Rhodesia Movement’s Challenge

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31548, 9 December 1967, Page 22

Rhodesia Movement’s Challenge

“Mr Garfield Todd gave a talk on his impressions of the situation in Rhodesia. Mr Todd, an extremely plausible speaker, said he was surprised that a group such as the Aid Rhodesia Movement should be formed in New Zealand. For the benefit of those who may have fallen for his talk and subsequent propaganda against the Rhodesian Government, here are a few facts. “Mr Todd indicated that the leaders of the two terrorist organisations, P.C.C.-Z.A.P.U. and Z.A.N.U., Messrs Nkomo and Sithole, were pleasant chaps, who disliked violence, and had the support of the black Rhodesians. He completely failed to explain why, since these two thugs had been placed in detention, terrorism and intimidation of the African population had ceased; also why, if these two men had the support of the black Africans, in order to supplement their Communist funds and to gain members for their organisations, it was necessary to throw petrol bombs and acid, plus other forms of atrocity, at those who would not co-operate, or failing the male member of the family, at the wives and children. Peaceful Country “Mr Todd stated that the black African populace was cowed by the security forces and the presence of police everywhere. In making this

statement, Mr Todd was at complete variance with the dozens of visitors to Rhodesia from many countries who all made the same report: Rhodesia was the most peaceful country in Africa, police were just not to be seen, and that women could walk in the streets of Salisbury at night without being molested. “As a tall piece, the pollce-to-population figures for New Zealand and Rhodesia are identical: one policeman to every thousand of the population. There are eight black police to every three white police. The explanation given by Mr Todd for the reasons that the black Africans report the presence of terrorist infiltrators to the security forces as a gesture for their support for Mr lan Smith was that there were only a few who did this, but in the main the Africans assisted the terrorists. “In view of the collapse of all attempts to penetrate into Rhodesia, one can only say that the terrorists were singularly unfortunate. As a matter of interest, it is possible that Africans have told Mr Todd that they had assisted the terrorists. The reason is not far to find. Mr Todd might inadvertently let Nkomo or Sithole know their names, in the course of correspondence which Mr Todd admitted. No African would dare risk a petrol bomb, as a reward for

their loyalty to the Rhodesian Government, to the effect that they had not assisted the terrorists. Fate of Lumpas “The detention of some 150 terrorists in Rhodesia caused Mr Todd to wax indignant; the figure is not 400, as stab ed. It is a matter for regret that Mr Todd has never expressed publicly similar feelings for the people detained by the British Government in Aden and Hong Kong for similar but much lesser crimes. “Again, when challenged, Mr Todd registered no interest in the fate of the members of the setni-Christian sect, the Lumpas, who, because they refused to donate to President Kaunda’s funds, were massacred by Zambian police, after their white officers were withdrawn, to the tune of some 600. The survivors are incarcerated on an island in Lake Bangweulu, Zambia, in the most appalling conditions. “Mr Todd complained that there was a law in Rhodesia under which he could be punished for speaking against his country, Rhodesia. Other visitors to this country from Rhodesia have spoken dearly and without trepidation. In their opinion the Rhodesian Government has no objection to anyone who speaks the truth,” concluded Colonel Elderton's statement.