admin
The Herald, October 24, 1979
LONDON. – British Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington expects a “rough ride” today from both the Government and Patriotic Front delegations at Zimbabwe Rhodesia peace talks here over his proposals for the transition to recognised independence.
“But we believe our plan is the only practical one for the transition period, and that it forms the best basis for a situation where no one side enjoys an advantage over the other,” a British source said yesterday, reports Iana.
Yesterday the Government and the Patriotic Front were preparing their replies to the British proposals, for the run-up to new elections and the implementation of the constitution already agreed at the conference.
The plan envisages a British Governor with wide powers to rule Zimbabwe Rhodesia in the interim period.
Conference sources said it was expected that Lord Carrington would call a plenary session today when both sides would be asked to give their responses to the proposals.
The plan has fuelled PF suspicions that Lord Carrington is tilting towards Bishop Muzorewa on the crucial issue of who controls the guns during the run-up to elections.
Under the plan, the present armed forces and Police would be retained and take their orders from the British Governor.
A senior PF official said: “Elections cannot be termed free and fair when you allow one side to blatantly hold the guns”.
Britain plans to back up its governor with a team of top British military and police officers and administrators.
The former head of Scotland Yard, Sir Robert Mark, is one name being mentioned in diplomatic circles.
The British Government said yesterday it was ready to help, within the limits of its resources, to provide technical and capital aid towards, “a carefully prepared programme for agricultural development and land settlement in the future Zimbabwe”.
In a written parliamentary reply, the Deputy Foreign Secretary, Sir Ian Gilmour, said: “The details of any programme and of our contribution would be for discussion with the independent government.”
Zimbabwe Rhodesian farming leaders held talks here yesterday with Foreign Office officials.
A Herald reporter writes that Commercial Farmers Union has welcomed a statement by the Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Silas Mundawarara, that the Government was determined to ensure that present levels of farm production were not disturbed, and its recognition that these levels were of the greatest importance to the economy of the country as a whole.
The vice president of the CFU, Mr David Spain, also welcomed Dr Mundawarara’s statement that re-settlement plans for peasant farmers were well in hand.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
- It is essential not to show favouritism, when dealing with competing parties, but to take the middle of the road approach as the British did by proposing a transitional period during which power would be vested in their Governor.
- The British were very cunning. They wanted to negotiate a settlement while ensuring that their kith and kin were not disenfranchised, especially on land.
Online Reporter