FRESH ECONOMIC CURBS IN ZAMBIA

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30939, 21 December 1965, Page 21

FRESH ECONOMIC CURBS IN ZAMBIA

(N.Z.P.A. Senter— Copyright)

LUSAKA, Dec. 20. Zambia faced a new economic squeeze from neighbouring Rhodesia today as it received the first petrol shipments airlifted by Britain.

The airlift is intended to replace oil supplies cut off by Rhodesia after a British oil embargo against her.

Zambia has already announced plans for petrol rationing, and registration for ration* ing starts today.

As the first load of 2400 gallons of fuel landed at Lusaka from Dar-es-Salaam yesterday, Rhodesia placed new duties on coal and coke supplies which keep Zambia's vital copper industry running. They will now cost Zambia six times as much as before.

The airlift will be stepped up during the week, and Britain announced it will also spend £3.5m to improve land oil routes across Tanzania to Zambia.

In Nairobi, the leaden of Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya agreed to call for an immedl ate meeting of African head* of State on Rhodesia, which seized independence last month. The three countries have not yet broken diplomatic tie* with Britain over its handling of the Rhodesia affair, as called for by the Organisation of African Unity. Nine have done so already —Algeria, Ghana, Sudan, Guinea, Tanzania, Mali, Egypt, Mauritania, and the Congo (Brazzaville). STILL CHEAPEST Mr Smith warned that further increases would be made in the costs of coke and coal

if the present one did not prove to be enough to meet “our present requirements." However, despite the royalty, Rhodesian cool remained among the cheapest avaUable in Africa and the world, he said. The Premier also warned that “the more we are attacked the more determined, indeed the more defiant, we become.” ‘LUSTY cur “Wo will never, no matter what the cost, allow the forces of evil to break down our type of civilisation, which ha* taken almost 2000 yean to create," he said. “I suppose there is even a possibility that reason and justice may return to the scene, and that the cantankerous old Hones* will acknowledge that what was once a lusty young cub ha* now grown into full manhood, and that the best policy for all is to allow him to go quietly on hi* way, living his own life, minding his own business, and contributing nothing but good to the common welfare." The speech was Mr Smith's second in two day* and followed a day of prayer throughout Rhodesia. Meanwhile, a Government statement made it dear that independent Rhodesia still considered itself a Kingdom, of which the sovereign is Queen Elizabeth. The statement denied a suggestion in a local newspaper editorial that Rhodesia wu a de facto Republic.

, Erhard In United States.— The West German Chancellor, Dr. Ludwig Erhard, will today begin two days of talk* with President Johnson, centering on West Germany’s desire for a share in Western nuclear defence.—Washington, December 20.