Change in N.Z. seen by African politician

Press, 26 February 1977, Page 20

Change in N.Z. seen by African politician

NZPA Sydney Th* Tanzan;an Minister cf Culture and Youth, Major-General Minsho Sarakikya. has acknowedged tn Sydney that there had been some change tn the New Zealand attitude towards sports contacts with South Africa since the African boycott of the Montreal Olympic Games "From what I read in the New Zealand press, about 60 per cent of your population is now against sports contacts with South Africa," he said in an interview "Before the Olympic games I 'marine that the percentage was a lot lower. "The change in attitudes has to come from the people themselves, and from what 1 have learnt the majority of New Zealanders want to sever relations with South Africa. "As far as your Government is concerned, we feel there has been no real Significant change, but if there is change from the people that then becomes something the Government can take up. Later in the interview. Major-General Sarakikva

said comments made by the Depute Prime Minister (Mr Talboysi after his African visit last November about dissuading -ports teams from going to South Africa had been encouraging. "But then he was contradicted by your Prime Minister, and the issue went back to square one.’ Major-General Sarakikya said in response to a question that he felt there had been some improvement since then. "The more I read the more I fee! there is a growing awareness among the New Zealand population of what needs to be done." he said. The Minister, who is responsible for sport and was to have managed the Tanzanian team in Montreal, said the Organisation of African Unity's boycott resolution had been inevitable, and Tanz a n i a had merely honoured it. The resolution would continue to be observed until the O.A.U. saw fit to rescind it. "The question of the boycott is not merely a question of Tanzania alone." he said.

“it is a question of the whole of Africa.” . Major-General Sarakikya made it ciear that New Zealand was singled out largely because of the Government's blessing of the All Blacks’ tour of South Africa. "Many people have asked: ‘Why did you pick out New Zealand"? New Zealand was the onlycountry m the world that actually blessed a team going to South Africa at Government level.” Major-General Sarakikya said that Tanzanians would love to see Filbert Bayi and John Walker clash over 1500 metres or a mile. “The two runners are great friends,” he said. “Bayi has absolutely no animosity towards Walker, and would be only too happy if the grounds were cleared to allow him to race the New- Zealander. "They are the only' two people in the world who could give a challenge to each other.” Major-General Sarakikya was in Sydney to attend an executive meeting of the World Amateur Boxing Federation.