RHODESIA: BISHOP ABEL MUZOREWA ADDRESSES RALLY IN BULAWAYO TO BEGIN HIS ONE-MAN, ONE-VOTE CAMPAIGN.

Record ID: 215702

  • Title: RHODESIA: BISHOP ABEL MUZOREWA ADDRESSES RALLY IN BULAWAYO TO BEGIN HIS ONE-MAN, ONE-VOTE CAMPAIGN.
  • Date: 6th June 1978
  • Summary: 1. SV Dancers singing and chanting in Barbourfields Stadium, (2 shots) 0.14 2. GV Bishop Muzorewa's car arriving in stadium, out of car and onto dais (2 shots) 0.32 3. GV Large crowd cheering as Bishop Muzorewa appears on rostrum 0.38 4. SV Bishop Muzorewa waving to crowds 0.42 5. SV Crowd responding to Bishop's chant (3 shots) 0.51
  • Embargoed: 21st June 1978 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BULAWAYO, RHODESIA
  • Country: Zimbabwe
  • Reuters ID: LVA11MF3RFY5HCYJO3Z08UG23XTX
  • Story Text: Bishop Abel Muzorewa, a leading member of Rhodesia's transitional government, launched a campaign for one-man. one-vote elections at a mass rally in the Ndebele district of Saturday (3 June). It took place in the heartland of his political rival and leader of ZAPU (Zimbabwe African People's Union) Joshua Nkomo.

    SYNOPSIS: Crowds estimated at about 25,000 came to Barbourfields Stadium. About half of them came by bus and train from Salisbury, 300 miles (480 kilometres) away. Officials said they came to give moral support to local UANC supporters. Bishop Muzorewa's arrival drew roars of approval. Police had feared an explosion of inter-party violence as the Bishop's supporters, mainly of the Bishop's own Shona tribe, flooded into the Ndbele stronghold of Mr. Nkomo. But, the three-hour rally passed peacefully, under the eyes of armed white and black riot police.

    The UANC leader greeted the crowds with a black power salute and led them in chants, calling for an end to tribalism, minority rule, imposed leadership, and oppression.

    In an hour long speech, Bishop Muzorewa attacked Mr. Nkomo and his co-leader of the Patriotic Front, Robert Mugabe. He accused Zambia and Mozambique of killing and imprisoning his supporters, and demanded an end to racial discrimination in Rhodesia. He also told the meeting that intelligence sources uncovered a plot by three people at the University of Rhodesia, to kill leaders of certain parties. He called for active support from UANC members in an effort to win every seat in Parliament in the coming elections.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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