Zimbabwe: Information on the Selous Scouts with respect of Human Rights
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1991 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ZWE7636 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Zimbabwe: Information on the Selous Scouts with respect of Human Rights, 1 February 1991, ZWE7636, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac9780.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to Jay Ross, the Selous Scouts were carrying out cross-border raids (1980). In 1979, a new Commanding Officer, Lt-Col. Patrick Armstrong, was appointed (BBC; Summary of World Broadcasts, 1979). Armstrong replaced Lt-Col. Reid-Daly (Ibid.). The Economist reports that after the election of Robert Mugabe members of the Selous Scouts unit went south to South Africa where some of them have joined the South African Special Units (1980). The Selous Scouts unit were disbanded in 1980 (The Economist, 1980). The Selous Scouts were a multiracial unit although with more blacks than white (BBC; Summary of World Broadcasts, 1980).
According to The Washington Post, the Selous Scouts were accused of atrocities against civilians as well as ruthlessness against the guerillas (1980). This news paper also reports that by February 1980 this unit was responsible for bombings of churches (1980). On August 1979, a landmine, believed to have been planted by the Selous Scouts, injured many people travelling in a bus (BBC; Summary of World Broadcast, 1979). According to Facts On File, the World Council of Churches in Geneva charged that the Selous Scouts were killing civilians in order to discredit the Zimbabwean nationalist movement (1977). On February 12, 1977, The Economist reported the killing of Jesuit priests believed to be the action of this particular unit (1977).
For further information on the training and background of this military unit please find the attached article:
"Elite Jungle Unit Battles Rhodesian Guerrillas", The Washington Post, 19 April, 1977.
Bibliography
Ross, Ray, "Zimbabwe Tries to Weld New Army From Warring Groups", The Washington Post, 12 October 1980.
"Zimbabwe and South Africa: A Polite Distance", The Economist, 12 July 1980.
"Zimbabwe: We Want to be Soldiers Too", The Economist, 26 April 1980.
"Rhodesia: In Brief", The British Broadcasting Corporation; Summary of World Broadcasts, April 18 1980, [Maputo Radio, April 15, 1980].
Murphy, Caryle, "Britain to End Monitor Role as Rhodesia Relaxes", The Washington Post, 7 March, 1980.
Ross, Jay, "Intimidation Seen Key Campaign Issue in Rhodesia", The Washington Post, 24 February, 1980.
"Zimbabwe Rhodesia: In Brief", The British Broadcasting Corporation; Summary of World Broadcasts, 1 October, 1979, [Salisbury, 28 September, 1979].
"Zimbabwe; In Brief", The British Broadcasting Corporation; Summary of World Broadcasts, 8 August, 1979, [Lusaka, 6 August, 1979].
"Rhodesian Army Charged in Killings", Facts On File World News Digest, 16 July, 1977.
"Rhodesia; Plain Murder", The Economist, 12 February, 1977.
