1.
GV INT Tanzanian Foreign Minister Benjamin Mkapa speaking in English (4 shots)
1.46

2.
SV Foreign Minister of Gabon, Martin Bongo, speaking in French
2.18


MKAPA: "In Zimbabwe, the Anglo-American proposals offered a frame-work for a negotiated settlement. The possibility of this was endorsed by the "front-line states", the Organisation of African Unity and the United Nations, which later authorised the Secretary-General to appoint a special representative. At the moment, these proposals stand seriously eroded. All negotiations within their framework have been either haphazard or unprincipled. our support for them was contingent on two perquisites. The first is that Smith had to go. He cannot be a part of the solution. Rather has been the problem. The second is that his power structure and especially, his army of oppression, has to be dismantled, and a new army of an independent zimbabwe built with the freedom fighters of the Patriotic Front as its base. Smith's response to the Anglo-American proposals was the internal settlement of March 3rd, which denied these two perquisites. In view of the orchestrated drama of momentum, vacillation and indecision over the last few months, I wish to stress that these two perquisites are the key to a successful, negotiated settlement. We do not think that he participation of any black leaders in an internal settlement will bring about independence based upon majority rule, and in conditions of peace and stability."




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Background: At the United Nations, two african Foreign Ministers made unequivocal statements on the present situation in southern Africa during a session of the General Assembly on Monday (2 October). Mr. Benjamin Mkapa, the Foreign Minister of Tanzania, fiercely attacked the Anglo-American proposals for a settlement in Rhodesia, and presented the conditions that his government would need to see enforced before accepting any resolution of the problem.

SYNOPSIS: Several other issues were raised during the session, and Mr. Martin Bongo, the Foreign Minister of Gabon, commented upon the present situation in South Africa.

Mr. Bongo emphasised he hoped wisdom would govern the attitudes of the South African government in the future. He described the present regime as "oppressive". He said it was imperative to quickly introduce principles of humanity and reason.