Police harrassment of the internal organisation of the Zimbabwean Patriotic Front, led by Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe, increased sharply in the weeks leading up to the general election called by the Smith regime for 31 August. Starting at the end of June, large numbers of officials and members of the African National Council of Zimbabwe were arrested and detained by the Police Special Branch in a countrywide operation. More than 200 people may have been taken and it is possible that arrests are still continuing. Ian Smith himself, in a news conference on 6 July, has warned that "the Patriotic Front is public enemy number one" while there have been repeated calls in the Rhodesian Parliament and elsewhere for the banning of organisations which actively support the guerilla struggle.
Arrests began on 30 June when ANC(Z) offices in Bulawayo, Que Que, Gwelo, Umtali, Sinoia and the Victoria province were raided by the Special Branch and documents seized. According to Mr. Josiah Chinamano, ANC(Z) vice-president and Joshua Nkomo's deputy inside Zimbabwe, nearly 100 people were arrested in a 24 hour period. The central province around Salisbury, where a single official was arrested, was the only one left intact by the raids, he said. Elsewhere, the "top leadership in the national executive, the national assembly and the provincial and district offices" had been 'wiped out'.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Law and Order said that the arrests were part of "ordinary police duties in dealing with people assisting terrorism", but was unable to give any figures.
On 2 July, the ANC(Z) confirmed that further arrests had been made since the first wave. The list of those detained was still being compiled, but it already included more than 150 names. Mr. Ariston Chambate, acting secretary general of the ANC(Z), reported that the organisation's offices in Bulawayo, Umtali, Gwelo and Que Que were now locked and that the keys were in the hands of the police. "All the indications are that the Government is trying everything possible to bring the ANC (Zimbabwe) to a complete halt", he said.
On 19 August, the Salisbury police confirmed that they had confiscated a number of vehicles belonging to the ANC(Z). Under Section 9 of the Emergency Powers (Maintenance of Law and Order) Regulations 1977, a protecting authority may order the seizure of property if it is felt this may be used "either directly or indirectly, for the benefit or in the interests of terrorists".
Ian Smith has described the arrests as "a straightforward security exercise". "Basically we are picking up people now who it is known are associated with terrorist incursions, and with recruiting. This has always been our policy" he told a news conference. There would now seem to be a very real danger of capital charges being brought against the detainees under the Law and Order (Maintenance). Two ANC(Z) officials have been executed over the same period on recruiting charges.
The names of 98 of those arrested were released by ZAPU officials to a press conference in Lusaka in July. The list, including people in "key party positions in provinces and districts", is as follows:- Mrs. Harare, Mrs. T.V. Lesabe, Mr. G. Sibanda, Mr. D. Ngwenyama, Mr. Msongelwa, Mr. Tafi Moyo, Mr. Christopher Mkhwananzi, Mr. Enos Mdlongwa, Mr. Abel Siwela, Mr. Bubble Mano, Mrs. N. Moyo, Mr. R. Nyathi, Mr. J. Dube, Mr. A. Keino, Mr. Samuel Nalimushu, Mr. Mzaca Nkomo, Mr. Dumisani Mano, Mr. Joshua Maolela, Mr. Jackson Mucheregwa, Mr. Simon Makumbi-rofa, Mr. Dauti Mabusa, Mr. William Sabuku, Mr. Bigson Msika, Mr. Gilbert Khumalo, Mr. Todd Khumalo, Mr. Joshua Masilela, Mrs. Fuse, Mrs. G. Sibanda, Mr. B. Mguni, Mr. Richard Ndlovu, Mr. Public Nkomo, Mr William Mpotshi Sivako, Mr. Like Dube, Mr. John July Dube, Mr. Daniel Ndlovu, Mrs. Gumbo, Mr. Enos Mdlongwa, Mr. J. Moyo, Mr. S. Ncube, Mr. L. Ndlela, Mr. Jackson Mathelegwa, Mr. Taught Khumalo, Mr. Z. Biliwa, Mr. Robert Bango, Mr. Stone Nkomazana, Mr. E.T. Dube, Mr. Todd Msongelwa, Dumisani Sand Moyo, Mr. Clas Ncube, Mr. Prince Gumede, Mr. A. Ndabambi, Mr. L. Shumba, Mrs. A. Maswi, Mr. Langton Nzuma, Mrs. Docas Mbombo, Mr. Redfant Karanga, Mr. Msindo Nyoni, Mrs. Tamangani, Mrs. Docas Majonga, Mr. Casian Muringi, Mr. Julius Mhishi, Mr. D. Mangwende, Mr. E. Dlamini, Mr. S. Dube, Mr. R. Nyandoro, Mr. Isaac Matikiti, Mr. John Chivango, Mrs. Samuel Nzungu, Mr. John Msipa, Mr. Gordon Bhunu, Mr. Gutu, Mrs. Makwavarara, Mr. Ford Magada, Mr. John Ngwenya, Mrs. Mahumana, Mr. Mavukile Nkomo, Mr. A.A. Munyama, Mr. Mathen Masiyakurima, Harrison Marange, Mr. Mamvupo, Mr. Patrick Mukwekwezere, Mr. D. Maphosa, Mr. E.M. Choga, Mr. Pambana, Mr. Bothwell Mazendami, Mr. E. Khumalo, Mr. E. Hananda, Miss Ng. Moyo, Mr. T. Nziramasanga, Mr. Billy Whacha, Mr. T.D. Moyo, Mr. Nyashanu, Mr. T. Hlomani Moyo, Mr. A.Z. Whingwiri, Gedeon Mbano, Mr. Fibeon Hlomela, Mr. Gilbert Khumalo.
In August two further executive members of the ANC(Z), Mr Ncube and Mr. William Dlamini, (secretary for the central province) were reported to have been arrested.
