Zambian moves to guard Queen

Press, 18 June 1979, Page 6

Zambian moves to guard Queen

NZPA-Reuter ' Lusaka Zambia has taken precautions to ensure the safety of planes taking the Queen and national leaders to the Commonwealth Heads of State conference in Lfisaka in August, President Ken[neth Kaunda has said. I The Zambian leader, [speaking in an interview, did not elaborate on the measures. His reassurance follows concern about the Queen’s safety and speculation that the conference venue might be shifted to the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

Questions about security during the summit meeting followed several incidents earlier this year involving (guerrillas of the Zimbabwe African People’s .Union, the Rhodesian nationalist organisation based in Zambia and led by Joshua Nkomo. Civilian planes approaching Lusaka Airport were fired upon on several occa-

sions, and two planes of the Zambian Air Force were shot down by guerrilla fire while on patrol about 30km from the city. Very touchy Z.A.P.U. officials denied responsibility for the airport incidents, and Mr Nkomo said that the Air Force planes were actually Rhodesian fighters painted in Zambian colours. But diplomatic sources blamed poorly-disciplined guerrillas, jittery after a series of Rhodesian bombing raids near the capital and elsewhere in Zambia. Aviation sources say there have been no shootings for at least three months. International airlines still use the airport. Details of security measures for the Commonwealth summit meeting have not been disclosed, but diplomatic sources say that there has been close co-operation between the Zambian and British Governments.