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13 Ind. Int'l & Compar. L. Rev. 447 (2002-2003)
Rhodesian Anthrax: The Use of Bacteriological & (and) Chemical Agents during the Liberation War of 1965-80

handle is hein.journals/iicl13 and id is 455 raw text is: RHODESIAN ANTHRAX: THE USE OF BACTERIOLOGICAL & CHEMICAL AGENTS DURING THE LIBERATION WAR OF 1965-80 Ian Martinez* ABSTRACT In 1979, the largest recorded outbreak of anthrax occurred in Rhodesia, present day Zimbabwe. The incident, widely known in Africa and in intelligence circles is not widely known in the U.S. or Europe. At the time, Rhodesia was fighting a guerilla war against black nationalist insurgents. Rhodesia first accused the nationalist side of using anthrax as a weapon. In allegations that surfaced in 1998-and persist to this day-external researchers and the current government of Zimbabwe insist that the outbreak in 1978-80 was anything but benign. The government and researchers argue that the original outbreak was the result of a calculated move by the Rhodesian government with the duplicitous acknowledgment of Apartheid South Africa. Furthermore, the government alleges that a current outbreak is the work of disgruntled white farmers in the country. The allegations of the 1979-80 outbreak are given credence by the acknowledgement of Ken Flower, Chief of Rhodesia's Central Intelligence Organization, (CIO) and CIO Officer, Henrik Ellert, that the white minority regime of Ian Smith used biological and chemical weapons against the guerillas, rural blacks to prevent their support of the guerillas and against cattle to reduce rural food stocks. The current government and researchers have drawn inferences from his statements to show that the unusual outbreak in 1978-80 was a deliberate use of weaponized anthrax. These inferences rely on important aspects which will be highlighted in this paper, mainly: a) by 1978 the 'writing was on the wall' for the white regime and resort to a weapon of last resort was not unfathomable; b) because of its international status, Rhodesia * Ian Martinez, is an attorney with Rasco Reininger Perez & Esquenazi, P.L. in Miami. He is a former CIA Intelligence Officer who has written several articles dealing with international law. I wish to thank the Editorial staff of the Review, which worked tirelessly to bring this article forward. I dedicate this article to the thousands of Zimbabweans, both black and white, who suffered needlessly during the war and continue to suffer.

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