Two African Colonies’ Independence

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31177, 29 September 1966, Page 13

Two African Colonies’ Independence

fVZ Press Assn — Copyright) JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 28.

Bonfires instead of the usual fireworks will usher in an austere independence for drought-stricken Bechuanaland on Friday, says the Associated Press.

With an eye to its hard-hit economy and its thousands of hungry people, the government decided on thrift instead of pomp. The bonfires will blare out from hilltons as the Union J-'ck is h»v>ed down at midnight on Thursday and the blue, black and white flag of the new renubHc is run up Bechuanaland will become the Republic of Botswana, the first independent Black African State adjoining South Africa Four davs later Basutoland an encl»”e in the heart of South Africa, becomes the constitutional monarchy -f I esotho. It h»s also been frugal in arranging festivities With the exeention of nearbv Swaziland, due for independence in 10*8, a”d controversial Rhodesia. the«e are Frit-in's last dependences in Africa. Both countries will remain in the British Commonwealth,!

and rely for continued foreign aid on Britain, which has controlled them since the 1880 s. Both will have to walk the tightrope between friendship with South Africa and support for the Organisation of African Unity, which bitterly opposes South Africa’s policy of apartheid. Economic experts believe that Bechuanaland, a sprawling territory north of South Africa, could, with careful development of its beef industry and other natural resources, become an economically viable country in one or two decades. It seems doubtful that Basutoland, with an almost total lack of natural resources, will ever be able to support itself For both, friendly relations with South Africa seem essential. '

Both rely heavily on money sent home by thousands of their labourers who work in South African gold mines. South Africa is a market for their meagre exports and they use South African currency.

The leaders of both countries have indicated they are determined not to bow before oressure from black nations to »he north. Chief Leabua Jonathan. Prime Minister of Basutoland, has called relations with South Africa “priority number one.”

! Prime Minister Seretse Khama, who will become Bechuanaland’s first President, has said much the same.

He hopes to establish a link between the black north and the white south of Africa which could ease racial tensions. Chief Jonathan visited the late South African Prime Minister, Dr. Hendrik Verwoerd, on September 2. It was the first time a white South African Premier had received a black leader on South African soil. Dr. Verwoerd’s successor, Mr Balthazar Vorster, has indicated he will not change from the policy of offering friendship to black nations. Mr Khama is a tall, suave man of 44. He was educated in South Africa and later at Oxford. His wife is English.

Chief Jonathan is a former civil servant and trader who faces a bitter time at home from the opposition Basutoland Congress Party and the Oxford-educated, paramount chief, Moshoeshoe 11. Chief Jonathan’s own Basutoland National Party won only 46 per cent of the votes in March, 1965, but secured a majority of one, since increased by a special election to two.

The Opposition has announced it will boycott the indeoendence celebrations.

Chief Moshoeshoe, scheduled to become a constitu-

tional monarch, demanded executive powers.

Chief Jonathan replied: “If you are going to meddle in politics, then resign.” Later they established an uneasy peace. Mr Khama does not have such domestic troubles. In the first national elections his Bechuanaland Democratic Party won 28 of the 31 seats. He has the general support of tribal chiefs. Bechuanaland is an arid country dominated by the Kalahari desert and the Okavango swamps.

Its economy depends almost entirely on the export of

cattle, but it has lost an estimated 400,000 to 500,000 head, about one-third of the total herd, in a drought lasting through most of the 19605. About 30,000 of its 576,000 citizens work in South Africa.

Basutoland, whose population is about a million, is mountianous with peaks rising to 11,000 feet. It is a nation of peasants growing crops and livestock. About 150,000 work in South Africa.

The Government hopes South Africa will help finance a scheme to dam water for sale to South Africa and also provide electricity.