212. Memorandum of Conversation1
SUBJECT
- Rhodesia
PARTICIPANTS
-
US
- The Secretary
- Donald K. Petterson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Political Affairs
-
Zambia
- Mark Chona, Special Assistant to the President
- Dr. Kasuka Mutukwa, Deputy Permanent Representative, Zambian Mission to the UN
After a discussion of the Namibia situation, Chona brought up Rhodesia. He asked for the Secretary’s assessment. The Secretary reviewed the status of the internal agreement and his recent conversation with Bishop Muzorewa. Chona then said that President Kaunda wanted to emphasize he is gravely concerned about Rhodesia and believes that time is of the essence. We are approaching the point where an all-parties meeting will be unattractive to the Patriotic Front. The Secretary said he agreed that indeed this is the case.
Chona said that at Khartoum Robert Mugabe seemed to accept the idea of an interim meeting of the principals, as a preliminary to an all-parties meeting. Chona expressed his belief that Nkomo “has no problem with this.” Chona was surprised to find at Khartoum that Mugabe was not averse to attending a meeting in Zambia. Mugabe had also suggested Mauritius. Chona told the Secretary that a meeting could be held at Mfuwe Lodge in Lunagwe National Park in northeast Zambia. There is a runway at the Lodge which is large enough to handle required air traffic. In Chona’s view Smith is the key to get the black members of the Salisbury group to agree to an interim meeting. He said once we get Smith, the others will fall in line. In addition, it would be useful to enlist President Banda’s support, for he has considerable influence with Sithole. He might also be useful in getting Muzorewa’s agreement to attend. Chona went so far as to say, “At this hour perhaps Banda will be crucial.”
[Page 628]The Secretary asked how well Nkomo and Mugabe worked together. Chona answered that Nkomo has confidence in Mugabe, who “is not a yes man.” The Front Line, he maintained, will be firm and helpful on the Rhodesian matter. He said the Zambians have some leverage with Nkomo. As for Mugabe, we will need the help “of Nyerere or Machel or both.”
Bringing up the interim meeting again, Chona told the Secretary, “Dr. Owen must be there and possibly you too.” President Kaunda wanted to stress that, “this must be a decisive meeting.”
The Secretary said that both he and Dr. Owen would attend the all-parties meeting. As for the interim meeting, his attendance would depend on when it would be held. He was sure, though, that Owen would attend. Chona said the all-parties meeting would be crucial, but the interim meeting itself was highly important for it “will set the pace.”
The Secretary concluded the meeting by repeating that he agreed fully on the importance of moving rapidly. He and Dr. Owen would do all they could to help bring about an interim meeting, an all-parties meeting, or both. He emphasized his belief that it is critical that the Front Line devote the same amount of attention to Rhodesia and push as hard as they had on Namibia.
- Source: Department of State, Office of the Secretariat Staff, Cyrus R. Vance, Secretary of State—1977–1980, Lot 84D241, Box 9, Vance Nodis MemCons, 1978. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Donald K. Petterson (AF/S); cleared by Arthur A. Houghton (S). The meeting took place at the UN Plaza Hotel.↩