RHOKANA MINE; EUROPEAN HOUSES; CHILD IN GARDEN; SITE WHERE WHITE WOMAN'S CAR WAS STONED; SMASHED WINDSCREEN; BLOODSTAINS ON ROAD; GUARD AT RADIO STATION.




Initials GHB/VS/CR/GLH



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE ZAMBIAN COPPERBELT TOWN OF KITWE, WHICH LAST SUNDAY (OCTOBER 30) SAW THE DEATH OF A WHITE WOMAN IN A RIOT AFTER A FIRE AT A FUEL DEPOT, WAS LATER THIS WEEK THE SCENE OF DEPORTATION DISPUTES BETWEEN WHILE EMPLOYEES OF THE RHOKANA MINE AND THE ZAMBIAN AUTHORITIES. THE WOMAN WHO DIED WAS MRS BRIDGET MYBURGH, 28, WHOSE CAR WAS STONED IN RIOTS FOLLOWING A BLAZE AT THE TOTAL OIL COMPANY DEPOT. THE RIOT BEGAN AFTER RUMOURS AMONG THE AFRICAN CROWD THAT THE BLAZE HAD BEEN DELIBERATELY STARTED BY WHITES.

ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 2) THE POLICE AND FIRE AUTHORITIES ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING THAT THE FIRE WAS ACCIDENTAL. BUT THE STATEMENT WAS CRITICAL OF SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AT THE DEPOT. THE FIRE STARTED WHILE PETROL WAS BEING DECANTED, AND THE REPORT SAID PUMPS USED WERE UNSAFE.

THIS WEEK ALSO SAW A EIGHTY BY TWO BRITISH EMPLOYEES OF LOCAL MINING CONCERNS AGAINST DEPORTATION ORDERS ISSUED BY THE ZAMBIAN AUTHORITIES. MR JOHN THIXTON AND MR JOSEPH FOY APPEALED AT KITWE MAGISTRATES COURT ON TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 1) AGAINST DEPORTATION ORDERS.

THE MAGISTRATE RULED THAT THE ORDERS HAD NOT BEEN CORRECTLY MADE OUT, BUT FRESH ORDERS WERE SERVED ON THE TWO MEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE HEARING. LATER BOTH MEN WERE REPORTED TO HAVE LEFT FOR RHODESIA. THEY ARE AMONG 25 PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN ORDERED OUT OF ZAMBIA THE PREVIOUS WEEK ON THE STRENGTH OF ALLEGATIONS THAT THEY WERE CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH RACIAL OR INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

YESTERDAY (FRIDAY) THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT WARNED AGAINST CARELESS OR IRRESPONSIBLE HANDLING OF FIREWORKS DURING TODAY'S GUY FAWKES CELEBRATIONS. PARENTS WERE ADVISED NOT TO ALLOW THEIR CHILDREN TO LET OFF FIREWORKS NEAR PETROL STORAGE TANKS.