A black view of N.Z.

Press, 3 August 1976, Page 20

A black view of N.Z.

Elsewhere on this page today “The Press ” reprints a leading article from the “ Zambia Daily Mail ” of July 19, published in Lusaka as the Olympic Games were getting under way in Montreal. Zambia, the former British colony of Northern Rhodesia, was one of the first African States to announce its withdrawal from the Games if the New Zealand team took part. The leading article speaks for itself. In its tone of hysteria, its use of lies and distortions, it resembles most closely some of the anti-British propaganda produced in Germany shortly before World War 11. Unfortunately, the article cannot be dismissed with the contempt it appears to deserve. First, it is the most virulent attack from abroad against New Zealand sports policies which has come to our attention. Although strongly-worded articles have been seen from newspapers in Tanzania and Kenya, these still demonstrated some understanding of the autonomy of sports organisations in New Zealand and did not. like the Zambian piece, attempt to draw false conclusions from muddled history.

Second, the Zambian article is especially disturbing because it appeared in a Government-owed newspaper, with a circulation of 30,000,

in a country under strict censorship, and must be prepared to reflect the official opinion of President Kaunda’s regime. New Zealanders, unaccustomed to being the object of foreign hatred, may be shocked and disgusted to find what has been presumed to be a friendly Commonwealth State alluding to them in this way. '

The lesson that the New Zealand Government has failed to make its position, with respect to apartheid in South Africa, clear elsewhere in Africa could hardly be driven home more forcefully. The Zambian article should also be read as a demonstration of the depth of abhorrence which South African policies have aroused elsewhere in Africa, even in a country like Zambia which still has close economic ties with South Africa.

Even when due allowance has been made, the Zambian Government’s attitude remains repulsive as well as wrong. The evils of the apartheid system in South Africa are not lessened by demonstration that ugly and repressive governments also exist in black-ruled African States. But most New Zealanders will find it hard to accept, without question the views of Africans on other matters when an African Government is capable of being so profoundly wrong about New Zealand.