The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Friday, May 10, 1968 — Three alleged African terrorists who said at Bulawayo Magistrate’s Court yesterday that they crossed into Rhodesia to kill Europeans were committed for trial after a preparatory examination of allegations under the Law and Order (Maintenance) Act.

They are alleged to have infiltrated into the country from Zambia, carrying arms of war, grenades and explosive materials.

At the request of the Crown, the court ordered that their names, political parties to which they belong, points where they are alleged to have crossed into Rhodesia and places of their arrest be withheld.

The provincial magistrate, Mr R S Coleman was told that the men were arrested during anti-terrorist operations in Northern Matabeleland.

One of the three men said he was recruited by leaders of a banned African nationalist movement in Zambia and told that he would be sent to Britain to study political science.

He was sent to Tanzania, and after a few weeks went on to Cuba. He remained in military training for three months. In Lusaka, he said, he was given guns, ammunition, hand grenades and explosives and told he was going to Rhodesia.

One of the others said he was trained in Tanzania. The youngest of the alleged terrorists - he is 19 – said the men came to Rhodesia to fight.

“I was hurt in my feelings to see my relations being killed with firearms and some of them being arrested when they wanted their country back. I say we will fight until we are all finished. Zimbabwe belongs to Africans.”