During the Second Chimurenga; ZIPRA- Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army was the military wing of the PF ZAPU party. The ZANU PF equivalent was ZANLA-Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army. These liberation armies were largely based in Zambia and Mozambique respectively where they had their major rear bases. When Zimbabwe attained independence from the British in 1980, some interesting military hardware of all shapes and sizes were repatriated from these rear bases and handed over to the newly formed Zimbabwe National Army.
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History has it that ZIPRA had an air force complete with pilots and fighter aircraft (MiGs allegedly)- courtesy of the Russians. Even today-some of these former ZIPRA pilots are still serving in the Air Force of Zimbabwe, loyally and with distinction. However there is no evidence whatsoever of any military aircraft having been delivered to the Air Force of Zimbabwe from our northern neighbour- Zambia either in 1980 or thereafter.
That’s where the mystery begins; what happened to the MiGs? Which exact MiG type did ZIPRA operate and how many? Why where they not flown home after independence in 1980? This is an issue which needs to be exhaustively researched until the mystery of the MiGs is solved and the truth openly told to the people of Zimbabwe. Someone out there has an answer to the mystery of the ZIPRA MiGs- wherever they are, they should be found and brought home to be displayed at the Aviation Museum in Gweru to help tell the story of Zimbabwe’s war of liberation as we honour and remember our heroes and heroines who paid the ultimate price to liberate the country.
Regionally, only UNITA, during its hey days under Jonas Savimbi had the ingenuity of putting together an air force flying Squadron MiG-23s from the air base not far from their headquarters at Jamba in Southern Angola.