The Keith Holshausen Collection

A rare Rhodesia Police Decoration for Gallantry (P.D.G.) group of six awarded to Inspector Mudema Masakwa, Zimbabwe Republic Police, late British South Africa Police (Support Unit)

Zimbabwe Independence Medal (10916); Zimbabwe Long & Exemplary Service Medal (16518 Ex-Insp. Masakwa M.); Zimbabwe Service Medal (16518 S.O. Masakwa M.); Rhodesia Police Decoration for Gallantry (L./S./M. M. Masakwa); Rhodesia General Service Medal (16518 Sgt. Enias); Rhodesia Police L.S. & G.C. Medal (16518 Sgt./Maj. M. Musakwa, P.D.G.), all but the Long & Exemplary Service Medal mounted as worn, the P.D.G. with edge bruise, otherwise generally very fine or better (6) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Keith Holshausen Collection.

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One of only 24 Rhodesia Police Decorations for Gallantry awarded during the Bush War years, Masakwa being the only recipient to go on and earn the Rhodesia Police L.S. & G.C. Medal.

Rhodesia Police Decoration for Gallantry (P.D.G.) Rhodesia Government Notice No. 955/78 and B.S.A. Police Force Orders 622/78 state:

‘Lance-Sergeant-Major Mudema Masakwa is a Support Unit Troop Sergeant-Major and during the course of his duty with the unit, his professional ability, aggression, example and devotion to duty, has been responsible for many successful contacts with terrorists.

On 23 April 1977, information was received that a lone terrorist - responsible for several acts of terrorism and armed with a rocket launcher and pistol - was in the vicinity of a mission in the operational area. A Security Force team, which included Sergant-Major Masakwa, was despatched to the area and after enquiries had indicated that the terrorist had been to the mission and planned to return that night, an ambush was set up. Later that evening terrorist war songs were heard coming from a dormitory within the mission complex. Mudema decided to investigate the matter and approached the dormitory alone. Confirming that the terrorist was within and disregarding his own personal safety, Mudema burst through the door. Inside the room, the terrorist confronted Mudema with his rocket launcher. Mudema immediately opened fire and killed the terrorist, displaying courage and initiative in tackling the terrorist alone. Had the Security Forces team made a stronger assault on the dormitory, the essential element of surprise may have been lost, and in all probability, there would have been a number of casualties.’

Enias Mudema Masakwa was born near Enkeldoorn (Chivhu) in the Charter District of Rhodesia in 1941, a member of the Murozwi tribe, and was educated at St. Michael’s Mission, Rusape. Joining the British South Africa Police in November 1961, he went on to complete almost 19 years in the B.S.A.P. and continued his service in the Zimbabwe Republic Police for another six years, retiring with the commissioned rank of Inspector in January 1987. Much of Masakwa’s service was in the B.S.A.P. Support Unit, in which capacity he was advanced to Sergeant in 1966 and to Sergeant Major in 1975, while after Independence he was moved up to the rank of Section Officer. During 1978 whilst serving with Tango Troop, Masakwa applied to change his name from ‘Enias’ to ‘Mudema Masakwa’ as a result of the security situation in his home district and the recent murder of one of his relatives also known as Enias. This request was confirmed by his Troop Commander, Inspector Peter Harris and published in B.S.A. Police Force Orders 280/78. Masakwa, a man of overbearing physical presence and stature, was described towards the end of his career as a ‘forceful man who has the confidence of the men under his command. He is responsible for the welfare of approximately 100 men whom he deals with firmly but fairly.’

The Lot is also sold with another group of medals named to Masakwa, comprising the Zimbabwe Independence Medal, the Rhodesia Police Decoration for Gallantry, the Rhodesia General Service Medal and the Rhodesia Police Long Service Medal, all of which were confirmed as fraudulent issues by a number of experts in the field as well as a police forensic scientist, when compared to the above described genuine medal group - this extensive report, compiled by a leading expert, Mr. Peter Munday, includes police forensic photographs of the medal naming.

Also sold with the recipient’s original Certificate of Service, together with an extensive file of research with verification for all of his Honours & Awards, including the 25 Years Service Long & Exemplary Service Medal, ‘in lieu of the First Bar to the Police Long Service Medal’ (Supplement to Z.R. Police Force Orders, No. 383 of 1 October 1992 refers).