PM Transcripts

UTRA( A_ LIaq-AY
PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA THURSDAY, 10 APRIL, 1980
ZIMBABWE INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATIONS
The Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Malcolm Fraser,
will be attending the Zimbabwe independence celebrations in
Salisbury on 17-18 April. The Prime Minister of Zimbabwe,
Mr. Robert Mugabe, has extended a personal invitation to a small
number of heads of government including Mr. Fraser.
Other heads of government who have indicated they will attend
so far include President Kaunda of Zambia, President Shagari
of Nigeria, and Prime Minister Gandhi of India. A large
number of countries will be represented at the independence
celebrations. The achievement of an independent Zimbabwe is an event of major
significance in the history of Southern Africa. After fifteen.
years of illegality and eight years of a bitter civil war,
Rhodesia was returned to legality as a British colony last
December, and free an'" fair elections were held under
Britishn supervision.
These elections reSulted in a clear victory for Mr. Mugabe's
party, the Zirabab;,, e African National Union ( Patriotic Front).
Mr. Mugabe was appointed Prime Minister on 4 March but the
British Gcvern~ or, Lord Soames, has continued to exercise his
functions in the pre-independence period. At' midnight an
17 April, the British flag will be lowered and the flag of
independent Zimbabwe will be raised. Zimbabwe is expected
to join the Commonwealth on independence.
Australia has contributed to the process leading to Zimbabwe's.
independence in a number of important ways. At the Lusaka
Corz~ onwealth Heads of Government meeting last August, Australia
was a member of the six-nation contact group which drafted the
principles for a Rhodesian settlement which formed the basis
of the subsequent Lancaster House negotiations.
Australia provided a 154-man contingent to the Commonwealth
Ceasefire Monitoring Force. Australia also sent an eightrman.-
national group to observe the election, and an Australian-
Observer, Mr. K. C. O. Shann, served on the Commonwealth
Election Observer Group.
I am looking forward to a close and fruitful relationship between
Australia and the new nation of Zimbabwe. As previously announced,
the Australian liaison office in Salisbury is to become a.
resident High Commission. 00-0---