Talks clear transition hurdle, major step taken in day of drama

The Herald, November 16, 1979 LONDON. - A major step towards internationally recognised independence for Zimbabwe Rhodesia was taken yesterday when the delegation at the Lancaster House talks accepted Britain’s plans for the transition period.

But the long and difficult road of ceasefire negotiations - due to begin today with Lieutenant-General Peter Walls and ZANU commander Josiah Tongogara involved, lies ahead before peace can come to the country.

In a day of high drama, Britain’s Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington, agreed to Patriotic Front demands that their forces be granted equal status with the security forces under a British governor.

After initial fears of another breakdown following a statement by the Government team that it would accept any alterations to British proposals, a Muzorewa administration spokesman said that the recognition of the PF forces did not constitute any change to the substance of the proposals, but merely to the text.

The Minister of Health, Mr David Zamchiya told reporters: “We are happy that the PF has finally accepted the proposals.”

Lord Carrington agreed with the PF that the acceptance of the transitional proposals would be “subject to the successful outcome of the negotiations on the ceasefire”.

But all three parties at the conference stressed that ceasefire negotiations would be arduous and complicated.

Patriotic Front spokesman Dr Edson Zvobgo said: “The war will continue until there is a ceasefire.”

He warned that negotiations to bring about a ceasefire could take up to three months, and said it was not impossible that the conference could still break down over these negotiations.

British officials, however, remained optimistic that these negotiations would prove less difficult than the other two stages of the conference - the constitution and the transition.

The agreement yesterday represented a major climb-down by the PF from its earlier demands, but it was also acknowledged that Lord Carrington had made a last-minute concession to swing agreement.

The conference was adjourned until today so delegates could “get some sleep” after a virtual all-night session of intensive lobbying between representatives of the three groups.

Through his spokesman, Lord Carrington said he was “delighted” with the agreement and paid tribute to the wisdom and statesmanship of both the PF and the Salisbury team.

The major point of disagreement in the ceasefire negotiations seems likely to be the amount of time needed to enforce the ceasefire.

Both the British and the Salisbury team believe it should be a “matter of days rather than months”, while the PF remains adamant that is “a process and not an event” which could take up to three months.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

◆ More often than not, negotiations eventually come to a conclusion. The Lancaster House talks made a breakthrough after months of haggling.

◆ The breakthrough was a major

turning point in the talks, but it created further headaches as the parties disagreed on timelines for the ceasefire.

◆ An agreement does not necessarily result in immediate results or an end to hostilities. Even after agreeing to the proposal by the British, the Patriotic Front indicated that the war would continue until the ceasefire was in force.

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