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The Herald, September 9, 1979
ROBERT Mugabe wants private talks with Britain’s Foreign secretary, Lord Carrington, before next week’s Zimbabwe Rhodesia constitutional conference, to see if Britain is “serious” about negotiating “genuine independence”.
The co-leader of the Patriotic Front told a Press conference at the Non-Aligned Summit in the Cuban capital Havana yesterday that he was aware “the views of the Conservative Government are in support of the internal regime” in Zimbabwe Rhodesia.
His primary reason for going to London, he said, was to assess the attitude of the British Government, initially in private consultations.
“Once we are satisfied that the British Government is proceeding with all seriousness we will go on,” he said.
The key issue was the independence constitution. Only after that was settled would he discuss the forms of transition with Britain.
Mr Mugabe has now arrived in London for the talks and our bureau reports he said he has no intention of dealing with Bishop Muzorewa. “We are negotiating with Britain — not Muzorewa,” he said on his arrival.
Our news service in Lusaka writes that ZAPU claims it is going to the London talks “to open a new front to the war”. A spokesman said, “We will talk to the enemy; the new front may be short-lived and it does not mean abandoning the military front. The war will continue.”
The spokesperson said ZAPU regarded the talks as a trick to persuade the Patriotic Front to participate in the Muzorewa Government. He said the Front was “always optimistic” about a solution in Zimbabwe Rhodesia but “optimism does not suggest immediate achievement”.
The danger of Russian influence exerted through Mozambique’s President Machel on the outcome of the conference, has been conceded by British officials as preparations for the talks, as they enter the final phase, Iana reports from London.
President Machel, has at no time publicly declared his support for the new peace initiative being mounted by Britain. British officials have been buoyed by support from black Commonwealth states, but acknowledge President Machel’s powerful position in the Zimbabwe Rhodesia conflict.
The British Government is known to be studying recent reports that East German military advisers are now stationed in Mozambique.
In Moscow’s only comment on the British peace initiative, the Russian Communist Party newspaper, Pravda criticised black Commonwealth states for going along with the plan and asserted that the chances of a successful outcome were slim.
British officials make no secret of the fact they are looking to three Commonwealth states in the group, Tanzania, Zambia and Botswana to secure the backing of their two frontline partners for the latest initiative.
“But we cannot ignore the strategic importance of Mozambique in the Rhodesian war,” said one senior official.
The officials believe President Kaunda would like to see an early end to the Zimbabwe Rhodesian conflict to ease the burden on his country’s ailing economy.
President Nyerere set the tone when he told the conference the movement existed to defend the right of small countries to stay outside the power blocs.
In a pointed reference to the Cuban view that Moscow is the “natural ally” of the Non-Aligned countries, the Tanzanian leader said: “An English cynic once said that a State has no permanent friends or permanent enemies. It has only permanent interests…”
Lessons For Today
September 6, was the second anniversary of the passing on of the nation’s founding father President Robert Gabriel Mugabe. He was 95.
September 10 also marks the 42nd anniversary of the beginning of the Lancaster House Conference in London, chaired by Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary Lord Carrington. The Constitution therefrom, has since been replaced by the 2013 Constitution.
President Mugabe was a nationalist, revolutionary par excellence, Pan- Africanist and a man who was not afraid to speak his mind. His thought processes shaped modern day Zimbabwe. He will continue to be a force to reckon with in Zimbabwe, the region and the continent, as historians now take time to objectively research and write on his impact in the liberation movement narrative and the post-colonial state.
It was important for him to see Lord Carrington because Western powers could not be trusted, especially when they would have branded you an enemy. Their divide and rule tactics were to be nipped in the bud.
The Lancaster House Conference was a follow-up to both the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government Meeting in Lusaka in August 1979, and the Non-Aligned Summit held in Cuba.
Just like today, there were many nations and interests in the Zimbabwe issue, especially superpowers and the Frontline States. The more reason why the Second Republic has embarked on engagement and re-engagement to accommodate the interests of those who so wish, in a win-win situation.
Online Reporter