ZIMBABWE

ZIMBABWE DEMOCRAT Vol. 2 No. 1 January 1979 ED IT OR I AL The escalating crisis faced by the Smith regime was illustrated as 1978 closed by a number of developments. On 11 December Patriotic Front guerillas blew up the biggest fuel depot in the country in Salisbury. Despite claims by the regime to the contrary, it is clear that this attack has been an extremely serieus setback. Informed sources in Salisbury suggest that nearly 500,000 barrels of fuel were destroyed in the fuel depot blaze. On 17 December Smith admitted in a television interview broadcast in Britain that his regime was losing the war. "We are not winning the war", he said, "but if we have to we will fight to the end. It will be bitter and a tragedy". A few days later the increasing crisis inside the regime was again revealed when Rollo Hayman, Joint Minister of Internal Affairs, resigned declaring that the so-called Transitional Government was bound to collapse in a few months. Smith responded by attacking Hayman for adopting a "defeatest attitude". This was a strange remark coming from the man who only a few days earlier had admitted that the regime was losing the war and whose only suggestion to the white electorate was that they should fight to the bitter end. Meanwhile the disputes inside the ranks of the regime have intensified, and the crisis which errupted in the September RF Congress has deeoened. At the centre of this crisis is the battle between the military commanders headed by , and the political leadership of the RF led by Smith. Even within the RF's political leadership rival groups have been manouvering behind the scenes in attempts to strengthen their own position, The regime is bankrupt politically. It is slowly falling to pieces. The RF can no longer offer anythingt, even to the white electorate, except a bloody battle to the finish. Smith even conceded this in his pathetic New Year broadcast. He had nothing positive or constructive to say and merely lapsed into a rambling tirade against the Western powers. In the course of admitting the military, political and economic disasters facing his regime Smith announced the imminent arrival of the proposed Constitution. Claiming that "ours is the only viable plan and it is a going concern" he declared that "it lacks only one important ingredient for complete success" - the backing of the West. Smith seems to have forgotten that only a constitution supported by the majority of the population has any chance of success. And quite clearly neither the Executive Council nor the new Constitution have any chance of winning majority support. When the Constitution appeared it was as expected, simply the same old rubbish dressed up a bit in a new outfit. It once more illustrated the determination of this regimeto cling to the reins of Dower even while the whole administration and apparatus of government crumbles: around them. In a statement issued in Lusaka the Patriotic Front said: "Viewed against the backgroundof the inevitability of victory by the liberation forces, the so-called constitution is a cruel waste of paper. The so-called Con-

2 r RwPtVJ ALPr.4 T en i.&OW FM W P UAp, MW amICrraTimMW 4lPMWO stitution further proves beyond doubt that the has completely dominated the black traitors during the course of the negotiations to produce this document". It has become increasingly clear that Muzorewa, iithole and Chirau cannot delivrr the goods. What little support they had has evaporated. They cannot end the war and neither can Smith. The Patriotic Front has made it clear that only the transfer of power to all the people of Zimbabwe will end the war, and that this objective can either be reached by negotiation or on the battlefield. Smith seems intent on forcing the outcome to be decided on the battlefield! But it is not the RP leadership which will be the cannon -fodder in this fu- "Purely for status purposes - how about a guerilla or two on our board of directors?" tile exercise. It is -those who are called-up by the regime whose lives will be lost to satisfy the regimes lunacy. On 19 December Joshua Nkomo issued an appeal to soldiers still fighting for Smith to look at the wri- M ting on the wall. We on 'Zimbabwe Democrat' echo this appeal, which we, have reproduced on page 7 of this issue, and we urge all those who are still fighting (and dying) for Smith to think seriously about the future. , Now is the time to abandon the crumbling regime and prepare for the future.

1009 R 3 views of the Patriotic Front WE ARE PREPARING TO RUN A COUNTRY Interview with Joshua Nkomo, June 1978. Reprinted from 'Zimbabwe: the final advance'. Q: How and why was the Patriotic Front formed? Nkemot The Patriotic Front came into being in October 1976 as a result of along series of contacts between ZAPU and ZANU. A number of us from both organizations who had previously worked together in ZAPU began to discuss bringing these two political entities together, and most important, uniting the armies. This was not the first time it had been tried, however. We had the experience of the Zimbabwe People's Army (ZIPA). We had the same motives there, to oromote the armed struggle as well as to bring the country together after liberation by bringing the two main political parties of Zimbabwe together now. This has always been the driving force behind our unity. After our release from prison we met and agAin stressed the need for unity in the armed struggle and for cohesion within Zimbabwe after independence. In Maputo in October 1976 we formalized our unity and informed the frontline-states. We made it clear that this was an alliance of two parties which would approach all political matters as one. We also realized it was necessary to move toward the creation of one army. -ut sev, ral of us also believe that before you can form a single army it is first necessary to have one political leadership. You can't have one army under two parties, with two leaders. Consequently, you can't talk of uniting the two armies without first uniting the two parties. We try to coordinate logistics whenever possible, and this increases the understanding of our militants. You can have a number of political parties within a free Zimbabwe but you certainly can't have two armies. ZAPU and ZANU must consolidate the p6litical leadership and activities of the Front if unity within the armies is to take root. Q: Would you say that unity in the Patriotic Front has been successful? Nkomo: On the political side unity has been very satisfactory, especially in our negotiations with the British and Americans. We have presented them with a single set of proposals. It was made clear that if tUPU and ZANU entered into elections in Zimbabwe, they would do so as a single unit. If the results were for the formation of a government by us, then it would be a government of the Patriotic Front. We have no doubt that we will indeed be the first government of Zimbabwe. Q: But the Americans and the British still try to divide you? Nkomot Yes, we were surprised to hear the remarks of some highranking officials in this country suggesting there would be a split. It should be very clear to everyone what their inten.. tions really are When they talk of "Nkomo dumping Mugabe". What futile nonsense. Q: Why do you think they picked you personally? Nkomo: I suppose they have chosen to put out these lies about me in order to bring about a calculated reaction in ZANU and then a corresponding reaction in ZAPU. They are desperate to split us and have decided that this is the best way to go about.it. Q: Is there any element in traditional ZAPU ranks that calls for joining the ? Nkomo: None at all. We are a highly disciplined party with a clear political direction, not a conglomerate of indiViduals. Q: What do you expect next on the part of the British-American bloc and their peace oroposals? Nkomo: The Anglo-American proposals are completely out of date. The socalled "All-Party Conference" is much the same. After having stood our ground and forced the Smith regime to its knees, we can hardly be extected now to sit down and resurrect them from the dead. There was a time when some of us, esspecially the leaders from independent Africa, felt that it was dangerous to let Yuzorewa, Sithole and those people run around with Smith. It was feared they just might pull it off and the Patriotic Front would find itself in a difficult situation. I have never shared this fear. In fact, I would have been upset if they had not come to an agreement with the Salisbury regime. I know our people, and I know these particular ones are nothing but opportunists. It worried me that if they didn't come out and onenly side with Smith, they would merely create confusion. Well, now we all see clearly that they were only trying to get positions of rank for themselves, in anybody's government. 0: The liberation forces are advancing their positions very rapidly. How much further do you think the regime will retreat before admitting failure? Nkomo: Smith's soldiers thought that with the signing of the internal agreement and the declaration of a cease-fire they would be back home soon. But now they are beginning to realize that this is not the case. The regime's forces were demoralized before. Now, each day they are discovering that they are fighting for a lost cause. This is becoming the attitude of the soldiers. If Muzorewa had not deceived them we might well be in Salisbury today, working alongside of them and not against them. Q: What position will these peoule be in after the war is over? Nkomo: They will just have to come to terms with the situation. They can't compete in the outside world; eleven or twelve years of isolation have left them far behind the rest of the world. They shouldn't expect to go anywhere else to make a living. The only place I see for them is to stay on with our young country and grow with it. Q: How are you "preparing for the situation after liberation has been achieved? Nkomo: We are preparing to run a country. We are preparing in every field, not just militarily. Some skills take years to acquire, but we are doing the best we can. We are urging men and wo- men to take up their responsibilities in various fields, especially administration. We tell these young people who come out of Zimbabwe that fighting is not just carrying a gun, they must also carry other weapons. The trains must be kept running, the airlines on the go, the mines must operate, agriculture must grow, our economy must continue to function. That is where our wealth comes from and we have an unlimited source of human material. We have large numbers of peonle training as technicians in those countries that are prepared to help us. t ioog, ABOUT ZIMBABWE DEMOCRAT Zimbabwe Democrat is produced by a group of young Zimbabweans in support of the struggle for liberation, social justice and peace. We aim to provide people in Zimbabwe with useful information which is suppressed by the regime, and to provide a forum for discussion on the crucial questions facing our country. Zimbabwe Democrat is financed by donations and we would like to appeal to all those who are able to help to send contributions to the address below. For your letters, articles and information write to: Mr P. Williams, 2 Stevenage Road, LONDON E6. Or: J. Drenton, 2 Stevenage Road, Eastham, LONDON E6. Divide and rule has failed! The following contribution was sent in to us by reader K.Z. In Zimbabwe today there is a war, a war for the liberation of a country in the hands of a minority whose system is set to uphold the privelege of a minority whilst the majority live under oppression and humiliation. Even the "internal agreement" cannot disguise the fact that it intends to uphold the supremacy of the Smith regime. The war is not against white people, as Joshua Nkomo president of ZAPU has said: "I must make it very clear that at no time have we ever said we are fighting a race. There is absolutely no question of fighting white people simply because they are white". In fact all Zimbabweans, irrespective of the colourof their skin, are called upon to join in the struggle for justice, for a society where all its members would be guaranteed their rights and equal opportunities. In order to maintain minority rule, Smith has used the 'divide and rule' tactic. Zimbabweans have been divided Up and accorded certain types of education, jobs, housing etc. simply because of their colour. Under the 1969 Constitution the Asian and Coloured communities had to be officially classified, along with whites, as "Europeans". This was simply to separate them from their black fellow countrymen. Despite this classification they have been brought up and have lived under a blanket of racism and intimidation. Being classified as "European" never entitled these communities to the priveleges of whites. Asians and Coloureds could have purchased and occupied land on the same terms as whites but various attempts were always made to prevent them from actually living in "European areas". Instead they have been clustered into prescribed areas like a dog to a kennel or a pig to a pen. Racist laws separate all Zimbabweans in Jobs, health, education, housing and other services. And the Asian and Coloured communities are no exception. I remember well how at Morgan High School we were Drevented from playing sport at other (white) schools so that we didn't-use white toilets. There are numerous discriminatory policies which have prevented the African, Asian and Coloured people from getting the same education and opportunities as whites. We have been engulfed by oppressive laws and left to poverty. The attempt at 'divide and rule' of Zimbabweans by Smith has failed. We are all Zimbabweans and we all need to get rid of the regime so that we can live a decent life. The Asian and Coloured communities are learning the truth of the situation. All Zimbabweans, including even some whites, are learning where their true interests are and are coming to play a role in the struggle for the liberation of Zimbabwe from Smith and his racist party. We dont want war but Smith is refusing to go. We want our freedom and a society that is free from any sort of racialism, intimidation and oppression. To get this society where we have real democracy and equality we have to rid ourselves of this Smith regime once and for all. We dont want halfway solutions or part-time solutions. Only then can we build the free and Deaceful Zimbabwe which will be a home for all Zimbabweans whatever their colour. 00K STOP THE WAR Dear Zimbabwe Democrat, Having read some copies of your paper I thought that my experience might be of some interest to your readers. From the earliest that I can remember I.was subjected, like all white Rhodesians, to a racist outlook. Schools were designed to mould us into machines which would perpetuate the racist society. Newspapers and the attitudes of adults did the same. This also suited their Durposes with the escalation of the war. Without questioning anything we were just expected to defend the 'Rhodesian way of life'. It all just seemed natural. In fact many people can't even believe that is a racist society because we have been persuaded that blacks are poor because they are stupid, whites are rich because they are clever, and that is just the way things are. I almost fell into this trap. But I was lucky enough to have an upbringing and a good enough education which encouraged me to think for myself and not just believe everything I was told. I began to realise that things weren't the way they were simply because of an accident. Rather they were created that way and maintained by laws and force, and by educating people in a certain way. Like every other white male I had to register at 16 and await my call-up. I wasn't 21 so I couldn't vote for the system but I was expected to fight for it. Although I didn't want to defend this system I couldn't avoid the appetite of Intake 153 and so in June 1976 I joined others thinking I would just do my stint and keep my head down. So began a life of cold eggs in an inch of grease on a cold winter morning, having just run around the Llewelyn airfield carrying a log; of being screamed at by power-mad and ignorant thugs shine parades and CB to satisfy the sadistic pleasures of RP's; four hours of bayonet training; miles of route marches; stripping and assembling a gat 100 times in a day. All of this so I could watch my mate catch an RPG 7 in the chest, in a war he didn't understand. After that, and after night ambushes, wet patrols Ond sitting, it seemed for ever, in a 4/5 waiting to hit a biscuit tin I decided it was enough. So I joined the "chicken run" and left my country. It's not easy to arrive in a strange country after living all your life in a backwater like Rhodesia. But I was surprised at how many others had reached the same decision as me. And people were prepared to help. In London the first thing that struck me was the lack of army trucks and people in camo. The whole atmosphere was less agressive, although London is very much alive. (Don't believe 's scare stories about violence, strikes and punk rockers!). For the first time I could read what I liked, see films that are banned in Rhodesia, and make up my own mind. I could compare different societies and understand things that didn't make sense at home. And I realised that there were alternatives to the 'Rhodesian way of life' and that people could change society. Some of you may think that the comfortable way of life you lead - sitting in the sun around the pool or going to Club Tomorrow to drown your sorrows during R and R - is due to the white man, who has bought civilisation to 'the zots'. But think where the wealth really comes from. We might be badly paid at less than 150 dollars for a 42 day bush trip. A black farm labourer would be lucky to earn that in a year' Somebody is getting long bucks in this deal. And you can bet they dont sweat for ten hours a day in the sun, every day, and they aren't out in the bush getting slotted. Sitting in comfort counting the profits, they are the ones who have causedtthe war. They have created racism to further their own ends. They want black Deople to be oppressed because it keeps wages low and profits high. And they teach us to be racists so that we will defend their system. Bt things are going to change. I Contd. on page 8, Col.2. M1O

WAR MOVES INTO CITIES The major development during 1978 in the escalation of . the war, has been the ability of guerrilla fighters to mount operations in the urban areas. According to news we have received, many attacks in urban areas are being concealed from the public. This is however not always possible, and instead when strategic or military targets are hit in Saliebweytrnder siege the cities and towns the regime reports them as attacks on civilian dwellings. Several attacks have been mounted by Patriotic Front guerrillas in Salisbury recently, on targets which have included warehouses holding arms for the puppet "private armies", an ammo dump and houses and recreation centres ( messes ) used by members of the Security Forces. RHODESIAN SOLDIERS THE DECISION IS YOURS - NKOMO On 19 December Joshua Nkomo, president of the ZAPU component of the Patriotic Front, issued a statement addressed specifically to soldiers serving in the regime's Armed Forces. Speaking from Lusaka the ZAPU president warned that the war was reaching a critical and decisive stage. The following were the comments he directed to Rhodesian soldiers: CONSIDER INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY THE ENERGIES YOU ARE EXPENDING ON A LOST CAUSE; CONSIDER THAT THE CAUSE IS NOT ONLY LOST BUT ALSO THAT IT IS UNJUST; CONSIDER THAT THE STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE AND HUMAN DIGNITY HAS ALWAYS TRIUMPHED AND WILL SURELY TRIUMPH IN ZIMBABWE; CONSIDER THAT YOU ARE BEING FORCED TO TAKE INNOCENT LIVES AGAINST WHOM YOU HAVE NOTHING PERSONALLY; CONSIDER THAT YOU HAVE MURDERED MANY INNOCENT LIVES ALREADY; CONSIDER THAT YOU HAVE BEEN FORCED TO DEVELOP A HATRED BY A CLASS WITH WHOM YOU SHARE NO COMMON CLASS INTERESTS; CONSIDER HOW MUCH GOOD YOU COULD CONTRIBUTE INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY TO THE BUILDING OF A JUST, HUMANE, NON-OPPRESSIVE AND NONEXPLOITATIVE SOCIETY IN ZIMBABWE. YOU MUST MAKE INDIVIDUAL DECISIONS NOW. THE FUTURE IS NOT ON THE SIDE FOR WHICH YOU ARE FIGHTING. ACCORDINGLY, WE IN THE PATRIOTIC FRONT TELL YOU NOW ABOUT THE INEVITABILITY OF SUCCESS IN OUR EFFORTS TO LIBERATE ZIMBABWE. THE GATHERING STORM SHOULD NOT ENGULF YOU FOR LACK OF ADVICE. THE DECISION IS YOURS. YOU EITHER CLING TO THE SELF-DESTRUCTIVE SMITH COLONIAL REGIME OR YOU LEAVE AND SUPPORT THE FORCES THAT ARE FIGHTING FOR EVERYBODY'S FUTURE AND PROGRESS.

NEWS ... in brief NKOMO NEW YEAR 4'ESSAGE In a New Year message to the people of Zimbabwe ZAPU president Joshua Nkomo pledged that in 1979, the United Nations International Year of the Child, everything would be done to secure for Zimbabwean children "a future free of massacres, murders, hunger, disease, ignorance, oppression and exploitation". The ZADU president condemned the Smith regime for the crimes it had committed against the people of Zimbabwe, especially the children, who had been hunted and killed inside Zimbabwe and then bombed when they fled for safety to Mocambique, and . Mr. Nkomo stressed that "the war will go on relentlessly' until the Smith regime had been removed. there will be no peace until the regime is defeated," he said. He pointed out that the Patriotic Front had "piled up an immressive list of people's victories against British settler colonialism" and that "in the dying days of 1978 we cut the main artery in the economic and military life of the Rhodesian regime. We h-ive disrupted the unproductive, exploitative leisure life of the settler colonialists". Calling on all the people of Zimbabwe to intensify their efforts to defeat the regime, Mr. Nkomo said thatt "No matter what sophisticated arms the Smith regime receives it cannot defeat a people's war. No just war has ever been defeated". STUDENTS RESIST CONSCRIPTION Despite the regimes clampdown on information about the call up of African youths, reports from Zimbabwe suggest that there is widespread opposition to the move. 100A 8 University, college and school students are reported to be leaving the country to join the Patriotic Front as a result of the attempted call-up. Other African youths have been arrested, and in some cases shot dead, for resisting the regimes plans. Many parents are reported to have advised their children to leave the country and join the Patriotic Front forces rather than serve in the regime army. Demonstrations and protests have been taking place throughout the country against the call-up. By the end of the first week of December over 1,000 Africans had been prosecuted for taking part in these protests. Sentences handed out have included imprisonment and/or whippings. WHITE EXODUS As the crisis in Rhodesia worsens the number of whites fleeing the country is rising sharplyt it has risen threefold in the last six months. A Rand Daily Mail report estimated that between 800 and 900 white Rhodesians were arriving in Britain alone each month. 1,800 people left the country in October and nearly 3,000 absconded in November. This was the highest figure to leave in any one month. Over 15,000 people are thought to have left-during 1978, but the real exodus is expected in the early months of 1979, whilst the December 1978 emigration figures are expected to show the largest increase so far. Many of those leaving are young men deserting from the army. Contd. from page 6, Col. 2. want to return home and I hope by writing this I will be of some help to those of you who are still being used as cannon fodder. The -sooner you realise that you are victims Just as much as black people, the sooner the war will be over. (Name and address withheld)