Rhodesian Chicom Copy Chest Rig (1970’s)

Chest Rigs, Later Cold War (1969 - 1989), Rhodesia, South Africa, Webbing

The Rhodesian military manufactured copies of the Chicom chest rig, the original used by insurgents, to outfit their Selous Scouts, Rhodesian SAS, and other forces for external operations. These copies look the same as the original at a distance, but have slight differences in construction and material.

The example shown on this page was used by 2SAI (2 South Africa Infantry) despite being of Rhodesian origin.

Straps:

  • No triangular reinforcement stitching on body, unlike original Chicom.

Webbing material used for straps and metal D-rings are similar to the ones used on Rhodesian commercial chest rigs.

Pouches:

A name (?) is written on the center flap.

Most Rhodesian copy chest rigs have three rows of stitching on the pouch flaps like this one, whereas the original Chicom appears to consistently have four.

Inside of Pouches:

No rubberized internal pouch for oiler like original.

Toggle:

Wood toggles. Rope material is usually a much deeper green in other examples.

Usage Photos:

Pfumo Re Vanhu (Rhodesian Security Force Auxiliaries):

January 24, 1979: Rhodesia’s multi-racial transitional government is going ahead with its plans for majority rule: a referendum on January 30th 1979 for the white electorate, to approve or reject a new constitution, and then one-man-one-vote elections on April 20th. For the whites, Premier Smith has forced concessions from the internal black leaders, including a guarantee of 28 white seats in a new 100-seat parliament, and a strong voice in the Cabinet; and also continued white control for at least five years in the judiciary, civil service, police and defense forces. Main dangers for the plans are a lack of international recognition for the new state; black Africans deserting the internal leaders for the externally-based Patriotic Front; and a continuance of the guerrilla war.
Note light colored toggle and similarly colored webbing straps to the example on this page (from https://youtu.be/kIjqyJ8X9lM?t=867; Information about membership comes from comment section of the video).

Pfumo Re Vanhu was intended to be pro-Rhodesian Government militias, but ended up becoming Bishop (Prime Minister) Muzorewa and Ndabaningi Sithole’s private army (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_Force_Auxiliaries, cites Ending Civil War: Rhodesia and Lebanon in Perspective by Matthew Preston, 2004, Page 63).