Nuzn 1 9 7 0
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
o'T o'T bit to AVIAO ........... sn' -.' 4 Agt My 1 It, 'A" A7 "4 X", VW, WM tots tj O sl fti b to I Ili th Nrt We the pio I0a to the ~ fthe 7 &1,tat laity tt pnitY: IARE RESOLUTION The Constitution of the Zimbabwe African National Union approved at'the people's inaugural congress held at Gwelo on May 21-23,1964 states that one of the central objectives of the party is "to promote national consciousness and the unity of all the people"- In persuance of that policy in June 1964 a ZANU delegation led by the Secretary-General, Robert Mugabe, told the O.A.U. Reconciliation Committee in Lusaka that the Party stood firmly for the unity of the peo people of Zimbabwe and that it was willing to discuss with the rival ZAPU ways of reconciling our differences. This has remained the policy of the Party. It has been reflected in memoranda to the O.A.U., policy statements and directives to party organs and members. In keeping with this policy, Herbert Chitepo, National Chairman, made a clarion call for the unity of the Zimbabwe people in his Africa Day Speech in May,1970. That policy means first and foremost unity of the five million Zimbabwe people in a common struggle against a common enemy; secondly, unity behind a dedicated leadership and, thirdly, unity for the common purpose of liberating our country. ZANU is determined to strive for and achieve unity that meets these requirements. The main obstacle to unity between ZANU and ZAPU since 1964 Was the refusal of the ZAPU leadership to consider or even discuss the subject with us. However, early this year they ichanged their minds and approached ZANU. Herbert Chitepo had two meetings with the Acting President of ZAPU, James Chikerema, to determine whether or not a basis for the creation of a united movement exists. The two leaders explored all the issues that divide our movements and made substantial progress, (Continued on next page) XBABWE NEWS, DECEMBER, 1970. Pagc. rhey agreed without any reservations that the unity of their two revolutionary movements was absolutely necessary now as well as in the future in order to involve and mobilise all the people of Zimbabwe in a common struggle. The two leaders 3lan to cohtinue and conclude these negotiations and to involve their colleagues. Another obstacle that has emerged ind that has hampered progress towards unity is the division iithin the ranks of ZAPU. ZANU has expressed its strong lesire to unite will all elements in ZAPU, thereby uniting tll the people of Zimbabwe. rhile the negotiations about uniting the external sections ZANU and ZAPU were in progress, it was reported in the .ss early this month that our President and leader, Ndabagi Sithele, and the leader and President of ZAPU, Joshua mo, had communicated and agreed to unite the two movements o one Party under the leadership of Robert Mugabe. We are eavouring to get an authentic statement from Sithole in I or Mugabe in detention which will be communicated to all ty organs and members. You will appreciate the difficulty communicating with our leaders in jail or detention.However the press reports are accurate this development is compley in keeping with the policy of the party as laid down by leaders from time to time, and fits neatly into the pattern direction of our own thinking in Lusaka. We deplore the mature publicity given to any developments planned by our ders inside Zimbabwe. The conflicting statements emanating I ZAPU leaders in Lusaka have highlighted the division withthat party. We are told that they are seeking clarification some direction from Nkomo on this issue. (Continued on page 5) 3ABWE NEWS, DECEMBER, 1970. Page A 4. ZANU will continue to discuss unity with ZAPU and to search vigorously for the unity of the people of Zimbabwe with sincerk1 ty and seriousness of purpose. The commitment of the leaders anc followers of ZANU to this policy is of long standing and is base d on as thorough and objective an analysis as possible of the s situation facing our movement and the national interests of our people. It is our firm belief and knowledge that the five million people of Zimbabwe would welcome a successful effort to unit our fighting forces now, and to ensure the emergence of a united nation in future. 5. In the meartime all ZANU organs - branches, districts, provinces the military and administration - must continue to function norm, ally and to grow from strength to strength under the banner of their party, ZANU. The directives sent to all party organs last July stressed that party members and activists should continue with the task of recruiting new members, forming new branches an, explaining the policy of the party. The question of unity should be left to the headquarters alone. DARE RE CHIMURENGA(SUPREME COUNCIL), LUSAKA, DECEMBER 21,1970. support from kk President Kaunda yesterday said the government supported any move for unity between the liberation movements of Rhodesia, ZAPU and ZAL\ "d wished similar unity could be brought about in Angola and Mazamt iue. "We welcome those striving for unity because colonialists do not ant unity in liberation movements because they work through seing Oeople divided", President Kaunda said. (Zambia Daily Mail,Dec.14,lc, IMBABWE NEWS, DECEMBER, 1970. Page 5. Dar statement In view of the conflicting reports within ZAPU regardunity moves initiated in Salisbury by our leaders, the resentative office of the people of Zimbabwe in East ica(ZANU) wishes to make it clear that, not only do we firm the reports on Unity talks by our leaders, but are ilant over the long awaited decision by the two patriot sons(Sithole and Nkomo) of Zimbabwe. The continued- disunity among us was a thorn in the fleof Zimbabweans and of Africa as a whole. It slowed and kened our revolutionary armed struggle. It is only the son(s) who had plotted to perpetuate the split for peral gain who will be hurt by unity. Africa and the progressive world will surely join us in ing our unity a reality and thereafter join us in our ilation for victory; for UNITY is POWER and power begets TORY. A.H. MOMBESHORA (Chief Representative) Signed: Z.M. GAMANYA (Chief Information Officer.) es Sd.aam, December -13, :970. In Lusaka Herbert Chitepo, ZANU National Chairman issued following statement: "ZANU is pleased about the Unity ort from Salisbury. Preliminary inquirieg suggest that re are grounds for believing the report to be true, but await more details". ember l0th,1970. BABWE NEWS, DECEMBER, 1970 Page 6. enemy brags THE RHODESIAN FASCISTS CELEBRATED UDI LAST NOVEMBER 11 WITH A MASSIVE SHOW OF MILITARY "STRENGTH". THE DISPLAY WAS APPARET. LY AIMED AT INTIMIDATING THE AFRICAN POPULATION WHOSE OWN REVOLUTIONARY STRENGTH CANNOT BE FULLY MOBILISED UNLESS AND UNTIL THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE ARE UNITED. AND AS LONG AS WE ALLOW SOME OF OUR LEADERS IN LUSAKA TO CONTINUE HOLDING THE ZIMBABWE PEOPLE AT RANSOM OVER THE CRUCIAL ISSUE OF UNITY, THE ENEMY WILL CONSOLIDATE HIS FASCIST STRENGTH THERE WILL BE MORE U.D.I. CELEBRATIONS IN SALISBURY AND ONLY PROPAGANDA STUNTS FROM THE SAFE DISTANCE OF LUSAKA. ZIMBABWE NEWS, DECEMBER,1970 Page 7 COMMENTd own w ith 'Thoqe who stand in the way of Unity will be condemned by uture generations (of Zimbabweans) as the betrayers of the evolution of the peasants and workers" - Herbert Chitepo, 'frica Day Speech, May 29, 1970. t PLEASE TURN OVER NDABANINGI SITHOLE: Fiercely patriotic, le and Joshua Nkomo of ZAPU refuse to perpetuate split. Next April 28 marks the Fifth Anniversary of the launching )f armed struggle in Zimbabwe. It is a struggle in which many Of Zimbabwe's finest young men, members of both ZANU and ZAPU iave defied all hardships, daring to struggle and win victory fhe heroes of this struggle have come from the ranks of the 'road masses of Zimbabweans - James Dhlamini, Victor Mlambo Page 8. DECEMBER, 1970. 7,IMBABWE NEWS, livision ists i a and thousands of others whose names we may never know until our country is liberated and the heroism and gallantry of Zimbabwe's working class and peasantry are fully documented. But, as with any revolutionary armed struggle, the success of ours depends on a number of internal factors, the most crucial of which is the Unity of the masses. The Zimbabwe people has been hopelessly divided ever since the split of 1963. 'That split may have been justified at that time, but now that both ZANU and ZAPU have embraced armed struggle as the only road to liberation, there remains absolutely no intelligible reason for maintaining the futile division. The enemy, who is himself united, has been the sole beneficiary of our disunity and there is no reason why he should not continue to use all the means at his command - including the activities of certain divisive elements within us - to perpetuate the ZANU-ZAPU divi sion. For, unlike some of our so- .called leaders to whom history seems to teach nothing, the enemy is fully appreciative of Ue only major reason for his victory over our forefathers in the 1893-96 wars of colonial resistance. He knows he could not be loading oppression on us today were it not for the folly of our ancestors who, in the face of an external aggression backed by Superior organ isation and modern arms, remained disunited. Having learned his history lesson well, the enemy today spends sleepless nights plotting ways and means of keeping ZANU and ZAPU at loggerheads.