1.
SV INTERIOR Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole seated at table with other members of ZANU party
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2.
SV Cameramen
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3.
SCU Reverend Sithole speaking in English as crowd listen (three shots)
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SITHOLE: "ZANU will organize meetings throughout the country to sell the new constitution to the white people. After all the R.F. (Rhodesian Front), which is going out of power, should not be left alone to sell the new constitution. It is also the duty of those taking over from the RF to sell it to the whites. It's our constitution, and therefore we should sell it. It is their moral duty to explain the constitution to the whites, who rightly demand to be assured of their future in this country. ZANU is determined to perform this role of assuring them not only before, but also after, independence. 'Demo' - ethnologically - comes from the Greek language. It means people. 'Cracy' means rule. That's from the same language - Greek. Now, what we want here is not a Ndabaningi Constitution; nor do we want a Chirau Constitution; nor do we want a Muzorewa Constitution; nor a Smith Constitution. By the same logic, we do not desire a Nkomo Constitution or a Mugabe constitution. What we have drawn is a democratic constitution.



That is to say a constitution of the people of this country; for the people of this country; by the people of this country. Now if the Patriotic Front decides to participate democratically, they're welcome. Everyone is guaranteed to come and participate in the forthcoming general election. But if they choose to stay out, we leave them where they are. We cannot hold a nation of almost seven million people at ransom for the Patriotic Front. The Patriotic Front has opted for something else. We have opted for democracy. If they think they can take over this country, they can try. They will find a rude shock here."




Initials



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Rhodesian Premier, Ian Smith, has told white Rhodesians that they cannot defeat black nationalist guerrillas without world support. And without that support there isn't really much hope of survival. Rhodesia, he said, did not have enough men to indefinitely hold off the guerrilla based in Zambia and Mozambique. Mr Smith was speaking in Umtali on Thursday (11 January) at the beginning of his campaign for the referendum on the 30th of January, on the transitional government's proposed constitution for a predominantly black ruled Zimbabwe (Rhodesia).