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The Herald, 31 July, 1981
PRESIDENT Banana believes it will be much easier to implement policies in a one-party state — the ideal system for Zimbabwe.
“How you arrive at that one-party is, of course, a matter of mechanics,” the President said in an interview with the BBC Focus on Africa programme by Julian Marshall.
Mr Marshall asked whether the white community had been alarmed by Africanisation programmes and the general redistribution of wealth and land.
The President replied: “It’s not really a question of alarming anybody. It’s more a question of satisfying the aspirations of the broad masses of our people. When I say our people, I mean all our people, black and white.
“I don’t think we could be held to ransom just because we must satisfy the aspirations of a few whites. I believe that the majority of the white population have reconciled themselves to change. However, there is a handful of a minority who — as a result, I think, of the irresponsible actions of the Republican Front — might not be ready to reconcile themselves to the new social order.
“So, for as long as the white leadership under Smith is acting irresponsibly, there will continue to be that small group of people who will not reconcile themselves to the new circumstances.”
Of extremists within African political ranks, President Banana said there were a few reactionaries, but they were not of any significance.
“The broad masses of the people are satisfied with the pace and the manner in which the Government has handled the public affairs of the country. And those are the people we must worry about.
“They are the people who elected the present Government into power. I don’t think we will worry about certain individuals who might have fallen out with the party and Government.”
The President, who arrived in London on Monday morning for the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana, said he had been impressed by the organisation of the wedding and the response of the British people to it.
Online Reporter