The British South Africa Police (BSAP) was, for most of its existence, the police force of Rhodesia (renamed Zimbabwe in 1980). It was formed as a paramilitary force of mounted infantrymen in 1889 by Cecil Rhodes' British South Africa Company, from which it took its original name, the British South Africa Company's Police. Initially run directly by the company, it began to operate independently in 1896, at which time it also dropped "Company's" from its name. It thereafter served as Rhodesia's regular police force, retaining its name, until 1980, when it was superseded by the Zimbabwe Republic Police, soon after the country's reconstitution into Zimbabwe in April that year.
While it was in the main a law enforcement organisation, the line between police and military was significantly blurred. BSAP officers trained both as policemen and regular soldiers until 1954. BSAP men served in the latter role during the First and Second World Wars, and also provided several support units to the Rhodesian Bush War of the 1960s and 1970s.
During the Bush War, the BSAP operated several anti-guerrilla units, most prominently the Police Anti-Terrorist Unit, which tracked and engaged nationalist guerrillas; the Support Unit, which was a police field force, nicknamed the "Black Boots" because of their distinctive footwear; and the Civilian African Tracking Unit, composed mostly of black Rhodesian trackers utilising the traditional skills and techniques of the Rhodesian Shangaan people.
By 1980, the BSAP comprised about 46,000 officers in all; 11,000 regulars (about 60% black), and the remainder reservists (almost all white). The organisation's rank structure was unique, with different levels of seniority existing for black and white officers respectively. Until 1979, black officers could rise no further than sub-inspector, while the commissioned ranks were all-white. Limitations on black aspirations were removed in 1979, when the country was reconstituted into black majority-ruled Zimbabwe Rhodesia, but white officers still retained most of the top ranks a year later, when Zimbabwe was formed. Under Robert Mugabe, the Zimbabwe Republic Police immediately adopted a policy whereby senior whites were retired at the earliest opportunity and replaced by black officers.
Read more about British South Africa Police: History
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