Oberholzer murder
The Oberholzer murder occurred on 4 July 1964, when members of the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) murdered Pieter Johan Andries (Andrew) Oberholzer, who worked as a foreman of the Silverstreams Wattle Company.
| Oberholzer murder | |
|---|---|
| Part of Rhodesian Bush War | |
| Type | Terrorist attack |
| Planned by | unknown |
| Target | Andrew Oberholzer |
| Date | 4 July 1964 |
| Executed by |  |
| Casualties | 1 killed |
On 4 July 1964, ZANU terrorists ambushed and murdered a white foreman from Silverstreams Wattle Company, Andrew Oberholzer, while he was traveling with his wife and family one night on the main road. After murdering Mr Oberholzer, the terrorists tried to set his body and car alight in front of the man's family. However, they were driven off by the arrival of another car on the scene. Most of the gang was subsequently eliminated in follow-up operations.
The killing had a lasting effect on the small, close-knit white community, even though it was an isolated incident.[1][2][3] The Smith administration subsequently moved to detain the ZANU and ZAPU political leadership in August 1964. The major political leaders imprisoned were Ndabaningi Sithole, Leopold Takawira, Edgar Tekere, Enos Nkala and Maurice Nyagumbo. The remaining military leaders of the ZANLA Dare ReChimurenga were Josiah Tongogara and the barrister Herbert Chitepo. Operating from bases in Zambia and later from Mozambique, militants subsequently began launching attacks against Rhodesia.[4]
References
- Binda 2008, p. 38
- Cilliers 1984, p. 4
- Rogers 1998, p. 39
- St. John 2007, p. 1
Bibliography
- Binda, Alexandre (May 2008). The Saints: The Rhodesian Light Infantry. Johannesburg: 30° South Publishers. ISBN 978-1-920143-07-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Cilliers, Jakkie (December 1984). Counter-Insurgency in Rhodesia. London, Sydney & Dover, New Hampshire: Croom Helm. ISBN 978-0-7099-3412-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Rogers, Anthony (1998). Someone Else's War: Mercenaries from 1960 to the Present. Hammersmith: Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0-00-472077-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- St. John, Lauren (April 2007). Rainbow's End: A Memoir of Childhood, War, and an African Farm (First ed.). New York: Scribner. ISBN 978-0-7432-8679-4.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)