RHODESIA: FARMERS IN NUANETSI REGION INCREASE SECURITY AS GUERILLA ATTACKS SPREAD.

Record ID: 646896

  • Title: RHODESIA: FARMERS IN NUANETSI REGION INCREASE SECURITY AS GUERILLA ATTACKS SPREAD.
  • Date: 27th April 1976
  • Summary: 1. AV, LV Ranch owner Robin Watson flying over his land in his aircraft (2 shots) 0.11 2. CU Armed young man in truck 0.16 3. SV Robin Watson out of aircraft 0.22 4. CU Spencer Watson carrying rifle and wearing a bullet belt; talking with his father beside two Africans mending machinery (3 shots) 0.38 5. LV PAN FROM Aircraft TO Spencer Watson talking with English worker outside his kraal 0.48 6. CU Spencer watson and English man examining their guns (2 shots) 1.03 7. CU PAN Rifle-carrying Spencer Watson watches as cattle pass through dip (5 shots) 1.34 8. GV PAN Ranch and garden 1.42 9. CU Robin Watson interviewed (5 shots) 2.46 WILSON: "Well, I think the standard of terrorists that we are getting at the moment is very, very low. And if that sort of thing keeps on coming in then we'll certainly be able to handle it - just with weaponry and keeping our heads and shooting straight." SULLIVAN: "What do you think about the idea of eh, the demand for majority-rule inside a year or two years?" WATSON: "I think it's absolutely ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous." SULLIVAN: "Why?" WATSON: "Well, there are a number of reasons. In the first place, they're not anywhere ready to do it. In the second place, they contribute nothing towards the national economy." SULLIVAN; "What about the black majority-rule that is being pushed (indistinct)?" WATSON: "Now those people are racists. People who are pushing black majority-rule are racists, in the true sense of the word." SULLIVAN: "Do you think you're going to have to fight for it?" WATSON: "We don't mind fighting for it. I hope we don't have to fight of it, naturally. But if we do have to fight, make no mistake, we'll fight. And we'll give a damn sight better than we get I think." ROBIN WATSON FLYING OVER HIS LAND IN AIRCRAFT: ARMED YOUNG WHITE MAN IN TRUCK: ROBIN WATSON LEAVING AIRCRAFT: SPENCER WATSON (SON OF ROBIN) WITH HIS FATHER AND TWO BLACK AFRICANS: SPENCER WATSON TALKING WITH WHITE ENGLISH WORKER: SPENCER WATSON AND ENGLISHMAN EXAMINING GUNS: SPENCER WATSON WATCHES CATTLE PASSING THROUGH CATTLE DIP: VIEW OF RANCH AND GARDEN: ROBIN WATSON BEING INTERVIEWED. Initials CL/2010 CL/2035 MICHAEL SULLIVAN Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 12th May 1976 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SOUTHERN RHODESIA
  • Country: Zimbabwe
  • Reuters ID: LVA4QRQ25YW6IXRLP5E3V9IHYC4N
  • Story Text: Following the increase in guerilla attacks in Rhodesia's Nuanetsi region, farmers there have been increasing their security.

    On 19 April, the South African tourists were shot dead on the Beitbridge road which passes through the Nuanetisi area in Southern Rhodesia. The stretch of road where the attack took place is still closed to normal traffic and a major manhunt for the attackers continues.

    The farmers of the southern regions are not as accustomed to the guerilla raids as those that farm along the Rhodesian border with Mozambique. Eastern border farms are surrounded by high wire fences and are in constant radio contact with the police.

    For the present, the Nuanetsi farmers must rely on their own resources to protect their land. They have guns and patrol their farms in small aircraft. But until the region is designated as an 'operation area' by the Rhodesian government, the farmers cannot count on the same security resources as the people along the Mozambique border.

    But farmers in the south are confident that they can deal with any Guerilla attacks. In an interview with British Broadcasting corporation reporter Michael Sullivan, one farmer, Robin Watson, gave his feelings on the subject.

    This film is serviced with the interview with Mr. Watson. A full transcript appears below.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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