Editing Selous Scouts (section)

==Tactics within Rhodesia==
In line with 'pseudo' doctrine, the role of the Selous Scout was to infiltrate the black population of Rhodesia and penetrate networks of insurgents. They were to then collect intelligence on the locations of insurgent forces and guide attacks on them. Where possible, Selous Scout teams would remain in place for lengthy periods.{{sfn|Cilliers|1985|p=124}} Selous Scout teams were also used in a 'hunter killer' role, in which they followed insurgent supply networks from contested areas within Rhodesia to neighbouring countries and killed any insurgents they located during the process.{{sfn|Cilliers|1985|p=126}} Selous Scout teams were usually successful in impersonating insurgents, even though their [[tradecraft]] was at times poor.{{sfn|Cline|2005|p=21}} The unit was more successful in penetrating ZANLA than ZIPRA, as the latter was better disciplined and had stronger [[command and control]] processes.{{sfn|Cline|2005|p=24}}

To prevent the regular army or police from firing at Selous Scout teams while they were operating, authorities would declare "frozen areas", where all Army and Police units were ordered to temporarily cease all operations in, and withdraw from, without being told the actual rationale.{{sfn|Cilliers|1985|p=122}} Little information was provided to the Army units on the results of these operations or the intelligence that was collected.{{sfn|Cilliers|1985|p=133}} 'Freezing' areas generally proved operationally successful, but there were several occasions in which the security forces inadvertently attacked and killed Selous Scouts.{{sfn|Cline|2005|pp=23–24}}

The Rhodesian military established [[fireforce]] teams to exploit the intelligence collected by the Selous Scouts. These initially involved groups of soldiers that were inserted by helicopter, and were later expanded with [[paratrooper]]s. The [[Rhodesian Light Infantry]] often provided the soldiers for fireforce teams.{{sfn|Cline|2005|p=25}}

A key element of the Selous Scouts' methods was 'turning' captured insurgents to join the Rhodesian security forces. This was normally attempted shortly after insurgents were captured, with them being both threatened and offered incentives.{{sfn|Cilliers|1985|p=126}} The captured insurgent was usually approached by a former insurgent. In the resulting conversation, the former insurgent emphasised the hardships insurgents were experiencing and that those who were captured faced the death penalty under the ''Law and Order (Maintenance) Act''.{{sfn|Cline|2005|p=13}} This legislation imposed severe penalties for people found to be members of subversive organisations, including the death penalty or long prison terms.{{sfn|Gatchel|2008|p=65}} The captured insurgent was also offered a lump sum payment as well as a soldier's salary if they agreed to fight for the Rhodesian government.{{sfn|Cline|2005|p=13}} If an insurgent agreed to be 'turned' and passed further vetting, they were assigned to a Selous Scout team and operated in regions in which they would not be recognised. Where possible, their family was housed on a Selous Scouts base.{{sfn|Cilliers|1985|p=126}}{{sfn|Cline|2005|p=13}} Only a small number of 'turned' insurgents ever deserted or betrayed the unit.{{sfn|Cline|2005|p=22}} Some of the prisoners captured by the Selous Scouts who refused to be 'turned' were killed.{{sfn|Martinez|2002|p=1171}}

One of the tactics used by the Selous Scouts was to violate local customs while posing as insurgents with the goal of reducing support for the actual insurgents. The Selous Scouts also sought to increase the divisions between the ZANLA and ZIPRA by posing as members of one group and then attacking members of the other group.{{sfn|Cline|2005|p=20}} These tactics became publicly known and embarrassed the government.{{sfn|Cline|2005|p=20}}

The Selous Scouts were probably responsible for killing black business owners in rural areas who provided support for the insurgents. These killings were conducted secretly.{{sfn|Dzimbanhete|2017|p=301}}

Special Branch provided the Selous Scouts with poisoned clothing, food, beverages and medicines that the unit inserted into the guerrilla supply chains. The use of contaminated supplies resulted in the reported deaths of over 800&nbsp;guerrillas, and the likely death toll probably reached well over 1,000.{{sfn|Cross|2017}}

The Rhodesian Directorate of Military Intelligence estimated in 1978 that the Selous Scouts were responsible for 68% of insurgent fatalities within Rhodesia.{{sfn|Cilliers|1985|p=132}} These casualties largely resulted from attacks by Rhodesian Army units on insurgents located by the Selous Scouts.{{sfn|Cilliers|1985|p=130}} However, the unit's ruthless tactics were counter-productive as they contributed to further alienating Rhodesia's black population from the government. This formed part of broader flaws in the Rhodesian counter-insurgency strategy, and the historian Jakkie Cilliers has written that "the Selous Scouts were merely the instruments of an overly aggressive and punitive strategy, simply directed at killing as many insurgents as possible and punishing the rural black population to force them to desist from support for the insurgent forces.{{sfn|Cilliers|1985|p=132}}

The apparent success of the Selous Scouts led to the unit being glamorised. However, the Rhodesian leadership considered the all-white SAS to be more professional and security conscious than the Selous Scouts.{{sfn|McLaughlin|1991|p=266}}