Security Force Auxiliaries

The Security Force Auxiliaries or Pfumo Re Vanhu were black private militias in Rhodesia formed during the Rhodesian Bush War in 1978 under the Zimbabwe-Rhodesia government.

Ndabaningi Sithole, founder of the Zimbabwe African National Union, and Abel Muzorewa, the first and only Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia, led the auxiliaries by 1979.^[1]

Like the Rhodesian Security Forces and their guerrilla opponents, SFAs used torture to extract information.^[1]

History

In 1978, the Rhodesian Special Branch created the first SFA in the Msana Tribal Trust Lands (TTL). While the Rhodesian government intended for them only to serve as pro-government, anti-Communist militias, author Matthew Preston argues they became Prime Minister Muzorewa and Ndabaningi Sithole's "private armies."

Not only did the auxiliaries protect voters, but in some cities, such as Karoi, Chinamore and Seki, they fought and defeated the Patriotic Front.

Manpower

By 1979, there were 2,000 auxiliaries.

By April 1980, there were 10,000 auxiliaries.