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The Conflict with Renamo, 1976-1992
«October-December 1980»
Dossier MZ-0020
14. Mozambique-Zimbabwe Cooperation
against the MNR; MNR Claims
Aircraft Shot Down
Above: From left to right, José Timane, Amaro da Silva and Ernesto Mavua, responsible for the terrorist bomb attack on the Scala café in Maputo on 25 June 1978.
In the last few months of the year, military cooperation between the newly-independent Zimbabwe and the República Popular de Moçambique intensified. ZANLA troops were deployed along the common border as rebel activity continued to threaten to spill over the frontier. Reports surfaced of the brutal mutilation of Mozambican citizens who were state or Party employees; two unfortunates had their ears cut off.
In the November-December period, the MNR claimed to have demolished some Cahora Bassa powerlines, overrun various small towns, blown up a ship in Beira harbor, destroyed the water supply to Beira, and cut the Beira-Umtali [Mutare] pipeline. In addition, the movement claimed that it had shot down a spotter aircraft.
MHN Resources
◊ 10 October 1980
Enemy activity in Mozambique schools. Rádio Moçambique in Portuguese on 10 October 1980, reported in Summary of World Broadcasts [London]. Click here to view or download a PDF, size 22 kb.
◊ 16 October 1980
Michael Holman. Mozambique rebels derail train on Beira line. Financial Times [London], 16 October 1980. Click here to view or download a PDF, size 78 kb.
◊ 18 October 1980
Anti-Frelimo guerrillas stage renewed attack. Citizen [Johannesburg], 18 October 1980. Click here to view or download a PDF, size 82 kb.
◊ 18 October 1980
David Forret. Rebel activity worries Machel. Rand Daily Mail [Johannesburg], 18 October 1980. Click here to view or download a PDF, size 516 kb.
◊ 24 October 1980
ZANLA men on border duty. Rand Daily Mail [Johannesburg], 24 October 1980. Click here to view or download a PDF, size 94 kb.
◊ 25 October 1980
Machel gets military aid. Star [Johannesburg], 25 October 1980. Click here to view or download a PDF, size 60 kb.
◊ 3 November 1980
Guerrillas claim Frelimo losses. Star [Johannesburg], 3 November 1980. The MNR claims to have killed over 40 government troops and shot down a spotter plane in the September-October period. Click here to view or download a PDF, size 102 kb.
◊ 3 November 1980
Mozambique guerrillas down plane. Rand Daily Mail [Johannesburg], 3 November 1980. Click here to view or download a PDF, size 72 kb.
◊ 3 November 1980
We killed 44 soldiers, Frelimo beaten off: claims. Citizen [Johannesburg], 3 November 1980. Click here to view or download a PDF, size 74 kb.
◊ December 1980
Campaign against rebels. Africa [London], no.112, December 1980, p.9. Click here to view or download a PDF, size 33 kb.
◊ 5 December 1980
Beira: detidos vários elementos acusados de acção inimiga. Notícias [Maputo], 5 December 1980. Click here to view or download a PDF, size 115 kb.
◊ 16 December 1980
Mozambique rebels murder supporters of Marxist leader. The Sun [Baltimore], 16 December 1980. Click here to view or download a PDF, size 41 kb.
◊ 17 December 1980
Strikes at pylons, pipelines. Star [Johannesburg], 17 December 1980. Click here to view or download a PDF, size 84 kb.
◊ 19 December 1980
Três agentes da contra-revolução falam dos seus crimes: desde a história da bomba no Scala a tentativas de assassinato contra dirigentes. Notícias [Maputo], 19 December 1980. Click here to view or download a PDF, size 264 kb.
◊ 21 December 1980
Areosa Pena. Bombista do Scala tem nome e está preso. Tempo [Maputo], no.532, 21 December 1980, pages 26-31. Click here to view or download a PDF, size 1.8 Mb.
Above: The scene outside the Scala pastry shop immediately after the terrorist bomb attack on 25 June 1978.
Consolidated Downloadable Zipped Files
Click on the yellow folder image below to download an unsorted zipped archive of documents and press clippings in PDF format concerning the armed conflict between Renamo/MNR and the Mozambican government in October, November, and December 1980. Note: it is possible that materials have been added to this archive that are not listed above.
