Word: rhodesians
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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When Vance arrived in Africa in an effort to save the Anglo-American plan and broaden the base of the Rhodesian settlement, he was hopeful that both sides would agree to the round-table conference. After two days in Dar es Salaam, however, American negotiators complained that the Patriotic Front leaders were more adamant than ever about the role they want to play in a transition government and unwilling to say publicly that they would attend the round table. African observers insisted that Nkomo and Mugabe had merely adopted a tough negotiating posture and would make concessions later. Vance, however...
...Pretoria, Vance was encouraged that South African Foreign Minister Roelof ("Pik") Botha tacitly urged him to carry on with his efforts for a broader Rhodesian settlement. Then, during five hours of talks in Salisbury, Vance and Owen tried to persuade Smith and his colleagues (sarcastically described by some observers as "the gang of four") that the Rhodesians had nothing to lose by attending a round-table meeting. Vance reportedly argued that the U.N. might be prepared to lift its economic sanctions against Rhodesia, at least partly, if the Salisbury regime would accept a U.N. supervisory force during the transition...
...fascinating aspect of the Rhodesian dilemma is the uncertain relationship between the two leaders of the Patriotic Front. Nkomo, a shrewd and experienced politician, favors a negotiated settlement and open elections because he thinks he has a chance of winning the presidency of an independent Zimbabwe, the African name for Rhodesia. Mugabe, the ideologue, is more committed to violent takeover and authoritarian rule thereafter. Unlike Nkomo, who has a base of political support among the Matabele tribesmen of southwestern Rhodesia, Mugabe is not widely popular at home and can only lose from an election. But if negotiations collapse...
Convinced that nobody except Mugabe has anything to lose from a round-table conference, American and British officials are pressing ahead with the plan for calling such a meeting within the next three months. One proposed site: Victoria Falls, with sessions alternating between the Rhodesian and Zambian sides of the magnificent border. Though they may be indulging in a bit of wishful thinking, Western officials suspect that the negotiating process would inevitably tend to separate the pragmatic Nkomo from the zealous Mugabe, and thus pave the way for a broader Rhodesian consensus...
...usual, the Pulitzers were not without controversy. One of the photo awards went to the wrong man. The other went to Freelancer J. Ross Baughman for his Associated Press pictures of Rhodesian guerrillas, even though the shots had missed an Overseas Press Club award because some of the judges had doubts about their authenticity; the A.P. and Baughman stood by the pictures. And as in previous years, Pulitzer screening judges in several categories complained publicly that the final selection board had ignored their recommendations, although the panel is free to do so under the rules...