Sipolilo Campaign – ‘Advanced Group’ to the Zambezi River
From 18 to 20 December 1967, the “Advanced Group” of the joint Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) and Zimbabwe African People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) forces began moving their material to the banks of the Zambezi River after having camped en route overnight following their leaving Dube’s Farm. Within a couple of months after the heroic Wankie Campaign, the two liberation movements were involved in preparations for a fresh infiltration into Rhodesia.
With the Wankie campaign and its ongoing clashes, which subsequently became known as the Western Front, MK Headquarters in Lusaka decided to send another unit to Rhodesia to divert the enemy’s attention. The plan was to attack the enemy from the east, towards Sipolilo, thereby opening up a second front that would stretch and place the Rhodesian forces under pressure from two sides.
The intention was to make contact with local inhabitants and train them to organise and participate in the armed struggle. Umkhonto we Sizwe’s plan was to assist ZIPRA to mount attacks on the enemy forces so that a second route could be opened up. Unlike the Western Front the objectives of MK’s participation on the Eastern Front were not as clear-cut. However, the preparations were a lot better than in Wankie.
Sources:R.M.T. Ngqungwana, “Zambezi Took A Share”, Dawn – Journal of Umkhonto we Sizwe, Souvenir Issue, December 1986.Rendani Moses Ralinala, et. al., “Chap
