Second Phase (1972–1979) Related incidents Operation Quartz was a planned military operation to be conducted by the Rhodesian Security Forces against Robert Mugabe and ZANU-PF in the event that party lost the Southern Rhodesian general election, 1980.

The operation was organised on the assumption ZANU-PF would attempt to violently seize the government should it lose the election.

The first involved strikes against armed units of the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA, ZANU-PF's military wing) that had concentrated at 11 assembly points prior to the election, to be carried out by Rhodesian infantry and armour units supported by the Rhodesian Air Force.

The second element was Operation Hectic, which called for the simultaneous assassinations of Robert Mugabe, Rex Nhongo, and Simon Muzenda by the Rhodesian SAS.

[3] Following the ZANU-PF victory, details of Operation Quartz came to light and Walls, who had initially been retained by Mugabe as head of the armed forces, was accused in parliament of treason.