Police Support Unit

Last updated
Police Support Unit
BSAP Support Unit Insignia.svg
The Police Support Unit's patch under the British South Africa Police of Rhodesia.
Active1898 - present
Country Zimbabwe
Agency Zimbabwe Republic Police
Type Paramilitary
Common nameBlack Boots
AbbreviationPSU
Notables
Significant operation(s) Rhodesian Bush War

The Police Support Unit, also known by their nickname of the Black Boots, is a paramilitary wing of the Zimbabwe Republic Police. They were founded as a native police force but later developed into a counter-insurgency unit of the British South Africa Police in Rhodesia during the Rhodesian Bush War. [1] The unit was the only paramilitary unit retained by the Zimbabwe Republic Police after the country's reconstitution as Zimbabwe.

Contents

The unit gained notoriety for being an effective counter-terrorist force but received criticism in the latter stages of the Bush War as well as under Zimbabwean control for utilising brutal tactics against their targets.

Rhodesian history

The Police Support Unit had its origins in 1898 when 150 Ngoni tribesmen were recruited by the British South Africa Company as auxiliary native police to the British South Africa Police in Company-ruled Rhodesia. For most of their existence, they were mostly relegated to ceremonial duties, leading to them being given the derogatory nickname of the "Chocolate Soldiers" by the white policemen. [2] It was suggested in 1963 by the British South Africa Police (BSAP) commissioner following the breakup of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland that the Police Support Unit should be expanded to take on the role of the Rhodesian Army in Southern Rhodesia. But this suggestion was rejected by the Southern Rhodesian government. [3] However, when the Rhodesian Bush War started, the Support Unit took on a more active anti-terrorist role. [2]

The Police Support Unit became known as the Black Boots for the boots they wore in contrast to the brown boots the rest of the BSAP wore. [4] [5] [6] During the first few years of the Bush War, the active Black Boots operations were manned by mercenary soldiers, predominantly white mercenaries from the Congo Crisis. [7] However, the unit's operations would eventually evolve to include native black police officers who received military training in addition to their regular police training. [8] By the late 1970s, the unit was majority black with most being veterans of the Malayan Emergency. [9] [10] The white commanders in the unit were hand-selected from the regular Duty Uniform Branch of the BSAP. [11] Foreign volunteers, mostly American veterans of the Vietnam War, would also be admitted to the unit providing they passed security clearance. [12]

The Black Boots were highly regarded due to their high levels of military training and behaved more like an army unit than part of the police force. [10] They became known as the BSAP's "mailed fist" because they operated similarly to the Selous Scouts and trained at the Rhodesian School of Infantry. [13] Black policemen were attracted to join the Black Boots because of the improved pay and living conditions as well as being able to access a higher standard of education. [14]

The Black Boots would gain a tough reputation in the latter years of the Bush War with the Rhodesian Sunday Mail accusing them of being "terr hungry" for their apparent enjoyment of killing suspected terrorists. [15] They were accused of being responsible for the killing of 50 black civilians in 1978 which the Rhodesian government had claimed was targeting guerrillas. [16]

Zimbabwean history

Following the establishment of Zimbabwe, the BSAP were disbanded and refounded as the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Police Support Unit was retained. [17] They were the only paramilitary section of the former BSAP that were retained under the new police force. [18] Under Zimbabwean control, they were integrated with the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and were initially used to target Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) guerrillas in 1980. [19] Until 1982 they were mostly based in Salisbury (later renamed Harare in 1982). From 1982, they started being used on border patrols looking for South African smugglers. In the mid 1980s, the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe announced that he would be integrating Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) guerrillas who fought in the Bush War with the Black Boots over concerns by the police that it would dilute the quality of the force. [18]

They were used as an external military force in the Second Congo War when they were deployed to fight against the Rwandan-backed rebels. [20] The Black Boots were also accused of taking part in extrajudicial political intimidation campaigns alongside members of the ruling ZANU-PF to attack supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai. [21] This also included the alleged use of corporal punishment and electric shock torture. [22] In 2016, it was reported members of the unit had been ambushed by RENAMO rebels whilst on patrol of the border with Mozambique, where three members of the Black Boots were abducted and had their weapons and identity papers stolen. [23] During the 2017 Zimbabwean coup d'etat, the Zimbabwe National Army seized control of the PSU's depot in Harare and disarmed all police officers during the coup. [24] In 2021, the Black Boots were involved in a court case involving them trying to evict a man from his farm because they wanted the eastern part that he held. [25]

Since 1991, the Black Boots have competed as a volleyball team. [26] In 2017, the Support Unit team won the Confederation of African Volleyball Zone VI Championship. [27]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhodesia</span> Unrecognised state in Southern Africa (1965–1979)

Rhodesia, officially from 1970 the Republic of Rhodesia, was an unrecognised state in Southern Africa from 1965 to 1979, equivalent in territory to modern Zimbabwe. Rhodesia was the de facto successor state to the British colony of Southern Rhodesia, which had been self-governing since achieving responsible government in 1923. A landlocked nation, Rhodesia was bordered by South Africa to the south, Bechuanaland to the southwest, Zambia to the northwest, and Mozambique to the east. From 1965 to 1979, Rhodesia was one of two independent states on the African continent governed by a white minority of European descent and culture, the other being South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selous Scouts</span> Rhodesian Army special forces unit

The Selous Scouts was a special forces unit of the Rhodesian Army that operated during the Rhodesian Bush War from 1973 until the reconstitution of the country as Zimbabwe in 1980. It was mainly responsible for infiltrating the black majority population of Rhodesia and collecting intelligence on insurgents so that they could be attacked by regular elements of the security forces. The unit did this by forming small teams that posed as insurgents and usually included captured insurgents. Over time, the Selous Scouts increasingly attacked insurgents themselves and operated in the countries that neighboured Rhodesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhodesian Bush War</span> 1964–1979 conflict in Southern Africa

The Rhodesian Bush War, also called the Second Chimurenga as well as the Zimbabwean War of Liberation, was a civil conflict from July 1964 to December 1979 in the unrecognised country of Rhodesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British South Africa Police</span> Rhodesian police force

The British South Africa Police (BSAP) was, for most of its existence, the police force of Southern Rhodesia and Rhodesia. It was formed as a paramilitary force of mounted infantrymen in 1889 by Cecil Rhodes' British South Africa Company, from which it took its original name, the British South Africa Company's Police. Initially run directly by the company, it began to operate independently in 1896, at which time it also dropped "Company's" from its name. It thereafter served as Rhodesia's regular police force, retaining its name, until 1980, when it was superseded by the Zimbabwe Republic Police, soon after the country's reconstitution into Zimbabwe in April that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zimbabwe National Army</span> Military unit

The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) is the primary branch of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces responsible for land-oriented military operations. It is the largest service branch under the Zimbabwean Joint Operations Command (JOC). The modern army has its roots in the Rhodesian Army, which was raised between 1963 and 1964 after the breakup of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. A Joint High Command created in March 1980 to oversee integration of the formerly belligerent Rhodesian Security Forces, Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA), and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) officially established the Zimbabwe National Army in late 1980, nearly a year after the end of the Rhodesian Bush War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhodesian African Rifles</span> Regiment of the Rhodesian Army

The Rhodesian African Rifles (RAR) was a regiment of the Rhodesian Army. The ranks of the RAR were recruited from the black African population, although officers were generally from the white population. The regiment was formed in May 1940 in the British colony of Southern Rhodesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhodesian Air Force</span> Military unit

The Rhodesian Air Force (RhAF) was an air force based in Salisbury which represented several entities under various names between 1935 and 1980: originally serving the British self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia, it was the air arm of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland between 1953 and 31 December 1963; of Southern Rhodesia once again from 1 January 1964; and of the unrecognised nation of Rhodesia following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from Britain on 11 November 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey's Scouts</span> Rhodesian mounted infantry unit

Grey's Scouts were a Rhodesian mounted infantry unit raised in July 1975 and named after George Grey, a British soldier and governor. Based in Salisbury it patrolled Rhodesia's borders during the Rhodesian Bush War, and then became a regiment of the Special Forces of Zimbabwe in June 1980. It was totally disbanded in July 1986 because of a lack of resources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military history of Zimbabwe</span>

The military history of Zimbabwe chronicles a vast time period and complex events from the dawn of history until the present time. It covers invasions of native peoples of Africa, encroachment by Europeans, and civil conflict.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Walls</span> Rhodesian general (1927–2010)

Lieutenant General George Peter Walls was a Rhodesian soldier. He served as the Head of the Armed Forces of Rhodesia during the Rhodesian Bush War from 1977 until his exile from the country in 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhodesian Security Forces</span> Security forces of the unrecognised state of Rhodesia (1964–80)

The Rhodesian Security Forces were the military forces of the Rhodesian government. The Rhodesian Security Forces consisted of a ground force, the Rhodesian Air Force, the British South Africa Police, and various personnel affiliated to the Rhodesian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Despite the impact of economic and diplomatic sanctions, Rhodesia was able to develop and maintain a potent and professional military capability.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">INTAF</span>

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, commonly referred to as INTAF, was a cabinet ministry of the Rhodesian government. One of Rhodesia's most important governmental departments, it was responsible for the welfare and development of the black African rural population. It played a significant role maintaining control of rural African villages during the Rhodesian Bush War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7 Independent Company (Rhodesia)</span> Military unit

7 Independent Company was a short-lived company of francophone volunteers in the Rhodesian Army during the Rhodesian Bush War. Numbering about 200 men at its peak, it was unique in the history of the Rhodesian Army as an exclusively expatriate unit. It existed between November 1977 and May 1978 as a company in the 1st Battalion, the Rhodesia Regiment, and served two counter-insurgency tours on Operation Hurricane in north-eastern Rhodesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Company rule in Rhodesia</span> Rule of the British South Africa Company in Rhodesia (1888–1964)

The British South Africa Company's administration of what became Rhodesia was chartered in 1889 by Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, and began with the Pioneer Column's march north-east to Mashonaland in 1890. Empowered by its charter to acquire, govern and develop the area north of the Transvaal in southern Africa, the Company, headed by Cecil Rhodes, raised its own armed forces and carved out a huge bloc of territory through treaties, concessions and occasional military action, most prominently overcoming the Matabele army in the First and Second Matabele Wars of the 1890s. By the turn of the century, Rhodes's Company held a vast, land-locked country, bisected by the Zambezi river. It officially named this land Rhodesia in 1895, and ran it until the early 1920s.

The Battle of Chinhoyi, also known as the Battle of Sinoia was a small military engagement fought near Sinoia between a small unit of Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) guerrillas and the Rhodesian police force on 28 April 1966. The skirmish is generally considered the opening engagement of the Second Chimurenga. A team of seven ZANLA cadres engaged with British South Africa Police forces near the northern town of Sinoia. The seven guerrillas all eventually died in the battle, the police killing all seven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhodesia and weapons of mass destruction</span>

Although many other countries have possessed chemical and biological weapons programs, Rhodesia was one of the few countries known to have used chemical and biological agents. Rhodesian CBW use took place toward the end of Rhodesia's protracted struggle against a growing African nationalist insurgency in the late 1970s. The genesis of the Rhodesian CBW effort emerged as a result of a deteriorating security situation that developed following Mozambique's independence from Portuguese colonial rule. In April 1980, the former colony became the independent country of Zimbabwe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Police Anti-Terrorist Unit</span> Paramilitary arm of Rhodesian police force

The Police Anti-Terrorist Unit (PATU) was a paramilitary auxiliary arm of the British South Africa Police (BSAP) in Rhodesia. The unit was founded in 1966. The concept was created for guerrilla bush warfare and the personnel were both black and white policemen. The unit was abolished in 1980 following the dissolution of the BSAP.

Major-General G. A. D. "Andrew" Rawlins was a Rhodesian Army officer. He served in the Rhodesian African Rifles during the pre-independence years when Rhodesia was part of the British Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. He remained in the unit following Rhodesia's unilateral declaration of independence in 1965. He was a proponent of psychological warfare in the early years of the Rhodesian Bush War but his proposals were not acted upon. In 1967 he recommended other changes in tactics to the Rhodesian chief of staff, Brigadier Keith Coster. Rawlins retired from the army as a brigadier in 1976 but was brought back to command, as a major general, the newly formed Guard Force. This unit was established to defend the protected villages, where the Rhodesian government had moved black civilians to isolate them from the guerrillas. He left this role in February 1977 to become the Rhodesian Army's director of psychological warfare. Rawlins left the army in 1979 as the Rhodesian Bush War was drawing to a close and ahead of the territory's transition into Zimbabwe.

The Rhodesian government actively recruited white personnel from other countries from the mid-1970s until 1980 to address manpower shortages in the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Rhodesian Bush War. It is estimated that between 800 and 2,000 foreign volunteers enlisted. The issue attracted a degree of controversy as Rhodesia was the subject of international sanctions that banned military assistance due to its illegal declaration of independence and the control which the small white minority exerted over the country. The volunteers were often labelled as mercenaries by opponents of the Rhodesian regime, though the Rhodesian government did not regard or pay them as such.

References

  1. ↑ McLaughlin, Peter (2016). The Rhodesian War Fifty Years On (From UDI). Pen and Sword Military. ISBN   9781473860759.
  2. 1 2 Moorcraft, Paul (1981). Contact II. Sygma. p. 135. ISBN   9780868760063.
  3. ↑ Reid-Daly, Ronald (2002). Pamwe Chete: The Legend of the Selous Scouts. Corvos-Day Books. p. 299. ISBN   9781919874333.
  4. ↑ Ellis, Robb (2006). Without Honour. Creative Commons. p. 21. ISBN   9781434829948.
  5. ↑ Lemon, David (2000). Never Quite a Soldier. Albida. p. 66. ISBN   9781902320229.
  6. ↑ Smith, Ivan (2014). Bush Pig - District Cop: Service with the British South Africa Police in the Rhodesian Conflict 1965-79. Helion and Company. p. 44. ISBN   9781909982291.
  7. ↑ Brown, Robert (2013). I Am Soldier of Fortune. Casemate Publishing. ISBN   9781612001944.
  8. ↑ "Rhodesia: Police Receive Training In Guerrilla Warfare As Part Of Increased Recruitment For Country's Security Forces". British Pathé. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
  9. ↑ Zambezia. Vol. 7–8. University of Rhodesia. 1978. p. 180.
  10. 1 2 Venter, Al (1975). The Zambesi Salient. Hale. p. 128. ISBN   9780709148425.
  11. ↑ "Lessons for Contemporary Counterinsurgencies: The Rhodesian experience" (PDF). RAND. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
  12. ↑ "Ex-GIs fighting for Rhodesia" . Detroit Free Press. 1977-04-08. Retrieved 2021-07-08– via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ Focus on Political Repression in Southern Africa. International Defence & Aid Fund. 1977. p. 10.
  14. ↑ Beckett, Ian (2011). Counter Insurgency: Lessons from History. Pen and Sword Publishing. p. 174. ISBN   9781848843967.
  15. ↑ Caute, David (1983). Under the Skin: The Death of White Rhodesia. Northwestern University Press. p. 191. ISBN   9780810106581.
  16. ↑ "Rhodesia contradicted on killings" . The Baltimore Sun. 1978-05-18. Retrieved 2021-07-08– via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "Lot 573, 16 September 2010". DNW. 2010-09-16. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
  18. 1 2 Nelson, Harold (1983). Zimbabwe, a country study. United States Department of the Army. pp. 281–282. ISBN   9780160015984.
  19. ↑ Kriger, Norma (2003). Guerrilla Veterans in Post-war Zimbabwe: Symbolic and Violent Politics, 1980–1987. Cambridge University Press. p. 78. ISBN   9781139438384.
  20. ↑ Rogers, Douglas (2019). Two Weeks in November. Short Books. ISBN   9781780723693.
  21. ↑ "Thugs wage revenge campaign" . The Gazette. 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2021-07-08– via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "Mugabe steps up torture of opponents" . Edmonton Journal. 2007-12-02. Retrieved 2021-07-08– via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ Flowers, Jane (2016-07-04). "Zimbabwe Police Para-military Support Unit targeted by Mozambique rebels". Blasting News. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
  24. ↑ "Report: Zim army disarms paramilitary police unit in Harare". Eyewitness News. 2017-11-15. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
  25. ↑ "ZRP Support Unit embroiled in farm dispute". Newsday. 2021-02-15. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
  26. ↑ "Police team Namibia bound". The Herald (Zimbabwe) . Retrieved 2021-07-08– via Pressreader.
  27. ↑ "Support Unit crowned champions". The Chronicle (Zimbabwe) . 2017-12-18. Retrieved 2021-07-08– via Pressreader.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.