Smith woos blacks with big reforms

Press, 25 February 1977, Page 7

Smith woos blacks with big reforms

NZPA-Reuter Salisbury 1 The Rhodesian Prime Min-1 lister (Mr lan Smith) has in-’ produced a sweeping reform ■package aimed at lowering Rhodesia’s racial barriers and persuading black nationalist leaders into accept|ing an internal settlement. ■ At the same time Mr ’Smith, who previously had ’declared that he would not ’negotiate with anyone who ’supported what he termed ’terrorism, indicated that he ’was prepared to allow Mr! ’Joshua Nkomo and Mr Robert Mugabe, whose Patriotic .Front alliance controls the 'guerrillas fighting the Rho-. ■desian border war, to join in ! talks.

“I do not believe we! Ishould close the door,” Mr Smith said in a reference to 1 , Mr Nkomo and Mr Mugabe. ■

Mr Smith’s package gives ’black Africans access to rich (farm areas previously exiclusive to whites, and allows ’them to use hotels and bars once reserved for whites.

Announcing his plan. Mr ’Smith, who last month | turned down a British peace j package because he said it ’would have meant immediate black rule “by a Marxist minority," said the free world would have no option but to recognise “a democratic internal settlement demonstrably acceptable to the majority of Rhodesians.” In his 15-minu’te address to Parliament on Thursday Mr Smith said the Government had decided that: White farmland. which comprises more than oneIthird of the country, would lin future be open to occupation and ownership by .blacks:

In urban areas, local authorities would advise the Government on which whiteonly districts should become integrated; Industrial and commercial land in central business districts would be open to ownership by all races;

All hotels and bars would be open to blacks: State-owned schools and 'hospitals would remain segregated, but restrictions on private education and health ’institutions would be re- ■ moved:

The first black army officers would be commissioned in June this year; Blacks would be recruited ;as prison officers; Recruitment of black magistrates was being '“actively pursued.” ’ Mr Smith's hopes of persuading the more moderate ■ nationalists into sharing ’power in a multi-racia* 'society now rest largely with Bishop Abel Muzorewa. leader of the African Nat'onal Council inside Rho desia. Observers in Salisbury feel that Bishop Muzorewt has strong support amonr -he country’s six millior blacks. He is due back fror a tour of West Africa withir

■the next few days, and will, preside over a meeting of’ (his movement’s national executive on March 6. ■ So far the only black or- 1 ganisation to react has been ■ the Zimbabwe United! ■ People’s Organisation, a . moderate alliance formed recently by tribal chiefs. Z.U.P.O. described Mr! Smith’s proposals as “the, ' most important move yet bv, the Government to deal with! • race discrimination.” ’ Parliament is expected to 'debate the package early' ! next week. i Although fierce opposition j from some Right-wing ((whites is expected, observers 1 (’said there was little doubt: Jthe plan would have an easy! ■ passage. J In Umtali, two more black. ( Roman Catholic priests have t been jailed for a year each; ifor not informing police on

.black nationalist guerrilla ’’activity. ’ The . riests are among five Catholic and Baptist church.imen who have been sent fenced to imprisonment on [’similar charges in the past Jsix months. [i A magistrate in the east-1 ’em Rhodesian garrison town .■also sentenced the two black; ’priests, the Rev. Ignatius; jMhonda and the Rev. Pat-’ J rick Mutume, to four years ■in jail each, suspended’ for five years, for not reporting’ ’•the presence of terrorists at; .a remote mission near the Mozambique border. The, ’’pair, who pleaded guilty, I’will appeal the sentences. They told the Magistrate tjfMr G. V. Schaap) that thev ''were frightened when a 30'man guerrilla unit visited tithe Avila mission and to murder them ilif they reported to the i authorities.