Guerrillas to go to Geneva

Press, 15 October 1976, Page 5

Guerrillas to go to Geneva

NZPA-Reuter Salisbury Black Rhodesian Nationalists still in detention and guerrilla representatives will be included in the delegation of one group invited to the British-organised Geneva talks on Rhodesia beginning on October 25. The African National Council faction led by Bishop Abel Muzorewa has announced after a six-hour meeting of its national executive that its delegation will include people from the external wing, some detainees, and “representatives of freedom fighters.” The delegation, led by the Bishop, will arrive in Geneva before the conference to choose an interim Rhodesian Government.

Bishop Muzorewa would leave for the Mozambique capital of Maputo soon, the executive announced. No reason was given, but there is speculation in Salisbury that he will consult with guerrillas in the field. The bishop’s group was understood to have discussed the inclusion of veteran nationalist, the Rev. Ndabaningi Sithole, in their Geneva team, but made no announcement on the issue. Mr Sithole, snubbed by Britain when invitations to Geneva were issued, said in Lusaka that he would not accept an invitation to join the bishop’s delegation. , The Zimbabwe People s Army (Zipa) in a broadcast from Maputo said it had stepped up its offensive against Rhodesia, inflicting heavy casualties on Rhodesian forces. In a broadcast over Mozambique radio, monitored in London, the movement accused Britain of having, a vested interest in maintaining the status quo in Rhodesia by supporting the white-minority regime. Colleagues of Bishop Muzorewa said yesterday that three black nationalists, including the secretary of the bishop’s faction, had been killed in north-east Rhodesia. , . . Sources within the faction said the three men were found near their bulletriddled car and taken to the town of Bindura for identification by relatives.