1977 in Rhodesia explained

The following lists events that happened during 1977 in Rhodesia.

Incumbents

• President: John Wrathall
• Prime Minister: Ian Smith

Events

February

• 6 February – Seven white Catholic missionaries killed by guerrillas at St. Paul's Mission, Musami.^[1]
• 24 February – Catholic Bishop of Umtali Donal Lamont had a 10-year prison sentence reduced to 4 by the Appeal Court in Salisbury. 3 of the 4 years were suspended. He was convicted in 1976 of failing to report the presence of terrorists

April

• 23 April – Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) leader announces that ZANU and Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) are to merge as the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front

August

• 6 August – The Salisbury Woolworths bombing. A 30 kg bomb exploded in a Woolworths store in Salisbury killing 11 people and wounding 76. The victims were black, white and coloured. The store on the corner of Pioneer Street, and Bank Street was also badly damaged.

November

• 23–25 November – 3,000 ZANLA guerrillas killed in raids by Rhodesian Security Forces on camps in Mozambique. These raids were code named Operation Dingo, also known as the Chimoio Raids and the Chimoio massacre.

Deaths

• 9 August – Johanna Decker, a missionary killed by guerillas.^[2]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Burns, John F. . 7 White Missionaries in Rhodesia Slain in Raid by Black Guerrillas . The New York Times . 8 February 1977 . 5 September 2021.
2. Web site: Two Missionaries Are Killed by Raiders in Rhodesia . The New York Times . 11 August 1977 . 5 September 2021.