Zimbabwe Independence Bill enacted

The Herald, November 14, 1979 LONDON. — Britain’s House of Commons passed a Bill early yesterday giving the government power to move Zimbabwe Rhodesia towards legal independence.

Mrs Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government introduced the Bill in the hope that an agreement would be reached soon at the talks on the 14- year- old Zimbabwe Rhodesia independence dispute.

But it was bitterly opposed by the Labour opposition, whose spokesman, Mr Peter Short, said it was “misconceived and mischievous”.

He warned it could make a settlement harder to achieve at the protracted peace talks here, Iana-Reuter reports.

The Bill gives the Government power to install a British governor in Salisbury to supervise the transition to fresh elections.

During a 12-hour debate, many Labour politicians said they feared the government would use the Bill to hand over power to the Prime Minister Bishop Muzorewa.

The Bill was passed by 296 votes to 229, a majority of 67. It is expected to become law today.

During the sitting, the Labour opposition forced a vote on economic sanctions against Zimbabwe Rhodesia.

The Government had announced it would lift a small section when it came up for renewal in Parliament this month.

Urging that these sanctions be maintained, Labour spokesman Mr Ted Rowlands said: “Sanctions are the international community’s test of our willingness to stay the course, of our stand on the principle of majority rule.”

He said most sanctions would be continued until the new governor arrived in Salisbury.

The Labour proposal for continued sanctions was rejected by 69 votes.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

◆ What’s in a name? In 1979, it was the Labour party spokesman Peter Short who said the British Government’s move was “misconceived and mischievous”.

◆ Fast-forward to 1997, and you have Clare Short who told the Zimbabwe Government that the election of a Labour government “without links to former colonial interests” meant the UK no longer had “special responsibility to meet the cost land purchases”.

◆ The enactment of laws is a democratic process, involves debates and voting, with those with the higher number of votes carrying the day.

◆ Enacting law is a way of legitimising or making something binding.

◆ In this instance, the British were showing their commitment to ensuring that there is transfer of power to the majority in Zimbabwe following the breakthrough that had been made in the talks over the constitution.

◆ When negotiating, there is a tendency to take advantage of the situation to press for issues closer to the heart. The Labour opposition, which was opposed to the Bill giving the British government power to move Zimbabwe Rhodesia towards legal independence, used the debate over the Bill to push for a vote on sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe Rhodesia.