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GV Salisbury
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CU Bishop Muzorewa Interviewer
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INTERVIEWER: "You have recently held talks with the Prime Minister. Mr. Ian Smith, on ways to resolve your differences over Constitutional and settlement issues. Do you think these detentions are going to effect your relations with Mr. Smith and the possibility of peaceful talks?"



BISHOP MUZOREWA: "Certainly, for the time being, they are very affected, in a very negative way, in that, for instance, the day I met the Prime Minister, the same day there was hope, there was jubilation, at least among the Africans, and a veil of distrust had been partially removed. And suddenly we have go this kind of action, which I believe has brought the veil of distrust again. I think this is terribly effecting the whole thing."



INTERVIEWER: "You have said, Bishop, that the ANC is trying to achieve an honourable settlement to the Rhodesian problem and to prevent a blood bath. I think was the term you used. Do you think the detentions have altered this view in any way."



BISHOP MUZOREWA: "I believe that the detentions encouraged the people who believe that ANC is wasting its time to try to pursue a peaceful talk in this country. I think the detentions have sort of proved those people right, who believe the only way they should go about things is just to go violently."



BISHOP MUZOREWA BEING INTERVIEWED




Initials AE/1.47 AE/1.56


SOUND IS HELD DOWN ON THE INTERVIEWERS FIRST QUESTION TO ALLOW AN ADEQUATE INTRODUCTION.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The leader of Rhodesia's African National Council (ANC), Bishop Abel Muzorewa, said in an interview on Wednesday (August 1st) that he believed about 20 to ANC officials had been detained in the previous few days. The new detentions, which came only two weeks after the first meeting between Bishop Muzorowa and Mr. Ian Smith, the Rhodesian leader, are expected to widen the gulf between the Rhodesian government and the ANC and to lessen the possibility of further talks, although the Bishop said he was still prepared to continue talks with Mr. Smith.

The British Government expressed regret over the detentions but gave no indication that immediate representations to Salisbury would be made. However, a Foreign Office spokesmen recalled that the government had clearly made its views known to Mr. Smith on similar occurrences in the past.

The six men most recently detained were reportedly on their way to Salisbury for a meeting with Bishop Muzorewa to discuss the ANC leader's meeting with Mr. Smith. those identified include ANC Deputy President, Mr. N. K. Ndholovu, Organising Secretary John Chirisa, and John Mabena, Vote Moyo, Jeffrey Khumalo, and Norman Zikali, all members of the ANC National Executive Council or the Central Committee.

SYNOPSIS: The leader of Rhodesia's African National Council, Bishop Abel Mozorewa, told an interviewer in Salisbury on Wednesday that 20 top ANC officials had been detained in the pat few days. The detentions came only two weeks after the Bishop's first meeting with Rhodesian leader Ian Smith, and deflated a new spirit of optimism. Although Bishop Muzorewa later said he would still be willing to have further talks with Mr. Smith, he was gloomy in commenting on how the detentions would affect immediate prospects for negotiated settlement.