Smith election 'a stupid game’

Press, 2 September 1977, Page 4

Smith election 'a stupid game’

I he Rhodesian General Election which returned Mr lan Smith to power with an increased majority yesterday was an “incredibly stupid game,” said the deported Rhodesian Bishop of Umtali (the Rt Rev. Donal Lamont l in Christchurch last evening.

“Mr Smith’s regime always 11 proclaims it is defending • Christianity and the Western ■civilisation, but Rhodesian .!blacks are saying: ‘lf this is Christianity what is wrong : |with communism?’ : “I am not in the confidences ’(of the black leaders, but : j when 1 hear of them going to ; Russia for arms I tell them ; they have to have a long spoon when they sup with the devil.” Bishop Lamont said that more highly educated Africans were exiled from Rhodesia now than from any other African country. His own deportation earlier this year was “simply because I supplied to two mission sisters for guerrillas medi|cine for treatment of malaria land diarrhoea and told them (not to report it.” He was still Bishop of (Umtali. 1 “If they appointed another, (that would mean they also ■ had the power to hire and fire ;at w ill.” Bishop Lamont said. Bishop Lamont is in New (Zealand for about 10 davs on a personal visit. In Christchurch he is the guest of rhe Roman Catholic Bishop of Christchurch (the Most Rev. 18. P. Ashby).

“I can’t understand it," Bishop Lamont said. “In terms of real human values it is like playing a game of monopoly. Throw three and buy 100 houses, throw four and hold a General Election. “For the last two years and a half Mr Smith has been ruling on 57,000 votes over a population of 6.7 M. On Tuesday about 100.000 people voted. Four black seats were uncontested.” The vast majority of Rhodesia’s 2.4 M black adults were politically mature, but) they were deprived of their vote. Mr Smith and his regime might speak of their intentions of black majority rule, but under the present 1961 constitution it would be; about 52 years before it even-j tuated. Bishop Lamont said. ; Some blacks were able to I vote if they met education! and propertv qualifications, I but these were so maniou-l lated that for every additional black seat, a European) seat was added to offset it. ; The news media in Rhodesia were “compliant and! sycophantic.” Until last year,! some “courageous” newspap-) ers ran columns of bare! space, indicating censored i news. In the last decade only one person whose opinions!

(were not in conformity with a the regime had been allowed 11 to use the media — Mr Ivor) f: Richard, the British Ambassa-I I dor to the United Nations! r) last year. , “What amazes me is that| lithe news media out here il publish the statements ofi rinews sources collaborating) tiwith the Government as if; •I they were infallible state-; timents,” Bishop Lamont said. | “Foreign correspondents in ■ Rhodesia know they are not s at liberty to move round and ’(look for information.” Asked if some massacres of > innocent black villagers were . • carried out under direction of i ’ the Smith regime and attri- ; : buted through the news : ‘(media to guerrilla terrorists, : (Bishop Lamont said: “Itji ; would be provocative of mei; II to say that this kind of kill- h jing could be laid at the feet, |of the Selous Scouts (a Rho-fl Idesian Armv unit). ■ “I am not saving this. No-|t jone can say. But they are 1 i trained by the regime to do<; this kind of thing.” I Bishop Lamont said theii (guerrilla insurgencv in Rho- t |desia was not communist- ( ‘inspired, but that the racial , (discrimination perpetuated by the regime was “calculated to ( Imake communism attractive. I