The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Tuesday, January 16, 1968 -ABOUT 100 residents in areas outside Bulawayo district, which include Richmond, Trenance, Northvale, Glenville, part of Sauerstown, and other fringe areas, have already replied to the Rhodesian Constitutional Association’s questionnaire to test “pro-settlement” opinion.

This was stated yesterday by the RCA chairman, Mr N A F Williams. All except one were “sympathetic” to the move to test national public opinion on Rhodesia’s stand, he said.

“Our objective is to try to create sufficient demand for talks to be reopened between Britain and Rhodesia,” he said. “Numbers will speak for themselves, and notice will have to be taken.”

There was also, always, the underlying thought of reviving an opposition party, Mr Williams said.

A Chronicle reporter rang several people in the periurban areas of Bulawayo District yesterday. Some had not yet received the questionnaire.

A Richmond woman said she would reply. “It is the natural and courteous thing to do” she said. She declined to indicate how she would reply.

A woman in the Glenville area said: “I have not had the letter yet, but I shall certainly answer it. I think it is a very good thing. It is just as well to keep in touch with people’s feelings. After all, the people have had no chance of an expression of opinion for a long time.”

A spokesman in the RCA offices in Salisbury said that 1,345 questionnaires were posted on Thursday to every name on the A roll of Bulawayo district.

“We are busy breaking down the replies as they come in,” she said. “If on the final analysis we feel it is worthwhile, we shall repeat the exercise in other Bulawayo constituencies.” A total of 6,000 questionnaires had been posted to three constituencies of Mazoe, Bulawayo and Highlands North.