The moment the SAM 7 missile left its launch tube, the political solution to end the Rhodesian bush war faltered.

After thirteen long years, the brutal bush war had escalated as the protagonists crystallised their opposing beliefs drawing the country and its people towards the precipice of despair.

Compassion, decency and sentimentality had no place there. The innocent civilians caught in the middle were the true victims.

A premeditated act of terrorism, taking only a few minutes to execute, brought down a civilian passenger plane. It triggered a series of dramatic and fateful events for retribution to be exacted on the guerrilla forces.

But to what end?