large part engineered by the munoeuvrings of South Africa.
Up until Apni of this year white supremacy in Africa was supported ca. Rhodesia and Portuguese colonialism. Together these three partners DEADLOCK controlled the bulk of Southern Afr Ican territory and had at their disposal sufficient economic resources, to spit in the eye of the black Afri can states and international economic sanctions.
SNAG The snag has always been the growing guerilla war that the Portaguese faced in 'their" territories. This particular chicken finally came home to roost when the Portuguese dictatorship was overthrown in April of this year, The former Portuguese colonies then began to move towards independence and the whole system of white racist security was on for grabs.
Worst off was Rhodesia, where some 250,000 whites lord it over 5.Smillion blacks. Moreover Rhodesin is ringed by black African states Conly a small part of its border is shared with South Africa), and is dependent on the rallways and ports of Mozamhique to get its main products onto the world market. Rhod esia has also had to contend with at least the beginnings of guerilia warfare within its borders.
South Africa was much more secure, but could see which way the wind was blowing. South Africa's Prime Minister Vorster hopes to permade the black African states of southern Africa that his regime is "apocial case" and cannot be treated ike the other white racist regimes.
ut to do this he has to first sort ut the ordinary cases of white -like Rhodesin.
it was as part of this strategy that onter set up talks between the wth Government and the heads of the black stätes of Zambin, Tanania and Botswana. Rhodesia knows at i must depend on South Afri i military and economic support African army has about as many odiers in Rhodesia as the Rhod To help get the ball rolling Smith agreed to temporarily release the mprisoned leaders of the Zimbabwe ZANU group. African National Union and the Zimbabwe Alrican People's Union (ZANU & ZAPU -Zimbabwe is the A FEW MONTHS AGO THE WHITE RACIST REGIMES OF SOUTHERN Africa were still arrogantly announcing to the world that they would never talk to black nationalist leaders and that white rule had never been so solid.
But now they are singing a different tune, as is shown in the recent agrcement between lan Smith of Rhodesia and the leaders of the main political organisations which represent Rhodesia's black majority, This agreement is not pat a result of the serious problems that face white Rhodesia, but was in nationalists" name for their country) by a three-way alliance: South Afri so that they could be present while the talks were taking place.
Smith laid down two conditions before he would discuss directly with the Zimbabwe nationalist leaders: and the necessury transport network that Terrorism" should cease; and that Rhodesia's civilised standards must be maintained. In the double talk of white racism this meant that querilla warfare must be called off and that there could be no question of allowing the same rights as whites.
The nationalist leaders then stated their demand that any talks should be hased on acceptance by the Smith Government of the principle of majority rule. Smith rejected this and the talks broke down.
In the next few days tremendous sides. Vorster tried to whip Smith insisted that the Zimhabwe national ists had to make concessions. It 1s virtually certain that the right-wing Zambian Government told the nato marvive fat the moment the South tonalists in no uncertain terms that they would withdraw support from guerilia operations. More disturbing an army itself, and so went along-however, are reports that the FRELIMO Government in Mozambique took a similar line with the militant ZANU is the force behind the most importance puerilla front in Rhodesia, based in the "tribal trust" White luxury and African poverty. These are the 'standards of civilisation land of the north-cast which have been allocated to the blacks, This operation is heavily dependent on their ability to move men and sup three days after the collapse of La constitutionar conterence involving black and white Rhodesian rep pressure was brought to bear on both resentatives would he held "without into line, and the black Governmenis for a ceasefire in the guerilla oper Nations Smith would release Imprisoned nationalist leaders and their followers.
PUT OFF more than an agreement to disag ree. Neither side had budged on the question of their attitude tow ards majority rule put off the showdown.
settlement is quite a bargain. It not only allows him to patch up relations with South Africa, but also plies across the Mozambique border.
In any event, on 11 December talks- an aureement was announced:
any preconditions; and in exchangs Basically this agreement was no -they had just From Smith's point of view the delivers a pledge that the nationalists will call off guerilla activities.
All he has to grant in exchange is the release of imprisoned nationalists, and a certain toleration of their political campaigning among the black population.
The nationalists, on the other hand, have come off badly, IL is not yel clear whether a deal will involve simply a ceasefire, or whe ther guerilla operations will actually he wound up altogether. Smith will certainly push for the latter and will try to use the pause to streng then his military position in the north-cast region. It would certainly of forces including both South Ai he difficult to have guerilla forces doing nothing but sitting on their guns for months on end.
It seeins impossible that the promised constitutional conference can result in anything but another deadlock, The nationalists are fimly committed to immediate equality of of Zimbabwe and all of Southern representation in Parliament between Africa to reject all compromises an blacks and whites and a clear timetable for majority rule. Smith revcaled the whites attitude in a TV statement on 11 December when rule had never entered my head and I don't believe they ever will." He added, ...if we ever got to a stage of having black rule then our policy would have failed."
The coming months are unlikely to bring a settlement in Rhodesia Hut they will almost cerlainly bring a massive explovion from the coun try's black population. Their hopes of cading the ruthless system of white privileged domination will be revived hy the agreement and the agitation of the nationalist groups enly to he dashed once again. At the same time there will be all sorts fica and several of the black states -trying to engineer a sell-out of the back liheration struggle It is urgent that the workers movement around the world begin to organise the sort of solidaricy that will encourage the black peoph to go on to the offensive against all the manoeuvres of white racism and imperiatisma. The decision of the delegates to the recent conference Mozambique, Angola and Guine (CFMAG) to start a campaign in thi emn Africa liberation struggle must be translated into action immediat-