White rats desert as stooges move in

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will next month be installed as Prime Minister Prime Minister of "Rhodesia-Zimbabwe"

His victory in the "elections" organised under the internal settlement gives him 51% of the 100 seats in the assembly and " 10 of the cabinet seats.

As we pointed out in SP 147 the large turnout was secured through intimidationa British observer, Lord Chitnis, claimed that Rhodesian troops and white employers had pressurised many blacks to vote in order to prove to the world that the election was popular.

"The one factor that should not be taken into account is that this was a fair and free election. It wasn't; it was a fraud"

As was to be expected the "elections" were no sooner over than the thieves began to fall out.

Ndabaningi Sithole, whose "ZANU" won only 12 seats (and thus 2 cabinet places)obviously realising his weakened position-accused the authorities of "irregularities".

He threatened to boycott both the assembly and cabinet unless an independent inquiry was set up.

Sithole's appeal for such an inquiry has been brush ed aside and we can expect him to manoeuvre further months to come.

Another member of the transitional government Chief Jeremiah Chirau, whose party won no seats at all, had the nerve to call for the continuation of the so-called transitional government until the war against the Patriotic Front was won.

Despite the obvious fraud involved in the election, however, it has been an important temporary success tor the beleaguered Smith regime.

The establishment of regime with the appearance of some degree of popular approval will strengthen Smith's demands for international recognition.

This would be an important weapon in his campaign to split 'the Patriotic Front or better still to convince it of the need to come to an agreement.

That said, Smith's still running out.

While departures from the country reached 1,555 in March -a 300% increase over the March 1978 figure.

9,000 whites have now left over the last six months (nearly 5% of the total white population).

As they leave, the backbone of the security forces is steadily weakened.

The imperialist response the election has been expected.

In the USA Carter, who is at present opposing moves in Congress to drop economic sanctions, is reported as saying that he wouldn't give a definite judgement until the government was actually formed but that it was a 'step in the right direction' 'Black' imperialist Andrew Young, Carter's "black" ambassador to the UN, said that:

"An election supervised by UN and the presence of a peace-keeping force is the main ally has up to now been the British Labour The election of a Tory government, which in the run-up to the General Election called for recognition of the internal settlement, is a factor which will upset the plans.

The treacherous Labour leadership has paved the way for a Tory recognition of Smith through its manoeuvring.

Abstained

Only two days before the British General Election the Callaghan government along with the USA and France abstained on a vote (carried 123) in the UN Security Council which condemned the Rhodesian elections and declared them null and void.

Muzorewa has pledged himself to continue the war, which rages at a level higher than ever.

Despite the fact that the Patriotic Front did not succeed in stopping the election the very low vote in some areas fonly 30% in Matabeleland South) is testimony to the the guerrillas.

Robert Mugabe (ZANU) said in an interview with Le Monde that he thought the new regime would not last any time at ail.

•Whether its head is white or black it is still a monster ... If South Africa recognises the regime and sends troops we will also appeal. for troops-initially from within Africa".

Speaking of Britain Muzorewa US he said:

"Their positions are more or less favourable but leave some room for doubt.

"Carter's declaration augers ill. He has accepted that the elections are a step in the right direction-exactly as he has accepted the formation of the internal settlement regime.

"If we can organise pressure from certain large countriesNigeria, Egypt and the Front Line states-then I don't see how the US or Britain can move in the direction of the Salisbury