Word: botha
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1980-1989
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
South African politicians may still be unschooled in diplomacy, but they have made great strides on the public relations front. A year ago, government leaders advertised that State President P.W. Botha would unveil a package of far-reaching reforms at a provincial National Party congress in Durban. When Botha's "manifesto for the future" proved to be largely a manifesto for more of the same, an international outcry ensued. Last week, as Botha returned to Durban to address a full party congress, officials tried a different tack, this one designed to thwart untoward expectations. One administrator warned foreign correspondents, "This...
...Botha gave his people exactly what they wanted. For two hours he tore down critics and shored up Afrikaner morale. Defiantly, he urged his white followers to "shed the spirit of defeatism and doubt" in the face of economic sanctions. Defensively, he railed against an "international conspiracy" that aimed to undermine South Africa's sovereignty. Cunningly, he insisted that South Africa had "outgrown apartheid" and simultaneously vowed to submit any agreements negotiated with blacks to a white referendum...
...Leader Nelson Mandela and the "unbanning" of the African National Congress, the exiled black political movement, in the hope of heading off sanctions. Howe was rebuffed at every turn, both by black leaders angered at Thatcher's refusal to consider sanctions and by the government of State President P.W. Botha for "direct interference" in South Africa's affairs. By mid-July, Kaunda was threatening to leave the Commonwealth if Thatcher remained adamant. Reports were even circulating that Queen Elizabeth II, the titular head of the Commonwealth, was worried about the possibility of its breakup...
Since colonial times the commerce and transport of South Africa and its black neighbors have been closely interwoven. In fact, as Pik Botha was quick to emphasize, even while Mugabe was speaking out against Pretoria at the London meeting, Zimbabwe was negotiating to extend its existing trade agreement with South Africa. Over the long term the black states can reduce their dependence on the South African ports of Durban and Port Elizabeth by developing alternative trade routes, like the existing but inadequate highway and rail line between Zambia and the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam. Zimbabwe will begin...
Black South Africans who reject sanctions, like Zulu Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, are finding their position increasingly difficult. Last week he denounced President Botha's confrontational "Boer War diplomacy" and warned of a "time when the government's actions (will) demand that I revise my & position." This week Botha will address an important federal congress of his ruling National Party in Durban. Speaking in the same city last year, Botha gravely disappointed Western governments by failing to include in his address a list of widely anticipated racial reforms. This year Botha was simply expected to hang tough, and so there...