Elections if sanctions go: Muzorewa
TThe Herald, October 6, 1979 HE Zimbabwe Rhodesian Prime Minister, Bishop Abel Muzorewa, announced here last night that he had accepted the British Government’s constitutional proposals and that he was prepared to hold new elections in his country.
His condition was that Britain lift economic sanctions against Zimbabwe Rhodesia. Bishop Muzorewa said his 12-member delegation to the Lancaster House Conference had voted 11 to one in favour of the draft constitution.
The Bishop’s announcement has placed responsibility for the success of the settlement talks squarely on the Patriotic Front terrorist alliance. The Foreign Secretary, Lord Carrington, asked both delegations to give him their straight answer by Monday.
“We believe that the document placed before us as the basis for our independence constitution does not take into account the circumstances which exist in our country and accords with our own views as providing for genuine majority rule. We believe that it meets the aspirations of the majority of our people whilst at the same time representing and expressing the interests of our minorities,” the bishop said.
“I and my delegation accept the provisions of the British Constitutional proposals. Our acceptance is subject to suitable and satisfactory arrangements being agreed for bringing the independence constitution into effect and, of course, the lifting of sanctions.”
Bishop Muzorewa said his delegation considered another election as unnecessary and unfair to the Zimbabwe Rhodesian electorate.
But despite this, he was prepared to go ahead with a fresh ballot “in full confidence that our people will reaffirm their desire for and commitment to genuine democracy through the new election, in the same manner as they did during that which took place as recently as April”.
He went on to demand: That Her Majesty’s Government, acting in fairness, with honest endeavour and with integrity, must now meet its legal and moral obligation to immediately lift sanctions and lead us to international recognition. “On behalf of all our seven million people — black, white, coloured and Asian, the vast majority of whom are totally innocent of the actions taken by the previous white minority government, I expect this to be done. It is our basic right.”
He said there no longer existed a justification “for a continuation of suffering of our people under the humiliating yoke of sanctions. There is no longer in existence any justification for our people and our country being ostracised by the other free nations of the world.”
“It was with these words ringing in our ears and implanted in our minds that I and my delegation have given the most careful study to the British constitutional proposals”, he said.
A British Government spokesman said the bishop’s announcement was warmly welcomed. “This is a major step forward. We now look forward to receiving also the response of the Patriotic Front,” the spokesman said.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
◆ Of late, SADC regional leaders have spoken very strongly and unanimously against the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe for repossessing its land. They want the sanctions to go since they adversely affect Zimbabwe and the region’s economy.
◆ The sanctions that Bishop Muzorewa wanted lifted were legal and were imposed by the United Nations at the invitation of the British government, when Ian Smith declared UDI in November 1965. This means that Zimbabwe has been under sanctions for almost five decades, a situation that must worry the international community if it has a conscience at all.
◆ Sanctions hurt the poor and not the ruling elite whom they say they target. We also know that’s another way of trying to effect regime change.
◆ Bishop Muzorewa dismally lost the elections, and “the Patriotic Front terrorist alliance” remains in power since 1980 although the illegal economic sanctions are meant to remove them from power.
For historical information contact: Zimpapers Knowledge Centre at Herald House on:
+263 8677 004323; +263 0242 795771 E-mail: