Daniel Francisco Roxo

Phantom of the Forest/O Fantasma da Floresta

Part 1

D

aniel Francisco Roxo “The white devil of Niassa”,“ The white devil of Mozambique”, “Terror dos  Turras” , “ O Fantasma da Floresta”, “Red beard”, “Captain devil Roxo”, “Red beard hunter”, “Mandevu” and “Phantom of the forest”. These are just a few phrases or names that were used to describe Daniel Roxo over the years by friend and foe alike. This is the man who many believe in his day to be the best guerrilla / bush fighter that ever lived which in itself is a huge compliment as Daniel contrary to popular belief was not a military man but a civilian, some say “the only Portuguese civilian of real value in the war against Frelimo”. It is said there was not a Frelimo insurgent that did not know or fear his name and from as early as 1967 a large reward was put on his head by Frelimo headquarters in Dar-es-Salaam.

While there have been numerous magazine articles in various languages written about Daniel and his exploits (the most extensive being a 3 part series in the South African Nou/Now magazine 19 April, 26 April 3 May 1974) written by well known journalist and author Chris Vermaak and he has also been mentioned in a number of Portuguese as well as South African published books. I find the fact that no book in any language, especially Portuguese has ever been published specifically about Daniel and his remarkable life as nothing short of astonishing. Although over the last few years there has been more info posted on the internet about Daniel (some not always factual I may add).

To show you how little Daniels efforts were recognized or appreciated the official Portuguese history about Portugal’s wars in Africa “Guerra Colonial” Angola, Guine and Mozambique, Daniel only warrants a passing mention in the chapter “Operacao Marte, Esta companhia recebeu ainda a colaboracao do grupo de milicias do Niassa, do chefe Roxo. A forca ficou constituida por tres grupos de commandos de 19 homens e um grupo de milicias com 26 homens’. (Operation Mars, This company also received the assistance of the Niassa militia commanded by Daniel Roxo. The force was comprised of 3 groups of commando’s of 19 men each and the militia consisted of 26 men ). Many have branded a disgrace that Daniel only warrants 1 reference in a manuscript that covers 10 years of  Portugal’s African wars.

Daniel who had never received any formal military training in either Portugal or Mozambique moved to South Africa In late 1974 where he brought his years of experience and skills and after passing a demanding selection course at the age of 41 joined what was destined to become one of the most elite units in the world, (1 Reconnaissance Commando), as well as becoming one of the founder members of the most feared infantry units that Africa had ever seen, (32 Battalion). His untimely death in 1976 contributed to his legendary status and added to his mystique but who knows what role Daniel would have played in the border war as well as to the history of Southern Africa had he lived. 

 

This short piece will hopefully enlighten Portuguese people who have heard of or knew Daniel Roxo that after September 1974 was no longer the Daniel of Vila Cabral. He was no longer the “Chief” of a group of militia in Niassa, he was the ex-Commandante das milicias and it was his association with the SADF that saw him transform from a militia Chief to a full army Sergeant in the South African Defence Force. One or two Portuguese officers saw the potential in Daniel and knew that Daniel under the command of a good Special Forces officer would have made a fantastic Sergeant but the majority had no clue of the gem they had in Daniel Roxo.

A statement that has caused some debate amongst people I have corresponded with was that as a “civilian” the Portuguese army would always think of him as an “amateur fighter”. The general consensus however is that any of the servicemen that came into contact with Daniel Roxo (estimated  to be 15 000 from 1965 – 1974) had nothing but respect for him and his men, officers that had to get assistance from Daniel at a local level, had a high regard for him. As Daniel saved many a professional soldier’s life. However trying to get comment from those very same officers or servicemen about Daniel has proven very difficult and at times frustrating.  

South Africans who knew or  had heard of Daniel  during his time in South Africa will understand that it was only after he joined the SADF that this diamond in the rough was polished and in less than 2 years with the SADF he was to  cement the legend of Daniel Francisco Roxo. Daniel however was not just a Military man, he was also a husband, father, friend and patriot, this is a side of Daniel many ignore or don’t think is important, I believe it is because Daniel loved Mozambique, its people and his family, the very reason he spent 10 years defending them against Frelimo and their Communist benefactors.

I am going to try and summarize Daniels life as best I can in 2 or 3 parts for this Blog, with snippets of new information and hopefully in the not too distant future a book, one that I have been threatening to write for a number of years will come to fruition and the long overdue story of Daniels life will be told for the first time.

Born 1 February 1933 in Mogadouro, Tras os Montes” Daniel described himself in a magazine article as “hardy” and that “the people are good workers, that can go for days and nights without sleep, they are short but have tremendous stamina and make good wine”.  It has been said that the character of the Trasmontano  - “he who lives behind the mountain” is one of a sad demeanor  mistrusting air, courageous, daring, hard working, loyal and has a strength of character. This is where Daniel grew up and inherited most of these very same characteristics that where to make him, some say, the most feared guerrilla fighter of his time.        

At the age of 18 Daniel left his home and sailed to Mozambique, here with the help of his brother Alipio he started to work as a recruiter for the railways he was then promoted to foremen of the transport department overseeing the drivers and mechanics. After learning of his hunting skills he was promoted to “official” hunter with the job of supplying meat for the pot for employees building the railway between Nampula and Vila Cabral. Daniels first task in his new position was to put a team of skilled locals together that would assist him in tracking the game, many of these men would stay with him and remain loyal to him for many years as well as form the core of the militia that he would be asked to set up in the future.

Daniel was in his element and it  been suggested that it was at this stage that Daniel started to hunt for himself, “this is incorrect”, Daniel was paid a normal salary and provided with hunting rifles and ammunition. Daniel did however take advantage to get to know the terrain as well as learn the local dialects, something that was to be of great assistance in the future.

In 1955  Daniel resigned his employment, carrying a small bag and on foot Daniel made the bush his home for the next 3 years with only fleeting contact the outside world. Alipio remembers that from 1957 to 1969 he only received a few letters from Daniel or heard of news about his brother from other hunters that had been in the Niassa province.

In 1962 the civilian Governor of Niassa was replaced by Major Carlos Augusto da Costa Matos who based himself Vila Cabral. Governor Costa Matos before arriving in Vila Cabral was the chief of second department at Army Headquarters in LM in charge of Military Intelligence in Mozambique  while at army headquarters had set up 3 hunter/intelligence gathering teams each under the control of  3 white first lieutenants (Orlando Cristina, Gomes dos Santos and a Lt Pestaquinni) The officers and their men all wore civilian clothes and posed as hunters in the Cabo Delgado as well as the Niassa province. Each team was provided with a lorry as well as four jeeps, their business was to hunt and make money so that they could pay for themselves. It has been suggested that Daniel was also part of these teams, this is also incorrect.

Daniel was never a professional hunter in the true sense of the word as he did not take out clients to shoot trophy animals, but he  did shoot “professionally” as his livelihood depended on it………”Confused”? Let me explain. Daniel was never registered with the hunting department of the secretary of state of animal affairs in Mozambique. Daniel only had a special licence that he paid every year to the Direccao dos Servicos de Veternaria in Vila Cabral to kill and sell set amount of meat per month for human consumption, this was from 1953 – 1963. Daniels name is also not on the register of professional hunters between the periods 1953 -1974, more proof that Daniel hunted for business and not glamour.

In 1963 Governor Costa Matos offered Daniel a job to officially assist with the census of the population of Niassa, at this time Daniel had stopped hunting and all of his men but 9 had left his employ. Governor Costa Matos was well aware of Daniels experience as well as his contacts in the province and with his intelligence background he was obviously looking to harness Daniels expertise in the area. Daniel accepted the job and was given both transport as well as a contingent of 5 black policemen “Cipaios”.

Daniel and his men  visited each village in the province and counted the people, after the census had been completed, Daniel was employed by the government at the births and deaths office in Vila Cabral, many believe that this was a shrewd move by Costa Matos to use Daniel from 1964 to defend Vila Cabral. While Daniel was registering births and deaths in the outlying villages he was also collecting vital intelligence and recording the movement of people from Niassa to Tanzania and Likoma island situated on lake Malawi.

 At the end of 1963 Daniel was asked to take ten armed cipaios and visit the far north villages of the Niassa province and gather as much intelligence as he could, especially with regards the numbers of locals that where leaving Niassa and joining Frelimo. Daniel and his men who at this stage numbered about 17 (and with no military training) became the first group that the government used to try and stop the local population from fearing and joining Frelimo, they were not “shock troops” their role was to be “soldiers in the shadows”, to fight a silent war against insurgents that wanted to destroy Mozambique.  

In late 1964 Governor Costa Matos, who many believe to have been Daniels biggest benefactor then requested Daniel to assist in promoting an anti – Communist propaganda campaign which meant speaking to the local populations about the danger of Communism and there infiltration in to the province as well as to prevent them from co - operating with the Communist backed terrorists.

 

It is possible that had Costa Matos not championed Daniels use in the Niassa province he may never have become the legend that he did, some say that Daniel was Costa Matos’s “pet project” and that Daniel was instrumental in furthering his career the better Daniel did at his job the better Costa Matos looked and the safer and well run Niassa province became. I can see why this would be a symbiotic relationship, Daniel got to contribute to the defence of Mozambique and Costa Matos was seen to be the man that kept Frelimo at bay in the Niassa Province.

The reason that Daniel had to use cipaios before his militia was formed was that he had to wait for the government to take him over ‘lock, stock and barrel”, Daniel in March 1964 was instructed by Costa Matos to recruit up to 20 men, it was at this time that Daniel put together the core of his old trackers. Daniel also used his time to set up additional channels of communication and a network of informers that would keep him on top of the situation, I personally believe the fact that he knew the area he was operating in like the back of his hand, that he was well known to the locals and eventually marrying one all contributed to his successes over the coming years.

 

If you had never met Daniel, but had heard of him from reputation alone, your mind’s eye would probably have conjured up visions of a large set man with broad shoulders and muscular arms, with a bushy beard and battle-scarred features. In reality Daniel was just over 5 foot 9 inches tall and weighed about 75 kgs, his hair was a tawny colour and nearly always wore a neatly trimmed beard, his eyes where a slate grey and many who met him say probably his most distinguishing feature, his voice according to those who knew him was quiet, controlled and soft, but clear. Daniel had looked death in the face on many occasions and people that had met him say there seemed to be a shroud of invincibility about him.

Stephen  Dunkley

27 January 2013