A.N.C. talks in jeopardy

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33942, 8 September 1975, Page 13

A.N.C. talks in jeopardy

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) | SALISBURY, September 7. ( A controversial meet- ] ing of Rhodesia’s Afri-, can nationalist leaders i called for today appeal’s 1 to be in doubt as not ] enough delegates might turn up. !> Organisers of the executive J committee meeting of the r African National Council will £ be anxiously counting heads ‘ to see if there is a quorum * of more than half thg, 69 r members. , The meeting was called by v Mr Samuel Munodawafa, the ; committee chairman, on the j ground that a crisis had been created within the council a over the recent formation in j Zambia of an A.N.C. external t wing, the Zimbabwe Libera- E tion Council. ( This wing is led by the Rev. v Ndabaningi Sithole, a mili- c tant nationalist and former r leader of the Zimbabwe Afri- t can National Union, who I i

faces arrest when he returns to Rhodesia. Mr Munodawafa said yesterday that provincial branches had threatened unilateral action if a congress was not held, and that the September 21 date fixed by Dr Ellio Gabellah, the A.N.C. vice-chairman, would be too late. Mr Joshua Nkomo, an A.N.C. leader who is regarded by the Government as a moderate, initiated today’s meeting, and critics* have accused him of attempting to gain control of the A.N.C., whose president (Bishop Abel Muzorewa) has been fundraising in Europe. Mr Nkomo was former leader of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union. Rhodesian security police are expected to be out in force today. When the executive last met three months] ago, 11 Africans were shot dead by policemen during violence between supporters of both groups, banned but now merged, under the A.N.C. banner. The executive committee, if it meets, will discuss calling a national A.N.C. congress, which can elect a leader. Also on the committee’s agenda will be the setting up in Lusaka, Zambia, last week of the Z.L.C. as an external wine of the A.N.C.