1976 in Rhodesia

Incumbents

• President: John Wrathall
• Prime Minister: Ian Smith

Events

June

• 23–24 June - B.J. Vorster, Prime Minister of South Africa and Henry Kissinger, United States Secretary of State, held talks in West Germany over the Rhodesian issue.

August

• 8 August - Operation Eland, aka the Nyadzonya Raid, was launched into Mozambique by the Selous Scouts
• 11 August - Umtali came under rocket attack and mortar attack from Mozambique in retaliation for Operation Eland. Houses were damaged in Greenside and Darlington.

September

• 24 September - The Rhodesian Government accepted proposals put forward by U.S. Secretary of State, Dr. Henry Kissinger for majority rule in Rhodesia within two years.

November

• 15 November - 31 guerillas were killed by Rhodesian Security Forces in a battle in the Honde Valley

December

• 6 December - A retired Catholic bishop, a Catholic priest and a Catholic nun were shot dead in a guerrilla ambush in Lupane. They were 71-year-old retired Bishop of Bulawayo, Rt. Rev. Adolph Schmitt, 65-year-old Fr Possenti Weggarten, principal of Regina Mundi Secondary School in Lupane, and Sr Maria Frances van den Berg.
• 19 December - 27 male workers were killed by guerillas at a tea estate in the Honde Valley.

Unknown

• Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo formed the Patriotic Front

Births

• 3 July 1976 - Bobby Skinstad - the former South Africa National Rugby Team captain was born.

Deaths

• 6 December - Retired Catholic bishop of Bulawayo, Rt. Rev. Adolph Gregory Schmitt, aged 71 was shot by guerillas in Lupane