Serving secretly: Rhodesia's CIO chief on record

by Ken Flower

Genres: Africa, History

330 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Whitlaw Tanyanyiwa Mugwiji · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting read, especially to the student of history and international relations. The book provides historical information on the period of Zimbabwe's liberation struggle and the attempts by the front line states, the UK, South Africa and the USA to bring the liberation war to an end. What is particularly more interesting is that the book allows us to peak through this period through the lenses of a white Rhodesian.

Ken Flower in this book answers some questions that have baffled many historians and keen students of history during this period. One particularly interesting question is, who was responsible for Herbert Chitepo's death. Although Ken Flower does not provide a name, he asserts that the assassination was carried out by the Rhodesian authorities. He categorically states that he informed the Zambian authorities after they had conducted their commission of inquiry on the death of Chitepo but they were not interested in establishing the truth but had one political objective, that was to drive Zanu out of Zambia. On Josiah Tongogara's death, he asserts that there was no foul play, it was an accident. Although in my view there is reason for suspicion because Tongogara had agreed to work with Nkomo to prepare for elections under the patriotic front and Mugabe was totally opposed to that view. On Eddison Sithole's disappearance, he confirms what everyone knew that it was the CIO/special branch responsible. The reason for his disappearance was that he was a hardliner in Muzorewa's ANC and was hampering talks.

There are many other interesting insights in the book, like that Nhari and Badza, the ZANLA army commanders who led the Nhari/Badza rebellion in 1974 worked with the Rhodesian intelligence. What the book does not specify in my view, was whether they cooperated with the secret service knowingly or unknowingly because they were raising genuine concerns of resource abuse by the military elites.

Ken Flower believes Bishop Muzorewa to have been genuine although very weak and indecisive. They took advantage of those weaknesses and made him a puppet unknowingly.

The challenge is whether to believe everything the former head of intelligence says. All the same it was an interesting read.

[Thomas Kanyak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ken Flowers book was a good read, especially as a counter point to Ian Smiths bitter Harvest, but I was very disapointed in lack of any mention of CIO operations, just all politics. it wasnt at all what I expected. Barely mentioned the Chitepo car bomb as if he knew nothing about it and it was a CIO assassination and one of most effective psychop in recent history.

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent account from Rhodesian intelligence perspective of the political, military, economic and international dimensions of the war in then Rhodesia.

[Tonde]

nice book

[Farai Gorden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book, especially how Ken Flower did not sugar coat all the terrible things that went on during the Rhodesia days. One gets the feeling that he was as competent a Director General as he was brilliant in writing this book.

My highlights? Meeting Smith as he ascended to the PM office and then Mugabe post independence when Mugabe reappointed him as the DG of the CIO.

Well deserved 5 stars

[Tiago Relvão · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting front line history of rodhesia, but quite political and littlr visibility on operations or delicate things...