Chicualaclala: a guerra na fronteira 1975 -1992

Abstract

The war of aggression that has hit Mozambique since 1976, led by the Rhodesians, continued the action initiated by the regime of Ian Smith before the independence of our country. The presence of Rhodesian forces in Mozambique from 1972, in Tete province, had the pretext of persecuting Zimbabwean guerrillas operating from that province. When the Portuguese "assured" the nationalist guerrilla in Mozambique, they served as a buffer to prevent the war from reaching the borders of Rhodesia. With national independence proclaimed, Rhodesian forces intensified their actions through bombing carried out by planes, artillery and infantry. At the same time, the Rhodesian secret services (CIO) were preparing a military movement to operate clandestinely in Mozambique to provide information about the Zimbabwean refugee camps and their military positions. This movement (MNR/Renamo) that started its operations in 1977 carried out its actions in the central region of the country to attack limited objectives. However, the political changes brought about in Rhodesia with the victory of ZANU-PF forced the transfer of the MNR/RENAMO to South Africa where it was integrated into the South African Total Strategy. When South Africa took over RENAMO, it was intended to use it to force Mozambique to change its position in the face of the anti-apartheid struggle led by the ANC. To that end, the South African strategy was to extend Renamo's actions to the entire country, to destruct the Mozambican economy and make government institutions weakened. During the 16 years that the armed conflict lasted, the district of Chicualacuala, being a border district with Rhodesia and South Africa, played a preponderant role for the aggressive forces. Rhodesia, in attacking the district, aimed to reap political dividends as it was the closest border district to the capital where the diplomatic corps and political power were located, in order to force it to withdraw its support from the Zimbabwean guerrillas. As for South Africa, upon taking over Renamo, it defined the district as a land penetration zone for Renamo guerrillas from the South African training camps of Phalarborwa to the provinces of Gaza and Inhambane and the north-central regions of Mozambique. The district's extension and low population density were predominant as a transit zone for Renamo guerrillas (TRADUÇÃO NOSSA)