However, inflammatory broadcasts from Zambia, Tanzania and Egypt elicited some response and there were many incidents of arson, stonings, crop slashing and mutilation of livestock.

War material was also obtained through elaborate international smuggling schemes, domestic production, and equipment captured from infiltrating enemy combatants.

[3] One group, comprising seven men from Guruve, Hurungwe and Makonde Districts traveled to the Chinhoyi/Sinoia area, but their presence was detected by the British South Africa Police's PATU unit.

A ZANU spokesmen abroad later claimed that the group had been responsible for killing twenty-five policemen and shooting down two helicopters, although the Rhodesian government disputed this, stating that the security forces had suffered no casualties.

A shift of emphasis resulted in 1966, and the Rhodesian Security Forces became the government's primary instrument for conducting counterinsurgency operations rather than the BSAP.

Throughout this early phase, the insurgents had two objectives: attack European owned farms and destroy the oil and powerline link between Rhodesia and the Portuguese colony of Mozambique.