Operation Leopard (1980)

Operation Leopard was a military operation conducted by the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) during the Rhodesian Bush War in 1980. It was launched shortly before Zimbabwe's independence elections, aiming to intimidate the white minority population and bolster support for Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party.

The operation involved guerrilla incursions, sabotage, and acts of violence primarily targeting white farmers and landowners in various parts of the country. The scale and impact of Operation Leopard have been debated, with some sources characterizing it as a widespread campaign of terror while others portray it as a more localized series of incidents.

The Rhodesian Security Forces responded to Operation Leopard with counter-insurgency operations, further escalating the conflict in the lead-up to the elections. Allegations of human rights abuses were leveled against both ZANLA forces and the Rhodesian Security Forces during this period.

The impact of Operation Leopard on the outcome of the 1980 elections remains a subject of historical analysis. While it undoubtedly contributed to an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, its direct influence on the voting patterns is difficult to quantify precisely. ZANU-PF won a decisive victory in the elections, leading to Zimbabwe's independence and the end of white minority rule. The legacy of Operation Leopard continues to be a sensitive and controversial topic in Zimbabwean history.