Rhodesia (Hansard, 29 October 1975)

§ 4. Mr. Whitehead
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent contacts he has had with the illegal régime in Rhodesia; and if he will make a statement.

§ The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. David Ennals)
In recent months there has been no direct contact with the illegal régime in Rhodesia. A statement on the Government's policy towards Rhodesia will be made during the forthcoming debate in the House on renewal of the sanctions order.

§ Mr. Whitehead
On the eve of that debate, has my right hon. Friend seen the report from the Christian Care organisation this week that there are more political detainees in Rhodesia now than before the Lusaka talks began? Will he urge upon the Smith régime, which appears to be without a friend, even south of the Zambesi, that it should reopen talks with both African nationalist movements and release the detainees? Will my right hon. Friend comment on the recent disappearance of Dr. Edson Sithole?

§ Mr. Ennals
The reports about the numbers of detainees are most disturbing. It is said that the number now is larger than a year ago. We have expressed our concern that so many aspects of the Lusaka agreement have not been fulfilled, and we have urged that they should be. We have made our views known to the régime both in respect of the detainees and publicly about the executions. I can make no statement about the disappearance of Dr. Edson Sithole, but we are naturally very anxious about the situation that has been created.

§ Mr. Farr
Why did the Foreign Office recently refuse to have anything to do with a constituent of mine who was severely injured in a car crash in Bulawayo? Is it not an utter disgrace that the only Government that would show an interest and put an end to the worrying of his parents, who are also my constituents, were the South African Government who sent a representative to the hospital in Bulawayo to inquire into the poor boy's condition?

§ Mr. Ennals
It is disturbing that a situation exists in Rhodesia in which there is an illegal Government which does not have diplomatic representation from the British or other Governments. Mr. Smith knows perfectly well that in order for there to be diplomatic representation, so that we could then fulfil the normal functions of such representation, there must first be a constitutional situation.