Zambian Lectures Briton on Apartheid

L.A. Times Archives

July 25, 1986 12 AM PT

From Reuters

LUSAKA, Zambia — President Kenneth D. Kaunda publicly lectured Britain’s foreign secretary Thursday night, accusing him and President Reagan of “kissing” South African apartheid.

The Zambian leader told visiting Foreign Secretary Geoffrey Howe: “As a fellow human being, Sir Geoffrey, I must welcome you. But as a messenger of what you have come to do in South Africa, you are not welcome at all.”

Howe, who is on a European Communities peace mission, listened in silence as Kaunda accused him and Reagan of “kissing apartheid, blessing the system.”

Howe denied the accusation, saying he is trying to end apartheid peacefully rather than through violence.

Kaunda was clearly angered by Reagan’s speech Tuesday opposing stronger U.S. economic sanctions against Pretoria. He said it was a clear signal to white South Africans that they have nothing to fear from Britain and the United States.

“Sir Geoffrey, you people will not be forgiven by history. I will tell you that because this thing is about to explode,” Kaunda said.

Respect for Queen

He said he was receiving Howe only because of his love and respect for Queen Elizabeth II and because Howe represents the 12 nations of the European Communities.

The British foreign secretary flew into Lusaka from Johannesburg, where he met leading South African businessmen and white opposition politicians.

Kaunda accused Reagan and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of conspiring to defend white supremacy in South Africa by resisting international pressure for sanctions.

But Howe defended his mission saying, “There is no foundation whatsoever for your suggestion that there is a conspiracy of the kind you suggest.”

The exchanges took place in public under the glare of television cameras.

Howe, who met South African President Pieter W. Botha on Wednesday and will confer with him again Tuesday, said the Pretoria government needs to make a leap of imagination to realize that it is in South Africa’s interest to accept reform.

Met Moderates

In South Africa, Howe also met Colin Eglin and Helen Suzman of the moderate Progressive Federal Party.

Eglin, the party’s leader, said after the meeting that every avenue should be explored to establish dialogue between the white government and black leaders.

“To the extent that (Howe) in some miraculous way may make some contribution, good luck to him,” he said. “But one can’t be full of hope in a situation which for a long time has become bogged down.”

Suzman said the situation in South Africa is in danger of degenerating into a “confrontation in a siege economy, with a military government on the one hand and a popular movement on the other.”

Earlier, Howe met leading black and white businessmen, including Harry Oppenheimer and Gavin Relly of the Anglo American Corp., Chris Ball of Barclays Bank, and Sam Motsuenyane of the National African Federated Chambers of Commerce.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions, which includes about 500,000 black workers, condemned Howe’s visit.

“What is he doing here?” the congress asked in a statement, condemning the governments in the United States and Britain for opposing economic sanctions against Pretoria.

“They are more concerned with their own economic interests than the plight of the oppressed and exploited in South Africa,” the organization said.