MAJORITY RULE IN RHODESIA Zambian says S.A. is willing

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33814, 10 April 1975, Page 13

MAJORITY RULE IN RHODESIA Zambian says S.A. is willing

GX Z P.A -Reuter—Copyright l DAR-ES-SALAAM. April 9. South Africa has agreed in principle to relinquish control over Namibia (South-West Africa) and accept African majority rule in Rhodesia, Zambia’s Foreign Minister (Mr Vernon Mwaanga) told the Organisation of African Unity (O.A.CJ.).

The Foreign Minister said that South Africa’s para-military police force stationed in Rhodesia to combat African guerrilla insurgents was being pulled out at the end of next [month in response to joint efforts by Zambia. I Tanzania. Botswana and [ Mozambique’s Frelimo nationalist movement to] seek a negotiated settle-] ment to the independence dispute.

“In the final analysis the ! South African Government accepts the inevitability of majority rule and is ready to assist in the peaceful change to make this achievement possible,” Mr Mwaanga said yesterday.

In a reference to the white minority Government of the Rhodesian Prime Minister (Mr lan Smith) he said: “We urged that South Africa withdraws its support from the illegal regime. There is clear evidence that opinion ini South Africa itself is no longer in favour of the illegal i regime.”

Mr Mwaanga said that South Africa had accepted the principle of independence for Namibia, but the problem still outstanding there was finding a formula for independence. I Mr Mwaanga, facing a [suspicious and sometimes hostile audience of African foreign ministers, was seeking to explain the Zambian Government’s contacts with South Africa.

He was speaking at a special O.A.U. meeting which began yesterday to assess ! South Africa’s detente overtures and chart a new [strategy for liberating Rhoidesia and Namibia and ending apartheid within South Africa.

Zambia’s political contacts with Mr John Vorster’s South African Government and its, key role in bringing about the latest Rhodesia settlement talks have drawn criticism from what are considered hard-line African States demanding continued, guerrilla war.

Mr Mwaanga said that

Zambia had worked with specific objectives in mind during negotiations with the South African Government and these had been achieved. “To this extent we would be less than honest if we did not acknowledge that Prime Minister Vorster, regardless of our diametrically opposed '(positions on apartheid, has [honoured his word,” the iZarabian Minister declared. !| In his speech, which criti(cised some African States for 1 i clandestine dealings with (South Africa, he said: "We [are very clear about the manoeuvres by minority ; regimes and the great care • ■we must take in calculating ;! every step. But. quite frankly ’I we are not sure of our • [friends. It is not the enemy [(who will divide Africa but • Africa itself.” J Mr Mwaanga’s 10,000-word [speech also had harsh words J for what he termed “micro- [ phone revolution,” which, he [said, was based on making [nice speeches for public con- [ sumption at home. I He said that the words [‘armed struggle’ “were being [prostituted into a mere 'political slogan, a cliche; [which even reactionary! [elements could repeat without shame.” And he warned delegates that the O.A.U. could become a paper tiger. “Chairman Mao says ‘all imperialists are paper tigers.’ “I dare say that this organisation could' easily be a paper tiger unless we do ' what we say,” he said. Speaking before Mr Mwaanga. the president of Mozambique’s Frelimo nationalist movement. Mr [Samora Machel, backed [efforts to negotiate settlements on Rhodesia and! Namibia but rejected any; dialogue or relations with' South Africa. His speech supported the! joint approach by Tanzania,; Zambia, and Botswana, on, Rhodesia which led to negotiations between the Smith Government and the A.N.C. ! Mr Mwaanga told delegates that Zambia would support the Rhodesian nationalists if they wanted to start negotiations now. If the talks failed and the nationalists decided to fight, Zambia would again give its support.

“But when the chips are! down we know that few j around this table will cornel to our aid when we face the! consequences of the aimed! struggle,” he said.