SCENES IN AND AROUND THE TOWNSHIPS OF MZILIKAZI AND MPOPOMA - AFRICANS LOOKING IN SHOP WINDOWS; WORKMEN BUILDING NEW HOUSES; A WELFARE CENTRE; CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND AND AFRICAN WORKERS LEAVING A FACTORY AT THE MID-DAY LUNCH BREAK.




Initials JM/VS/CR/JM



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Background: LIFE IS BACK TO NORMAL IN BULAWAYO - RHODESIA'S SECOND CITY, THE COUNTRY'S MOST IMPORTANT INDUSTRIAL CENTRE - AND THE FOCUS OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE INTERNAL OPPOSITION TO THE SMITH GOVERNMENT'S U.D.I. SO FAR.

FEW OF THE LEADERS OF THE RECENT STRIKES IN THE CITY HAVE ESCAPED ARREST, AND NOW AFRICA WORKERS MAKE THEIR WAY FROM THE AFRICAN TOWNSHIPS ON THE EDGE OF THE CITY TO THE FACTORIES IN THE CENTRE, WITHOUT ANY EVIDENT FEAR OF INTIMIDATION BY EXTREME NATIONALIST ELEMENTS. ONLY A FEW POLICE VEHICLES PATROL THE CITY, BUT IN THE EVENINGS THEY ARE SUPPLEMENTED BY POLICE RESERVISTS, AS THE AFRICAN WORKERS MAKE THEIR WAY BACK TO THEIR TOWNSHIP HOMES.

THE WELFARE CENTRE AT MPOPOMA, BUSY NOW, BUT DESERTED DURING THE BRIEF PERIOD OF THE STRIKES. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO IT WAS THE SCENE OF A PETROL BOMB ATTACK. THE CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND IN THE SAME TOWNSHIP IS NOT FAR FROM THE SPOT WHERE AN AFRICAN WAS SHOT DEAD DURING A STONING INCIDENT LAST WEEK.

(ALL TOLD ABOUT 200,000 AFRICANS LIVE IN MPOPOMA TOWNSHIP).