an external debt of about £250m. of which some £150m is owed to South Africa for its support for lan Smith's war effort! Black only one in three adults are in formal One of the most pressing issues is the land question. Eighty-three per cent of the African population live in the countryside but the tiny white population own the best 50 per cent or ine lana. distribution has resulted in overpopulation in the "tribal trust lands' where the Airicans are condemnta to subsistence farming.
The consequence of this is a migrant labour system, similar to that operating in South Africa, where people are forced to WORK white-owned factories and homes for a part of the year. Between 60 and 75 per cent of all African households depend on some form of wage labour for their subsistence.
The countryside, particularly tribal trust lands', has been devastated by programmes are in ruins. The Red Cross says that 20 per cent of the population is. as unedua a massive farms, 175,000 who will wish will be as the sector farming was proposed oversees and government with and. ine de.
people of Zimbabwe.
South Africa.
David and was in both and its the and met within Zimbabwe. as the. dole l vac promised land establishment of allost wine arcas action. Kumbirai Kangai, Zimbabwean workers which salisburv and other cities Kangai explained that THE new republic of Zimbabwe is to become an independent state on 18 April. The landslide victory for Robert Mugabe's ZANU(PF), the formation of the Patriotic Front 77 out of the 80 seats contested, is a giant step forward for the This victory is a serious blow against imperialism and the Apartheid regime in Eight years of relentless armed struggle against the white settler state of Rhodesia South African backers enabled the Patriotic Front to win the support of the overwhelming majority of the oppressed masses. But their aspiration for political, social and economic emancipation cannot be the framework of a capitalist Imperialism will combine threats and Mugabe's declared policy is to leave • commerce and hands and to accept stage or acyclopmen. reforms, and co-operatives and of which Mugabe frequently speaks, will de contined to ine 10m acre of unoccupied and underused land in the There is a clear danger in this course of the incoming minister of labour, has found himself on a collision course with a wave of strikes by has swept through the workers were concerned about the future of thel pensions, but it was also reported that they were demanding wage increases. There is a whole.
Zimbabwe's conciliation.
Zimbabwe, forward.
more than 10 to 1 ratio between white and black wages in Zimbabwe bosses immediately aismissed hundreds of workers; the rest threatened the sack Kangai, member of the left within ZANU. issued a statement saying that the workers must follow dispute procedures and not take Tactical Part of the statement said: precipitate action at this stage can only serve to damage the goodwill which has employees and their employers and will have a crippling effect on industry. concession, a ruse, to temporarily deflect a offers of much needed aid in an attempt to throw back the gains of the Zimbabwean people, and minimise the effects of this victory on the masses of southern Africa as a South African military might lies poised on southern flank intervene if ZANU moves against their fundamental economic and political interests. The Front Line states, under pressure from imperialism, will argue for moderation and these political obstacles , DAVE HUDSON argues that we 'armed forces.' ready to the countryside. officer facing ... General Walls... is unlikely to accen any moves which he sees as seriously undermining white interests or in any way while ignoring the degree of mass mobilisation which could upset ine calculations of tne imperialists reveals the stark realities of power.
There is a danger that the Patriotic Front government will remain captive t vhite-led security forces in Salisbur • Dower-base in the General Walls, the white the undefeated security ministers in the government, represent a dagger at the heart of the Zimbabwean