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CHAPTER VII CHAPTER VII (A/9023/Add.1) SOUTHERN RHODESIA CONTENTS A. CONSIDERATION BY THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE . .... * . B. DECISIONS OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE .. .. ... Paragraphs Page 1 - 20 2 21 - 23 6 Annex WORKING PAPER PREPARED BY THE SECRETARIAT ..... .............. 13 CHAPTER VII SOUTHERN RHODESIA A. CONSIDERATION BY THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE i. The Special Committee considered the question of Southern Rhodesia at its 906th to 911th meetings, between 5 and 27 April, at its 922nd meeting, on 25 June, and at its 946th meeting, on 28 August 1973. 2. In its consideration of this item, the Special Committee took into account the provisions of the relevant General Assembly resolutions, including in particular resolution 2908 (XXVII) of 2 November 1972, by paragraph 11 of which the General Assembly requested the Special Committee "to continue to seek suitable means for the immediate and full implementation of General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) and 2621 (XXV) in all Territories which have not yet attained independence and, in particular, to formulate specific proposals for the elimination of the remaining manifestations of colonialism and report thereon to the General Assembly at its twenty-eighth session". Further, the Special Committee took into account General Assembly resolutions 2945 (XXVII) and 2946 (XXVII) of 7 December 1972 relating to the Territory. The Special Committee also paid due regard to the relevant resolutions of the Security Council concerning Southern Rhodesia. 3. During its consideration of the item, the Special Committee had before it a working paper prepared by the Secretariat (see annex to the present chapter) containing information on action previously taken by the Special Committee, the General Assembly and the Security Council, as well as the latest developments in the Territory. The Committee also took into account: (a) the relevant recommendations of the International Conference of Experts for the Support of Victims of Colonialism and Apartheid in Southern Africa, held at Oslo from 9 to 14 April under the auspices of the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity (OAU) (A/9061); (b) statements made during the special meeting held by the Committee on 23 May 1973 (A/AC.109/PV.914) in observance of the 17zeek of Solidarity with the Colonial Peoples of Southern Africa and Guinea (Bissau) and Cape Verde Fighting for Freedom, Independence and Equal Rights; and (c) the resolution concerning Zimbabwe adopted by the Tenth Assembly of Heads of State and Government of OAU in May 1973. Further, the Committee took into account a cabled message dated 19 April 1973 from the Chairman of the OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government addressed to the Secretary- General (A/AC.109/PV.907). Petitions 4. In addition, the Special Committee had before it the following written petitions concerning Southern Rhodesia: (a) Letter dated 28 January 1973 from Mr. E. J. M. Zvobgo, Director of External Missions, African National Council of Zimbabwe (A/AC.lO9/PET.1236); -2- (b) Letter dated 24 September 1972 from Mr. Michael A. Mawema, National Organizing Secretary, African National Council of Zimbabwe (A/AC.109/PET.1246); (c) Cable dated 31 May 1973 from Canon L. John Collins, President, International Defence and Aid Fund (A/AC.lO9/PET.1248). 5. The Special Committee also had before it a written petition dated 9 February 1973 from Mr. Romesh Chandra, Secretary-General, World Peace Council, relating, inter alia, to Territories in southern Africa (A/AC.1O9/PET.1241). 6. At its 906th meeting, on 5 April, the Special Committee, by adopting the 178th report of the Sub-Committee on Petitions and Information (A/AC.1o9/L.850), decided to grant the request for hearing contained in the petition referred to in paragraph 4 (a) above. 7. At the same meeting, Mr. E. J. M. Zvobgo, Director of External Missions of the African National Council of Zimbabwe, made a statement and replied to a question put to him by the representative of the Ivory Coast (A/AC.109/PV.906 and Corr.l). Statements in connexion with the hearing were made by the Chairman and by the representatives of Tunisia and the Congo (A/AC.109/PV.906 and Corr.1). 8. At its 908th meeting, on 24 April, the Special Committee, by adopting the 179th report of the Sub-Committee on Petitions and Information (A/AC.I09/L.858), decided to request the Chairman of the Committee to convey to the administering Power its serious concern about the incidents reported in the petition referred to in paragraph h (b) above, and to inform the Committee of the results of the approach made to the administering Power. In a letter dated 25 April 1973, addressed to the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the United Nations, the Chairman requested comments or observations which the United Kingdom Government might wish to make concerning the information contained in the petition. No reply has been received to date. Participation of the national liberation movements 9. In accordance with a decision taken at its previous session, and subsequently approved by the General Assembly, the Special Committee, in consultation with OAU, invited the representatives of the national liberation movements of Zimbabwe, namely, the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZATNU) and the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), to participate in an observer capacity in its cunsideration of the item. 10. Accordingly, during the consideration of the item, the two movements were represented, as follows: Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU): Mr. S. V. Mtambanengwe, Secretary for Political Affairs Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU): Mr. T. George Silundika, Secretary for Publicity and Infori.,ation M:,r. itambanengwe and 11r. Silundika made statements at the 907th meeting, on 23 April (A/AC.109/PV.907) At the same meeting, Mr. Silundika replied to a question by the representative of Venezuela (A/AC.109/PV.907) and, at the 910th meeting, on 26 April, made a statement concerning the draft resolution referred to in paragraph 13 below (A/AC.109/PV.910). At the 911th meeting, on 27 April, Mr. Mtambanenlwe made a statement on behalf of both ZAPU and his own organization (A/AC.109/PV.911 and Corr.1). General debate 11. The Special Committee held the general debate on the item at its 906th to 909th meetings, between 5 and 25 April. Statements in the general debate were made by the representatives of the United Republic of Tanzania at the 906th meeting (A/AC.lo9/PV.906 and Corr.l); Trinidad and Tobago, China, Indonesia and India at the 907th meeting (A/AC.l09/PV.907); Chile and Iran at the 908th meeting (A/AC.109/PV.908); and by Mali, Australia, Sweden, the Congo, Yugoslavia, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Venezuela, Ethiopia and Afghanistan at the 909th meeting (A/AC.109/PV.909 and Corr.l). Draft resolutions 12. At the 910th meeting, on 26 April, the representatives of Sierra Leone and Trinidad and Tobago introduced a draft resolution on the item (A/AC.109/L.860), sponsored by Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Iraq, the Ivory Coast, Mali, Sierra Leone, the Syrian Arab Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, the United Republic of Tanzania and Yugoslavia. 13. At the same meeting, the representatives of Iraq and Ethiopia introduced a draft resolution relating to specific aspects of the question (A/AC.109/L.861), sponsored by Afghanistan, the Congo, Ethiopia, Iraq, Mali, Sierra Leone, the Syrian Arab Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Republic of Tanzania and Yugoslavia. In his introductory statement on behalf of the sponsors, the representative of Iraq indicated that the following changes should be incorporated in the draft resolution: (a) In the sixth preambular paragraph, replace the words "by such devious means" by the words "by any means'; (b) In operative paragraph 1, delete the words "refusal and"; (c) Replace operative paragraph 6 by the following: "6. Calls upon all Governments to refrain from taking any action which might confer a semblance of legitimacy on the illegal racist minority regime and to discontinue any collaboration with those activities which are designed to that effect"; (d) Delete operative paragraph 8 and, as a consequence, renumber operative paragraphs 9, 10 and 11, as paragraphs 8, 9 and 10. Statements in that connexion were made by the representatives of India ?,nd Iraq, as well as by the representative of ZAPU (A/AC.1O9/PV.910). 14. At the 911th meeting, on 27 April, the representative of Sierra Leone informed the Special Committee that Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia had become sponsors of the draft resolution referred to in paragraph 12 above (A/AC.109/L.860). The same representative- also submitted, on behalf of the sponsors, an oral revision to the draft resolution by which, in the tenth preambular paragraph, the words "and refusal" were deleted. 15. At the same meeting, the representative of Iraq informed the Special Committee that Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia had become sponsors of the revised draft resolution referred to in paragraph 13 above. The same representative, on behalf of the sponsors, announced that a further change had Leen made in the revised text of the draft resolution (A/AC.l0 /L.851/Rev.l), by which onerative paragraph 6 was replaced by the following: 6. Calls upon all Governments to refrain from taking any action which might confer a semblance of legitimacy on the illegal racist minority re gime 16. At the same meeting, the Special Committee took decisions as follows: (a) The draft resolution contained in document A/AC.109/L.860, as orally revised (see paragraph 14 above), was adopted without objection (see paragraph 21 below). (b) The revised draft resolution contained in document A/AC.109/L.861/Rev.l was adopted by 22 votes to none, with 1 abstention (see paragraph 22 below).