The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Sunday News Reporter
AS we continue going down memory lane, telling stories of our struggle for independence, this week we went to the archives, giving you some stories which made headlines in February 1979 in our sister publication The Chronicle.
This was a period when the war reached its peak, with freedom fighters showing their resilience in their quest to attain independence.
In 1979 it should be noted that this was a period when the country was now named Rhodesia-Zimbabwe, with the white regime led by Ian smith desperately trying to cling on to power through the use of its proxies such as Bishop Abel Muzorewa.
59 DIE IN AIR CRASH . . . Second Kariba Viscount down in Vuti area (13 February 1979)
AN Air Rhodesia Viscount airliner with 59 on board crashed minutes after take-off from Kariba today, killing all aboard.
The blue and white airliner took off smoothly from Kariba at about 5pm, but minutes later a distress call was made and it crashed. Air Rhodesia issued this terse announcement:
“Air Rhodesia regrets to announce the loss of a Viscount aircraft operating flight RH827 between Kariba and Salisbury. It has been established that there are no survivors.”
The announcement said there were 54 passengers and five crew members aboard. Airline officials said that, in early confusion, a death toll of 58 and then 54 persons had been compiled.
“WE WILL HIT BACK” — SQUIRES (14 February 1979)
THE Rhodesian co-Minister of Combined Operations and Defense, Mr Hilary Squires pledged “totally just and warranted retribution” against terrorists after visiting the scene of yesterday’s Air Rhodesia Viscount disaster.
Mr Squires was speaking at a Press conference with co-Transport Minister Mr James Chikerema who said if terrorists were responsible for the crash, in which 59 people died, “you can rest assured that we will retaliate”.
The ministers were very bitter about British and United States support of terrorists. Asked about white morale and continuing tourist traffic in Rhodesia, the co-Minister of Transport, Mr Bill Irvine, said: “We must go on as we are. We will take it in our stride as we have done before.”
Asked about the influence of the disaster on a possible all-party conference proposed by the United States and British governments, he said: “I hope this will bring the American Senate and Government to their sense.” Internal nationalist parties today condemned the downing of the air craft.
Bishop Abel Muzorewa’s UANC said: “We extend our sincerest sympathy to the bereaved and condemn unreservedly those responsible for the disaster.”
AIR DISASTER: PM HOPES FOR RETRIBUTION (16 February 1979)
The Prime Minister Mr Ian Smith said yesterday in Bulawayo that like any normal Rhodesian he hoped there would be retribution by the security forces for Monday’s Viscount Disaster.
He would not be drawn whether retribution was planned. “I should think any normal person in the whole world will join Rhodesians hoping for this and if and when it comes in expressing satisfaction. But I hasten to add that these things are easier said than done and it is no use embarking on an operation without ensuring it is going to be successful.”
He added: “I am not going to say anything else on that one”. Asked what chance there was of an all party conference, Mr Smith said: “I do not think there is any hope. This is because the British do not want one. And they do not want one because the external terrorists have told them that they (the terrorists) do not want one.
Showmanship
“All this talk is going on, trying is nothing other than showmanship and filibustering. From our confidential sources we know they don’t intend to do anything other than evade the issue. The talk we hear is nothing more than a smoke screen.
“We will just go on without a conference. The election will be held and am pleased to say we have invited observers. I believe they will be here.”
-As we continue to publish excerpts from the days when brave sons and daughters of Zimbabwe went to the bushes to fight for our independence, Sunday News calls on individuals who are interested in sharing their war experience with us to approach us and contribute to this column.
