Bush resumes trip

Press, 17 November 1982, Page 9

Bush resumes trip

NZPA Harare The American Vice-Presi-dent, Mr George. Bush, was due to arrive in Zimbabwe today to resume an African tour interrupted by the death • of the Soviet leader, Leonid Brezhnev. Zimbabwe, a main beneficiary of American aid, was preparing to. welcome him in style, with, a 19-gun airport salute and a banquet hosted by the Prime : Minister, Mr Robert Mugabe., But some blunt talking was expected to take place behind the ceremony. Mr Mugabe is a key member of the so-called “front line” of black African States most concerned about South African regional policies. The front-liners accuse President. Reagan’s Administration of being too sympathetic to. the white-ruled republic. “We refuse to believe the United States has no means of pressuring South Africa. We think it has and should use its influence,” a Zimbabwe Government spokesman told Reuters. The front line — Zimbabwe, Zambia, Angola, Mozambique, Botswana, and Tanzania — believe South Africa is dragging its feet over independence from Namibia (South-West Africa) and waging an undercover regional war of destabilisation in' order to keep its black neighbours economically dependent. Zimbabweans are critical of Washington’s support for a 5U51.04 billion International Monetary Fund loan to South Africa. They also resist any linkage between the presence of Cuban troops in Angola and a South African withdrawal from Namibia, which it rules in defiance of most of the world. V ' Before he left the United States, Mr' Bush said he thought a Namibian deal would be impossible unless * the.'Cubans went home. Mr Mugabe will also want to discuss American aid to Zimbabwe, whose post-war economic boom, has petered out. ‘ . ■ The United States has supplied |i63.'rnillion worth of \: assistance' —. mostly grants . ' — since independence and is considering a further. $l5O . million by 1984.