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The Herald, November 18, 1979 

LONDON. — The commanders of the two warring sides in the Zimbabwe Rhodesian conflict are expected to meet face-to-face for the first time today, when the peace talks get down to detailed discussion on ceasefire arrangements.

The commanders studied Britain’s 10-point cease fire plan over the weekend and had behind-the-scenes talks with British officials, Iana reports.

The British Foreign Secretary, Lord Carrington, is reported by aides to be trying to push through an overall settlement within a week.

But, the arrangements so far by Zimbabwe Rhodesian Government and terrorist leaders on a new constitution and the transition to legal independence could still be endangered by the last hurdle of the ceasefire.

Much will depend on what are expected to be largely technical discussions over the next few days between Zimbabwe Rhodesia’s supreme military commander, Lieutenant General Peter Walls, and the commanders of the two insurgent armies fighting under the banner of the Patriotic Front.

The best known of the terrorist commanders, is General Josiah Tongogara, who heads Mr Robert Mugabe’s Mozambique based ZANLA forces.

When Lord Carrington presented the two sides with the British proposals last Friday, he made an appeal for an early ceasefire now that political differences had been settled.

The progress at the London peace talks on Zimbabwe Rhodesia had “rubbed off” on United Nations and Western diplomats said in Geneva. The diplomats said yesterday, the key to success in both situations was the attitude of the black Frontline States, and these States had for various reasons lately shown increased support for peace efforts.

Commonwealth observers have been invited to Zimbabwe Rhodesia for the elections to ensure the international acceptability of the poll, and British aircraft and vehicles are expected to be used to ferry the 600-strong monitoring force around the country.

British sources said it was envisaged that at least a squadron of helicopters and several Hercules transport aircraft with lorries and Land Rovers aboard would be sent to Salisbury.

Meanwhile, Lord Soames, Conservative peer and Leader of the House of Lords, is said to have been offered the post of governor.

London Sunday newspaper reports said his number two was likely to be Sir Antony Duff, a senior Foreign Office official with long experience of the Zimbabwe Rhodesia issue.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

• In his most famous quote, Ian Smith declared: “Let me say it again. I don’t believe in black majority rule ever in Rhodesia – not in a thousand years. I repeat that I believe in blacks and whites working together. If one day it is white and the next day it is black, I believe we have failed and it will be a disaster for Rhodesia.”
• But like a deck of cards, Smith saw his declaration crumble before his very eyes, as the British and nationalists watched.
• The Rhodesian general had no option but to meet with an arch-enemy, he had called “terrorist” for nearly two decades, in order to map the way forward.
• Unfortunately, Cde Tongogara never lived to see the implementation of ceasefire, as he died in a car crash on December 26, 1979.
• President Mnangagwa as Minister of State Security in the Prime Minister’s office was also the chairman of Joint Operations Command. JOC’s responsibility was to unite the previously warring parties into a combined force.
• Today, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, is a force to reckon with – nationally, regionally and internationally.