Wild jubilation as blacks are freed

Press, 15 April 1978, Page 8

Wild jubilation as blacks are freed

NZPA-Reuter

Rhodesia

Amid scenes of wild jubilation, tempered with some sadness, the first group of black political prisoners ordered released by Rhodesia’s new multi-racial transitional Government has left Wha Wha Prison, near Gwelo.

The 100 detainees, belonging to three main nationalist parties, walked out of the triple barbed-wire gates of the political-offenders’ compound singing freedom songs. The touch of sadness came from a small group of black women gathered outside the prison to greet loved ones I who were not among those freed on Thursday. “They should have released everybody,” said Mrs, Salphanah Talifki, aged 27, who had been waiting for her husband after four years of separation. Those released were among 461 black political offenders due to be freed within the next few days. The total represents about half the number of political detainees in the country who were imprisoned without trial by the white-minority regime for often unspecified offences. The only condition attached to their release was that they should not engage in subversive or unlawful activities. The releases were ordered by the supreme Executive Council made up of the white Pjime Minister (Mr lan Smith) and the nationalist leaders, Bishop Abel Muzorewa, the Rev. Ndabaningi Sithole, and Chief Jeremiah Chirau.

The council forms the top tier of the transitional Government designed to lead the

country to outright black rule on December 31. About 60 local and foreign ’ journalists were flown to the prison by the GovernI'ment to witness the first releases. ii Many of the prisoners were elderly and some had been incarcerated for more I than five years.

i Out of the 100, 37 said I they were followers of Bis- ■ |hop Muzorewa, 29 of Mr ; Sithole, 30 of Mr Joshua ,j Nkomo, three of Mr Robert Mubabe, and one of Chief J Chirau. Mr Nkomo and Mr iMugabe are joint leaders of lithe foreign-based Patriotic I Front which opposes the soli called internal agreement.

The prisoners had gathered in their respective political groupings in the dusty, gravelled courtyard of the political compound. The stockade, near Gevelo, 240 km south-west of Salisbury, is surrounded by high double barbed-wire fences fixed to big concrete pillars. Reporters were allowed to question the men without interference, but were asked not to inquire about the detainees remaining behind the wire.

A group of men belonging to the United African National Council of Bishop Muzorewa carried a little placard declaring: “Heroic liberation with honour and indignity.” A group alongside

chanted, “Sithole, Sithole” and, “Power to the people.” The main complaint heard by reporters was of poor quality food. But a few men said they had been badly treated by prison guards. The men appeared to be healthy. To a man, the followers of Mr Nkomo and Mr Mugabe refused to give any opinion of the internal majority-rule agreement vilified by their leaders, that had led to their release.

“We are going to support; the new Government,” said; Joseph Mugido, aged 52, a{ Sithole supporter who had been jailed three years ago for unspecified political activities. He said the detainees had been able to follow political events through newspapers supplied in the prison. Others said free political ; discussion had been allowed in the cell blocks. In Dar-es-Salaam, the United States and Britain were yesterday due to launch a new drive to bring Rhodesia’s multiracial government and the black guerrilla leaders trying to overthrow it to an all-party conference table.

But hopes for the conference are dim, and a senior American official told reporters that Mr Smith would probably repeat the interim Government’s rejection earlier this week of the plan.