Southern Africa in revolt: A journalist’s report shaped Nigeria’s historic role

the general public and the government could contribute.

2. That Nigeria’s outstanding payment of $2,000,000 (two million dollars) should be paid to the Liberation Committee without delay.

3. That “it would be necessary for Nigeria to change the pace of present talk-resolutionmassacre-fight-syndrome in Southern Africa. A shock treatment is needed. I cannot suggest the nature of the shock treatment. This would depend on consultation between the Nigerian government and Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique. But before the year is out, Nigeria should take a stand either militarily or economically, that would definitely shake the entire Southern African region.

In view of the importance of the report I submitted to General Olusegun Obasanjo, I reproduce below, the full text of the report. MEMORANDUM TO GENERAL OLUSEGUN OBASANJO: HEAD OF STATE The Frontline States - An Overview Four nations, Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia, constitute the four frontline states and their presidents meet occasionally, as charged by the Organisation for African Unity, OAU, to map out strategy for the solution of the crisis in Zimbabwe. Actually, only three of the four states share common borders with Zimbabwe. The fourth, Tanzania, does not, but has been co-opted as a result of her role in assisting FRELIMO, and also because it is the headquarters of the Liberation Committee Secretariat, which is headed by a Tanzanian, Col. Hashim Mbita. With President Nyerere of Tanzania as Chairman, and Col. Hashim Mbita, another Tanzanian, as the Executive Secretary, some people suggest, not without reason that Tanzania dominates the liberation struggle in Southern Africa. The existence of a special relationship between Tanzania and Mozambique, the latter being the operational zone, confirms their view, they say. The other three States which share common border with Rhodesia, can be classified into Security and Liberation zones. Two States, Botswana and Zambia, are members of the security zone; Angola and one other. Mozambique, the liberation zone. Zambia and Botswana, both independent for more than a decade, are concerned with their national security and are not likely to allow active liberation struggle from within their borders. Coincidentally, this security zone happens to be land-locked. Zambia has already begun to feel the pinch of South African pressures. Its North-Western province has now become the hot-bed of revolt, indeed a secession attempt. President Kaunda told me that the province used to supply the bulk of migrant labour to South Africa, which he had stopped in 1965. South Africa had recruited a hundred of them, trained them in military operations, and infiltrated them into Zambia. Majority of these had been captured, but a small band is still roving in the area. Additionally, a Zambian local chief with about 380 men had “defected” into Namibia and these could be trained and unleashed into Zambia anytime. Any time SWAPO guerrillas attacked from inside the Zambian border, South Africa unleashed its own Zambian hit-and-run soldiers, into Zambia. President Kaunda has said times without number that he would not close his border with Rhodesia and is unwilling to turn his country into a battle zone. He may have his reasons. Until late this year, Botswana had no currency of its own; the South African Rand had been the nation’s currency.