The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Saturday, August 8, 1970 — An African, one of four facing a charge under the Unlawful Organisations Act, told Bulawayo Magistrate’s Court yesterday that his connections with a member of a banned Rhodesian nationalist organisation were purely on a business basis.

The men are charged with helping the banned organisation’s member to recruit young Rhodesian Africans for training in guerilla warfare outside the country.

They also face an alternative charge under the Law and Order (Maintenance) Act, in which it is alleged they helped the member of the banned organisation with intent to commit acts of terrorism or sabotage. They have all denied both charges.

The trial before the Provincial Magistrate, Mr R S Coleman, started with five accused, but the State has withdrawn charges against the fifth.

Replying to questions by the senior public prosecutor, Mr J N Talbot, one of the accused who is conducting his own defence, said he was a goat and pig buyer in one of the country’s Tribal Trust Lands. He said he knew the man he is said to have helped in the alleged recruitment drive also as a goat and pig buyer. They had done some business together some two to three years ago.

The man admitted he gave a lift to three young Africans who were wanted by the banned organisation’s member. He said the member had asked him to do so and he thought the young men were needed to drive goats.