50 years ago

LUSAKA, 25 May 1967. — President Kaunda said in a nationwide radio broadcast today that his Government is convinced that the British Government has deliberately tried to over-emphasise its interest in Vietnam and entering the Common Market and to “dump Rhodesia into the dustbin of history”.

The President said the frailties of the United Nations and callous intrigues of power politics have been exposed over the South West question.

The broadcast marked “African Freedom Day”, celebrated as a public holiday in Zambia tomorrow. Today was the Commonwealth day holiday.

Britain and her friends take “half-hearted and piecemeal measures” against Rhodesia, he said, while Africa and the rest of the world are “tricked into false strategy by the Wilson Government”.

President Kaunda said Mr Ian Smith and his supporters have indicated they are contemplating a Rhodesian republic outside the Commonwealth and they intend to rid the country of “the last remains of influence from London”.