SWITZERLAND: RHODESIAN NATIONALIST LEADERS SITHOLE AND NKOMO WELCOME BRITISH GOVERNMENT DECISION TO PLAY BIGGER ROLE IN MOVES TOWARD MAJORITY RULE.
Record ID:
647222
SWITZERLAND: RHODESIAN NATIONALIST LEADERS SITHOLE AND NKOMO WELCOME BRITISH GOVERNMENT DECISION TO PLAY BIGGER ROLE IN MOVES TOWARD MAJORITY RULE.
- Title: SWITZERLAND: RHODESIAN NATIONALIST LEADERS SITHOLE AND NKOMO WELCOME BRITISH GOVERNMENT DECISION TO PLAY BIGGER ROLE IN MOVES TOWARD MAJORITY RULE.
- Date: 13th December 1976
- Summary: 1. GV British chairman of Rhodesian conference, Ivor Richard, arriving and entering building in Geneva, Switzerland 0.14 2. GV Rhodesian nationalist leader Ndabaningi Sithole out of car and entering building 0.34 3. SCU INT Sithole at microphone addressing newsmen 1.25 4. SV Rhodesian nationalist leader Joshua Nkomo walking to microphone at news conference 1.21 5. SV Nkomo addressing news conference 2.22 TRANSCRIPT: SITHOLE: "I mean...there is a growing appreciation of the necessity of a British presence in Zimbabwe during the interim period. We think that is a real achievement. I think it can be said with all fairness that while almost all the delegations have hot shifted their positions, I think the U.K. has shifted its position to something that is more positive in that now if Britain actually assumes a well defined role, the conference should move forward more systematically than it has done before." REPORTER: "What about the British presence -- military presence -- are you still demanding that?" NKOMO: "The British military presence did you say? No, we don't want that. We have got sufficient forces of our own to keep law and order. Britain can be present and we have said Britain should give ...take part in the decolonisation process by sending resident commissioner there with certain powers and of course and her working with the Council of Ministers. He will naturally be a formal figure but with the power to get things done as far as the British side is concerned." Initials BB/0300 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 28th December 1976 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- Country: Switzerland
- Reuters ID: LVA6530LTFY5YEEU6EFGC3EG5LVQ
- Story Text: The Rhodesian nationalist leaders, the Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole and Mr. Joshua Nkomo, have both welcomed the British Government decision to play a bigger role in moves toward majority rule for Rhodesia. The two men gave their views to reporters in Geneva after another round of talks with the British conference chairman, Mr. Ivor Richard.
SYNOPSIS: Mr. Richard saw the leaders of the nationalist delegations on Monday (13 December). They's all been calling on Britain to take a leading role in the transition period to majority rule. The Rhodesian Prime Minister, Mr. Ian Smith, has stated that he does not like the idea of a British presence in Salisbury. However, this is a view not shared by Mr. Sithole:
One idea is for a British resident commissioner in Salisbury--a suggestion condemned by Mr. Smith but welcomed by Mr. Nkomo.
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