Southern Africa (Hansard, 28 July 1976)

§ 9. Mr. Luce
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the situation in Southern Africa.

§ Mr. Rowlands
We continue to be concerned about the problems of Southern Africa and will make every effort to promote solutions to them. As far as Rhodesia is concerned, there is a Question down for answer later this afternoon.

§ Mr. Luce
As the Soviet Union and Cuba stand to gain most from the growing violence in Rhodesia, will the Minister and the British Government make it absolutely clear to the black and white Rhodesians over the coming weeks that, if they continue on this course of mutual destruction and fail to agree on a sensible transition to independence, they will prevent the West, led by Britain, from coming to their help and facilitating a sensible transitional period?

§ Mr. Rowlands
We shall continue to make it clear that the best solution to the problem is a rapid move to majority rule in accordance with the wishes of the House and, I think, of the majority of people.

§ Mr. Hooley
Given that the armed forces of Mozambique are in warfare with the rebel forces in Rhodesia, that the forces of South Africa are attacking Zambian territory and that there is guerrilla war in Namibia, will the Government please give up the absurd pretence in the Security Council that the situation in Southern Africa is not a threat to peace?

§ Mr. Rowlands
We do not think that the Chapter 7 declaration which is implied in my hon. Friend's question is valid at the moment. We shall continue to uphold that position. I accept what my hon. Friend has said about the growing increase in violence. The only way to stop it is to go to the root cause—the obdurance of Mr. Smith in Rhodesia.

§ Mr. Pardoe
What is the Government's attitude to the forthcoming independence of the Transkei? Will the Government be represented at the independence celebrations in October, and will their attitude depend in any way on the result of elections in September? Will the Government or the United Nations have representatives at the elections?

§ Mr. Rowlands
The traditional criteria used in deciding whether to recognise an independent new Government or State will be applied to the Transkei, but, as my predecessor said, we do not think that on present evidence we should recognise Transkei.

Mr. Groeott
Will my hon. Friend be a little more forthcoming and emphasise that the cynical attitude of the South African Government in establishing so-called independent States is seen as a cynical policy and that in no sense could these States be regarded as economically or politically independent? Would it not be a great service to the people struggling for majority rule in Africa if the Government made plain now that they will not recognise the Transkei under any circumstances?

§ Mr. Rowlands
We shall judge this issue on the traditional criteria, but we feel that there is strong evidence to suggest that we should not recognise the Transkei.

§ Mr. Amery
Can the Minister confirm or deny that Mozambique troops have taken the offensive by crossing into Rhodesia? If they are pursuing a policy of solution by violence rather than by imposing sanctions and economic pressure, will the Government reconsider their decision to give aid to Mozambique?

§ Mr. Rowlands
I have seen reports but have not yet had confirmation in detail or any evidence to confirm that there is Frelimo activity in Rhodesia. However, we have repeatedly stated that we do not believe that external forces should be used to solve the problems of Rhodesia and Namibia and the other standing problems in Southern Africa. Aid to Mozambique is a separate question which we have repeatedly defended in the House and which has been supported by Commonwealth Governments, including New Zealand, Australia and others.