
- NorincoNorincoThe China North Industries Corporation , official English name Norinco, manufactures vehicles , machinery, optical-electronic products, oil field equipment, chemicals, light industrial products, explosives and blast materials, civil and military firearms and ammunition, etc...
Type 59Type 59The Type 59 main battle tank is a Chinese produced version of the Soviet T-54A tank, an improvement over the ubiquitous T-54/55. The first vehicles were produced in 1958 and it was accepted into service in 1959, with serial production beginning in 1963...
MBTMain battle tankA main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...
- 35
Mainland China - NorincoNorincoThe China North Industries Corporation , official English name Norinco, manufactures vehicles , machinery, optical-electronic products, oil field equipment, chemicals, light industrial products, explosives and blast materials, civil and military firearms and ammunition, etc...
Type 69 MBTMain battle tankA main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...
- 10 Mainland China - Type 63 light tankType 63 light tankThe Norinco Type 63 is a Chinese amphibious light tank. First fielded in 1963, it is in many ways similar to the earlier Soviet PT-76. However, contrary to the popular belief, it does have some essential differences from the PT-76 in the vehicle's waterjet propulsion system, etc...
- 20 received 1983/1984 from China Mainland China - T-54 - 20 tanks received from USSR in September 1984.http://www.heritage.org/Research/RussiaandEurasia/bg525.cfm
- T-54/55 ARV
- T-55T-55The T-54 and T-55 tanks were a series of main battle tanks designed in the Soviet Union. The first T-54 prototype appeared in March 1945, just before the end of the Second World War. The T-54 entered full production in 1947 and became the main tank for armored units of the Soviet Army, armies of...
tanks - 12 from North Korea in 1981Korean Built Soviet tankshttp://www.heritage.org/research/asiaandthepacific/asb74.cfm
North Korea/ - EE-9 CascavelEE-9 CascavelThe EE-9 Cascavel is a 6 x 6 armoured car developed in the 1970s by Engesa of Brazil. It used as many commercially available parts as possible. It also shares many components with the EE-11 Urutu APC...
Armoured Car - 90 - EE-11 UrutuEE-11 UrutuThe EE-11 Urutu is a 6x6 armored personnel carrier developed in the seventies by Engesa of Brazil. It used as many commercially available parts as possible. It also shares many components with the EE-9 Cascavel Armoured fighting vehicle. The suspension includes Engesa's Boomerang double-axle rear...
- 7 - Panhard AMLPanhard AML-Former Operators:: unknown number of AML-60s and AML-90s in service between 1960-1975.: 34 Eland 90s and Eland 60s in service with the Rhodesian Security Forces in 1979, passed on to successor state.-Trivia:...
Armoured Car - 30 - Eland Mk7Eland Mk7The Eland is a South African light armoured car based on the Panhard AML. Its permanent 4x4 drive gives it its mobility, and it can carry either a 90 mm quick firing low pressure gun, or a 60 mm breech loading mortar as main weapons...
- 20 - BRDM-1BRDM-1The BRDM-1 was an amphibious armored scout car used by Russia and the former Soviet Union...
Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle, from North Korea in 1984 - 20 North Korea/ - BRDM-2BRDM-2The BRDM-2 is an amphibious armoured patrol car used by Russia and the former Soviet Union. It was also known under designations BTR-40PB, BTR-40P-2 and GAZ 41-08...
Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle, from USSR in 1980 - EQ2050 Armoured Car (Chinese copy of the American M998 HMMWV) - 100 Mainland China
- Type 63 APCType 63 (armoured personnel carrier)The Type 63 is a Chinese armoured personnel carrier that entered service in the late 1960s. It was the first armoured vehicle designed in China without Soviet assistance. The design is simple and is comparable to other APCs of its time such as the M113.Approximately 3,000 were produced by Norinco,...
- 30 http://www.iss.co.za/AF/profiles/zimbabwe/SecInfo.html Mainland China - YW 531 Armoured Personnel Carrier - 30 (8 from China and 22 North Korea VTT-323VTT-323The North Korean produced M1973 Sinhung VTT-323 is a licensed copy of the Chinese YW 531 Armored Personnel Carrier. The vehicle features a box-like welded steel hull, with a small turret positioned just to the rear of the hull centerline. The VTT-323 has five road wheels and a turret mounting...
version) Mainland China - Type 89 AFV - With 25mm autocannon. Mainland China
- Unknown type Armoured Personnel Carrier - 22 donated by China in January 2005 Mainland Chinahttp://www.zimbabwesituation.com/jan14_2005.html#link9
- UR-416 Armoured Personnel Carrier - 36
- Crocodile Armoured Personnel CarrierCrocodile Armoured Personnel CarrierThe Crocodile Armoured Personnel Carrier or “Croc”is a Rhodesian/Zimbabwean 4x2d heavy troop-carrying vehicle first introduced in 1977 based on Japanese commercial trucks’ chassis.- General description :...
- 40
Rhodesia/
Zimbabwe - BTR-152BTR-152The BTR-152 was a non-amphibious Soviet wheeled armored personnel carrier that entered Soviet service in 1950. By the early 1970s it had been replaced in the infantry vehicle role by the BTR-60...
Armoured Personnel Carrier, from North Korea in 1983 North Korea/ - BTR-50BTR-50The BTR-50 The BTR-50 The BTR-50 (BTR stands for Bronetransporter (БТР, Бронетранспортер, literally "armored transporter") is a Soviet amphibious armored personnel carrier (APC) based on the PT-76 light tank. The BTR-50 is tracked, unlike most in the BTR series, which are wheeled. The BTR-50...
Armoured personnel carrier, from Syria in 1984 - 40 - ACMATACMATACMAT , is a French producer of cross-country and tactical military vehicles since 1958...
TPK 4.20 VSC Armoured Personnel Carrier 260. Delivered over 5 years from 1995. - Steyr-Daimler-PuchSteyr-Daimler-PuchSteyr-Daimler-Puch was a large manufacturing conglomerate based in Steyr, Austria, which was broken up in stages between 1987 and 2001. The component parts and operations continued to exist under separate ownership and new names.-History:...
4x4 Armoured Personnel Carrier (exact type not known)- at least 66
Austria - Mine Protected Combat Vehicle - MPCV Rhodesia/ Zimbabwe 4x4 Armoured personnel carrier, locally-produced - 115
- Daimler FerretFerret armoured carThe Ferret armoured car, also commonly called the Ferret Scout car, is a British armoured fighting vehicle designed and built for reconnaissance purposes. The Ferret was produced between 1952 and 1971 by the UK company, Daimler...
scout car - 15(?)
Field Artillery
- 2S12S1The 2S1 Gvozdika, ; is a Soviet 122-mm self-propelled howitzer that resembles the PT-76 but is essentially a version of the MT-LB APC, mounting the 2A18 howitzer. "2S1" is its GRAU designation. An alternative Russian designation is SAU-122 but in the Russian Army it is commonly known as Gvozdika...
122mm Self-propelled howitzer - 12 - D-30/2A18M2A18The D-30, or 122-mm howitzer D-30 , is a Soviet howitzer that first entered service in the 1960s. It is a robust piece that focuses on the essential features of a towed field gun suitable for all conditions...
Towed Artillery (122mm) - 4 - Type 60 howitzerType 60 howitzerThe Type 60 122mm towed gun is the Soviet D-74 122mm gun produced by the Chinese under licence. Developed in the late 1950s, it provided direct/indirect fire for the PLA. It remains in service with reserve units in gun battalions attached to motorized infantry and armoured divisions...
Towed Artillery (122 mm) - 18 Mainland China - PRC Type-54 - Towed Artillery (122 mm) - 12
- 76 mm divisional gun M1942 (ZiS-3) - Seen on 9th August 2011.
- OTO Melara Mod 56OTO Melara Mod 56The OTO-Melara Mod 56 is an Italian-made 105 mm pack howitzer built and developed by OTO-Melara. It fires the standard US type M1 ammunition.-History:...
105mm Pack Howitzer - 18
Italy - L118 Light GunL118 Light GunThe L118 Light Gun is a 105 mm towed howitzer, originally produced for the British Army in the 1970s and widely exported since, including to the United States, where a modified version is known as the M119A1...
105 mm towed howitzer - 12 - PRC Type 63Type 63 multiple rocket launcherThe Type 63 multiple rocket launcher is a towed, 12-tube, 107mm rocket launcher produced by the People's Republic of China in the early 1960s, based on the Soviet BM-12 MRS and using similar rockets...
Multiple Rocket Launcher - 18 Mainland China - RM-70RM-70The RM-70 multiple rocket launcher is a Czechoslovak army version and the heavier variant of the BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, providing enhanced performance over its parent artillery system that was introduced in 1971 .- Overview :RM-70 was developed in Czechoslovakia as a successor for...
Multiple Rocket Launcher - 60
Czech Republic - BM-21 Grad - 25
- L16 81mm MortarL16 81mm MortarThe United Kingdom's L16 81 mm mortar is the standard mortar used by the British armed forces. It originated as a joint design by UK and Canada. The version produced and used by Australia is named the F2 81mm Mortar, whilst the version used by the U.S...
- W-91 Mainland China 81mm Long Range mortars. 98 W91 tubes were on the An Yue JiangAn Yue JiangThe An Yue Jiang is a People's Republic of China container vessel operated by the state-run shipping firm COSCO. It became notable because of controversy surrounding a cargo of arms and ammunition destined for Zimbabwe...
. These weapons did get to Zimbabwe. http://allafrica.com/stories/200805061078.html - 2B11 120 mm Mortar - 140 /
Hungary(60 2B11s received from Hungary in 2000)
Air Defence Weapons
- ZPU-1/-2/-4; ZU-23; M1939 Air Defence Guns - 215
- Type 59100 mm air defense gun KS-19100 mm air defense gun KS-19 was a Soviet anti-aircraft gun. Following the end of the Second World War the Soviet Union introduced into service the 100 mm KS-19 and 130 mm KS-30....
100mm AA Guns Mainland China - Type 5957 mm AZP S-6057 mm AZP S-60 ; literally: Automatic anti-aircraft gun S-60) is a Soviet towed, road-transportable, short- to medium-range, single-barrel anti-aircraft gun from the 1950s. The gun was extensively used in Warsaw Pact, Middle Eastern and South-East Asian countries.-History:In the late 1940s, the...
57mm AA Guns Mainland China - ZSU-23-4 Shilka
- SA-7/SA-18 Igla Surface-to-air missile - 30 /
- Seacat/TigercatSea Cat missileSea Cat was a British short-range surface to air missile system intended to replace the ubiquitous Bofors 40 mm gun aboard warships of all sizes. It was the world's first operational shipboard point-defence missile system and was designed so that the Bofors guns could be replaced with minimum...
missiles http://www.forecastinternational.com/archive/mea/meindex1.doc - HQ-2 Surface-to-air missile - Reported. Quantity unknown. Mainland China
Anti-Tank Weapons
- LAW 80LAW 80The LAW 80 , sometimes erroneously referred to as LAW 94, is a man-portable, disposable anti-tank weapon currently in use by the British Army and a few other militaries.-Description:...
- MILANMILANMILAN " is French and German for "kite bird") is a European anti-tank guided missile. Design of the MILAN started in 1962. It was ready for trials in 1971, and was accepted for service in 1972. It is a wire guided SACLOS missile, which means the sight of the launch unit has to be aimed at the...
- PF-98 Queen BeePF-98The Type 98 is a 120 mm anti-tank rocket system developed by Norinco for the People's Liberation Army as a successor to the Type 78 and Type 65 recoilless gun.-Development:...
120mm Anti-Tank Rocket Mainland China - HJ-8HJ-8The HJ-8 or Hongjian-8 is a second generation tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided anti-tank missile system which was originally deployed by the People's Liberation Army since the late 1980s. Pakistan produces this missile system under licence as the Baktar-Shikan at Kahuta Research...
Red Arrow-8 Mainland China - M40A1M40 recoilless rifleThe M40 recoilless rifle was a lightweight, portable, crew-served 105 mm weapon intended primarily as an anti-tank weapon made in the United States...
106mm Recoilless rifle - B-11B-11 recoilless rifleThe B-11 recoilless rifle is a Soviet 107 mm smoothbore recoilless rifle. It entered service in 1954, and was typically towed by a 6x6 ZIL-157 truck or a UAZ 4x4 truck.Designed by KBM, Kolomna....
107mm Recoilless rifle - RPG-7RPG-7The RPG-7 is a widely-produced, portable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Originally the RPG-7 and its predecessor, the RPG-2, were designed by the Soviet Union, and now manufactured by the Bazalt company...
Light Infantry Weapons
- AK-47AK-47The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
- AKMAKMThe AKM is a 7.62mm assault rifle designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is an upgraded version of the AK-47 rifle and was developed in the 1950s....
- Type 56 assault rifleType 56 Assault RifleThe Type 56 assault rifle is a Chinese copy of the Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle, which has been manufactured since 1956. It was produced by State Factory 66 from 1956-73, then by Norinco from 1973 onwards.-Service history:...
Mainland China - FN FALFN FALThe Fusil Automatique Léger or FAL is a self-loading, selective fire battle rifle produced by the Belgian armaments manufacturer Fabrique Nationale de Herstal . During the Cold War it was adopted by many North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries, with the notable exception of the United States...
sometimes issued to special forces
South Africa/
Belgium - FN MAGFN MAGThe FN MAG is a Belgian 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun, designed in the early 1950s at Fabrique Nationale by Ernest Vervier. It has been used by more than 80 countries, and it has been made under licence in countries such as Argentina, Egypt, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the...
Machine gun Belgium - PK machine gunPK machine gunThe PK is a 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun designed in the Soviet Union and currently in production in Russia. The PK machine gun was introduced in the 1960s and replaced the SGM and RPD machine guns in Soviet service...
- Dragunov Sniper Rifle
- Sako TRGSako TRGSako TRG-22/42 sniper rifles were developed by the Finnish firearm manufacturer SAKO of Riihimäki. The TRG-22 is designed to fire standard .308 Winchester ammunition, while the TRG-42 is designed to fire more powerful .300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Lapua Magnum ammunition and therefore has a...
Finlandhttp://www.smallarmssurvey.org/files/portal/issueareas/transfers/transfers_pdf/n_reports/ArmsExportsFinland1999.pdf - M16 Assault rifleM16 rifleThe M16 is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the 5.56×45mm NATO...
- Heckler & Koch G3Heckler & Koch G3The G3 is a 7.62mm battle rifle developed in the 1950s by the German armament manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH in collaboration with the Spanish state-owned design and development agency CETME ....
- Beretta AR70/90Beretta AR70/90The Beretta AR70/90 is a gas operated self loading assault rifle chambered for the 5.56mm cartridge, and is the standard issue service rifle of the Italian Armed Forces. The weapon also features grenade sights, and is designed to be fitted with a rifle grenade...
Italy - IMI Uzi
- M2HB .50 caliber machine gun
- DShKDShKThe DShK 1938 is a Soviet heavy machine gun firing the 12.7x108mm cartridge. The weapon was also used as a heavy infantry machine gun, in which case it was frequently deployed with a two-wheeled mounting and a single-sheet armour-plate shield...
12.7mm heavy machine gun - Ultimax 100Ultimax 100The Ultimax 100 is a Singaporean 5.56mm light machine gun, developed by the Chartered Industries of Singapore by a team of engineers under the guidance of American firearms designer L. James Sullivan. The gun is extremely accurate due to its low recoil.Work on a new light support weapon for the...
Singapore
Barracks
- 1 Brigade HQ - Imbizo
- 1.2 Infantry Battalion - Hwange
- 1.3 Infantry Battalion - Plumtree
- School of Infantry - Induna
- 2 Brigade HQ - Old Cranborne
- 2.2 Infanrty Battalion - Mudzi
- 2.3 Infantry Battalion - Magunje
- 3 Brigade HQ - Chikanga
- 3.2 Infantry Battalion - Tsanzaguru
- 3.3 Infantry Battalion - Changadzi Barracks
- 4 Brigade HQ - Masvingo
- 4.2 Infantry Battalion - Gutu
- 5 Brigade - all three battalion Battlefields
- 2 Mechanized Battalion - Ingezi
- Dadaya Barracks
- Dzivarasekwa (Harare) - HQ Presidential Guard
- State House (Harare) - 1 Presidential Guard Battalion
- KG VI (Harare) - Defence Forces HQ, Zimbabwe Staff College
- Inkomo (Harare) - Armoured Brigade, Parachute Group
- Kabrit (Harare) - Military Intelligence
- Pondorosa – Air Defence Regiment
- Chakari – Air Defence Regiment
- Pomona (Harare) - School of Combat Engineering
- Cranborne (Harare) - HQ Commando Regiment
- Darwendale (Darwendale) - CAD
- Elfrida - Zimbabwe Defence Industries
- Connemara (Gweru) - Prison housed here
- Guinea Fowl (Gweru) - HQ Mounted Infantry
- Kutanga Range - Training School (artillery, armour and airforce bombing range)
- Zimbabwe Military Academy (Gweru) -
- Border Battle School (Nyanga) - Combined Arms Battle school
- Lazy Nine (Shurugwi) - Combined Armes Battle School
- Nyami-nyami (Kariba) - Boat Squadron
- Wafawafa (Kariba) - training grounds