NATIONALIST SENTENCED Rhodesian Independence Declaration 'Illegal’

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30542, 10 September 1964, Page 9

NATIONALIST SENTENCED Rhodesian Independence Declaration 'Illegal’

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

SALISBURY, September 9. o he Sithole, former president of of the Southern Rhodesia banned Zimbabwe African National Union, was sentenced yesterday to 12 months’ hard labour.

The Magistrate, Mr J. O. M. Jackson, suspended six months of the sentence for three years.

Sithole had been found guilty of subversion in calling on Africans to arm themselves with axes, bows and arrows and other instruments and be prepared to use them if the Government seized independence. Earlier in the hearing, the Magistrate ruled that a unilateral declaration of independence by the Southern Rhodesian Government would be an illegal act Giving judgment today, Mr Jackson said Sithole’s instruction to Africans seemed clearly that they had to arm themselves now against “a contingency which might never arise and the results of which could not be foreseen.” He added that the possession of offensive weapons now Implied a likelihood of public disorder. Passing sentence, Mr Jackson said: “I cannot deal with this matter lightly, because it it would create a dangerous precedent." He said he would suspend half the sentence because of mitigating factors —the fact that it was Sithole’s first offence, that he had been in custody since June 22 and that there had been considerable public discussion about the possibility of a unilateral declaration of independence and the accused and other people had been concerned about it. Sithole said he would appeal.

In London yesterday. Sir Rhodesian independence. Aiec Douglas-Home, and Mr Political observers saw a *an j Smith, the Southern reduction in tensions in the Rhodesian Prime Minister, statement by Mr Smith after met * n what was expected to their opening discussions that be the final session of their had been “very happy and crucial talks on Southern very successful so far.”