LOOKING BACK: Jail for woman who fed terrorists

The Rhodesia Herald, 3 September, 1976

MARY Ngwenya of Mawabeni, near Balla, was jailed for five years at a Special Court in Bulawayo yesterday for feeding three terrorists and for failing to report their presence in the area.

The hearing, which started on Monday, was held in camera and no details of the charges were given. The Special Court, with Chief Magistrate, Mr RP Barnes, presiding, sentenced Ngwenya to eight years’ jail, but conditionally suspended three years of the sentence for five years.

Other members of the Court were Mr JΗΑ Wallace, a regional magistrate, and Mr AB Clark, a senior Bulawayo magistrate.

Ngwenya, a mother of eight children, pleaded not guilty. She was accused after terrorists shot dead Mr Leonard Ashby, of Range Store, Balla Balla.

His wife, Mrs Marion Ashby, was wounded in the chest and shoulder during the shooting on July 7. Advocate DA Dawes, instructed by Mr EC Greenfield (Lazarus and Sarif) appeared for Ngwenya and Advocate Trevor Creewel prosecuted.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

• The colonial government labelled members of these nationalist movements as terrorists. This designation was used to justify harsh measures against anyone perceived to be supporting them. Providing food or any form of assistance to these fighters was seen as an act of treason or collaboration with terrorists.
• The government enacted laws that criminalised support for insurgents. Under these laws, individuals who were found guilty of aiding what was termed “terrorist activities” could face severe penalties, including imprisonment. This legal framework created an environment where fear and repression were prevalent.
• By jailing men and women who provided food to nationalists, the government aimed to deter others from offering support. This strategy was part of a broader campaign to undermine the revolution by cutting off its supply lines and isolating its fighters from local communities.
• Imprisoning supporters served not only as a punitive measure, but also as psychological warfare against the population. It instilled fear among communities about the consequences of supporting liberation movements, thereby discouraging potential sympathisers.
• Although thousands were jailed countrywide, but this did not deter their support for the revolution.