‘Guerrillas’ guard bishop

Press, 14 August 1978, Page 8

‘Guerrillas’ guard bishop

NZPA-Reuter Salisbury’ Bishop Abel Muzorewa, a member of Rhodesia’s multiracial transitional Government, appeared at a rural political rally on Saturday

■ with an escort of armed men and women he said were nationalist guerrillas. The bishop has previously said the Rhodesian Government troops and black guerrillas are co-operating in some areas.

He told his audience that the rally was the most important and historic he had ever attended. “It is the very first rally where both civilians and our heroic children — nationalist guerrillas — are present officially as part of the security forces and in charge of law and order.” Witnesses said that no regular police or soldiers were in sight at the rally in Musana tribal area 65km north of Salisbury.

About 200 armed men and women were present. About 30 of them formed a guard of honour for the bishop. While he was speaking at the rally, members of

j branches of his United j African National Council I met in Salisbury to consider the row in the party sparked by four senior members who have openly described the bishop’s leadership as “politically inept.” They have issued a call for a special party congress, saying the party had been steered off course. Attacks on the bishop’s leadership have grown with nationalist disappointment over the Government’s low pace in ending racial discrimination. Two black guerrillas killed on Friday were among those responsible for the massacre of nine British missionaries and four children nearly two months ago, according to the police. Diaries found by the police had linked the guerrillas with the Elim Pentecostal Mission massacre on June 23.