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The Herald, October 8, 1979

ON the eve of crucial “make or break” talks, the Zimbabwe Rhodesian peace conference yesterday, looked to be in serious danger of collapse with Mr Ian Smith and the Patriotic Front both declaring their opposition to Britain’s draft constitution for the war-torn nation.

As the conference goes into its fifth week today, Mr Smith has moved back to centre stage with his warning in Salisbury yesterday that the British plan would not be approved by the Zimbabwe Rhodesian Parliament, where the Rhodesian Front has the power to block legislation.

“The outlook at this stage appears rather grim and unless both sides are prepared to compromise, there can be no agreement,” said a British official.

The British Foreign Secretary, Lord Carrington, has set today as the day for a verdict on the British plan, reports Iana.

Bishop Muzorewa has already announced his acceptance of the draft constitution, but observers believe Mr Smith’s remarks could undermine his position.

Aides of the Bishop said yesterday that the bishop was “disturbed” by Mr Smith’s comments, but was awaiting a full report from Salisbury before reacting.

“It is tragic if Mr Smith is up to his old tricks, because we are trying here in London to sort out the mess he created in our country,” said one aide. 

Mr Smith has cut a lonely figure at the London conference, voting against his colleagues over acceptance of the British plan which would strip the white minority of their parliamentary veto and other administrative powers.

But observers believe his views cannot be ignored as he has received the support of his Rhodesian Front parliamentary caucus for his stand at the conference.

A British source said it would be up to Bishop Muzorewa to demonstrate that he had the power to give effect to his acceptance of the British plan in the face of Mr Smith’s opposition.

“Mr Smith’s remarks have underlined what we have been saying about the present Rhodesian constitution being defective in that the whites still control the running of the country,” said the source. 

Mr Smith has said that since the internal settlement, he has handed over to a black Prime Minister and no longer pulls the strings, but his remarks yesterday show quite clearly that he does have the power to pull the strings.

To break any white veto attempt, Bishop Muzorewa would need the support of at least six white parliamentarians. 

Mr Joshua Nkomo and Mr Robert Mugabe met over the weekend with their aides to formulate their response to the British plan which a spokesperson said would be “neither a yes or no”.

The spokesperson Mr Eddison Zvobgo of Mr Mugabe’s wing of the Patriotic Front added: “To say we will accept the constitution is wishful thinking. We will not be dictated to and accept ultimatums. We want to go on negotiating until we resolve our differences,” he said. 

LESSONS FOR TODAY 

 The making of Zimbabwe is very interesting and painful. People fought and died for the country. In fact some of them were maimed for life.

 Despite the showdown at the London conference, reason eventually prevailed as all parties signed the Lancaster House Agreement on December 21, 1979 and elections were held in 1980.

 Like a fly on the wall, we can guess that the Patriotic Front’s main bone of contention was the land, while the whites, represented by Ian Smith wanted the  land issue to be a non-issue, and they were also bargaining for the 20 seats, that they thought will be a permanent.

Although the “willing seller, willing buyer” concept sounded like the best way blacks would acquire land, very few black people had the money to buy back what originally belonged to them.