HC Deb 05 December 1956 vol 561 c134W
111. Mr. J. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the 54 leaders of the African Mineworkers Union in detention camps at Mumbwa, Northern Rhodesia, are treated as prisoners and fed on prison diet when no charge of any kind has been preferred against them; and why their letters are restricted and censored.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The 54 detainees, of whom 45 were members of the Union, have now all been released from detention. They were detained in conditions laid down in the Emergency Powers (Detained Persons) Regulations, which are in many respects different from those laid down for prisoners. They were given a fully balanced prison diet but were also allowed to get additional food for themselves if they wished. Their letters were restricted and censored to prevent them carrying on those subversive activities because of which they were detained.

129. Mr. J. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the detained leaders of the Northern Rhodesian African Mineworkers Union have been released from Mumbwa Camp; what number of these have been banished from the Copperbelt; and by what order.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

All the 54 detainees, including 45 members of the African Mineworkers' Union, at Mumbwa have been released. All but one were immediately restricted from entering the Western Province in which the Copperbelt lies by orders made by the Governor under Regulation 18 of the Emergency Powers Regulations. Five of those orders have since been revoked.