Reconciliation call

The Rhodesia Herald,

5 February 1979

THERE would be no peace in Rhodesia unless there was reconciliation with the externally based black leaders, the leader of ZUPO and a member of the Executive Council, Senator Chief Chirau, said in a statement yesterday.

Calling for an all-party conference which he said was still possible, Senator Chief Chirau challenged leaders in Rhodesia  to stop fooling people, but face the facts of life.

ZUPO is still convinced that it is possible to hold a roundtable conference with the external black leaders before the April election, in order to ensure that the April election will not be a waste of time and expense like that in South West Africa was.

ZUPO does not live on guesswork as to who will recognise us if a small percentage of our people took part in these elections.

He said people who had tried to guess in this way had been proved wrong.

Who can honestly know or speak the minds of the British and the Americans save they themselves? he asked and added without seeking reconciliation with the two externally-based black leaders, peace is not in sight.