Word: smiths
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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There were several sticking points, notably the question of the makeup of the future army. Smith wanted his Rhodesian security forces to remain in control during the transition period, which could last several months and perhaps a year. Nkomo insisted that the guerrillas should be in charge. Mugabe arrived in Lusaka several days later, was briefed on the Smith meeting by Nigerian officials involved in the negotiations, and then sought the advice of several other African leaders. Both Nyerere and Machel argued that Smith was not really prepared to withdraw in favor of a Patriotic Front-dominated government, and that...
...showdown came when the five front-line Presidents and the Patriotic Front leaders assembled in Lusaka. Kaunda and Angolan President Neto defended Nkomo's action in meeting with Smith, reasoning that any contacts that could end the war and bring the Front to power should be encouraged. Nyerere and Machel accused Nkomo of trying to reach a private agreement with Smith at the expense of Mugabe, and insisted that any negotiation should be conducted through the British government as the legal colonial power in Rhodesia. At one point during the acrimonious nine-hour meeting, Nkomo shouted: "I haven...
...summit ended the next day, with bitter denunciations. When Nyerere announced that the front-line states had agreed not to arrange any further direct contacts with Smith, Nkomo angrily retorted: "Nyerere is not the final authority on what may happen in Zimbabwe. He can't tell us what to do." Under "certain conditions," added Nkomo, he would talk with Smith again...
...Smith's ability to engage in such negotiations was seriously compromised by increasing Rhodesian anger over the air-crash massacre. When he and his wife arrived at the Anglican Cathedral in Salisbury to attend a memorial service for the victims, two men in the crowd of whites outside held banners reading: "Prime Minister, give Nkomo a message from us when you meet him secretly next time: 'Go to hell, you murdering bastard...
Responding to the popular mood, Smith told his Parliament that he would soon take "positive and firm" measures that would not be popular with the outside world; presumably he meant attacks on guerrilla bases in Zambia and Mozambique. His government also announced that because of the security situation, elections that were supposed to be held by Dec. 31 would have to be postponed for two or three months...