Muzorewa keen to look over constitution plan

Press, 9 April 1977, Page 9

Muzorewa keen to look over constitution plan

NZPA-Reuter Salisbury A leading black nationalist ; group has said that it would (seriously consider a reported (British proposal to hold a 'constitutional conference to (guide Rhodesia to majority rule. ( A statement from Bishop (Abel Muzorewa’s United African National Council said that any plan which enhanced the chances of majority rule was welcome. But government sources in Salisbury said the reported plan would probably prove unacceptable to the whiteminority regime. A report of a new British (Strategy on Rhodesia was

i published by the London i “Financial Times” this week, I and has appeared in the (Rhodesian press. ( The “Financial Times” (African correspondent,. Bridget Bloom, said that the British Foreign Secretary (Dr David Owen) would proIpose to black and white leaders on a southern Africa visit next week that Britain should convene and run a conference to draw up a constitution for an independent black-ruled Rhodesia.

I (In London, a Foreign i Office spokesman said that ■ the idea of drawing up an independence constitution i for Rhodesia without first setting up an interim Gov-

I eminent was one of several ideas Dr Owen might discuss during his tour. But he 'added that Dr Owen would not be taking a “cut and dried” blueprint. The U.A.N.C., which claims the support of 90 per cfent of Rhodesia’s six million blacks, said Dr Owen “can count on securing our hearing should he bring the plan along.” It added: “Our only condition is that if the suggested plan has been agreed upon between Britain and the United States, Dr Owen must not have it altered by those he meets in the frontline States.” The so-called “front-line

[States” neighbouring Rhodesia — Zambia, Tanzania, Botswana, Angola, and MoI zambique — have announced I their support for the Patriotic Front of Mr Joshua Nkomo and the guerrilla representative, Mr Robert Mugabe, as the most suitable administration, for a black-ruled Rhodesia.' The Rhodesian security forces headquarters in Salisbury said yesterday that a big operation was under way to move more than 17,000 blacks from their rural tribal lands near the Mozambique border to “protected villages.”