Changes in the Rhodesian War Council, apparently introduced by the regime in an attempt to forestall the internal settlement agreement, have left the day-to-day conduct of the war firmly in white hands. The War Council, a body set up in September 1976 to exercise overall control of the regime's counter-insurgency operations and presided over by Smith himself, has, besides the Prime Minister, included the Ministers of Combined Operations, Defence, Law and Order, and Internal Affairs the Ministerial Secretaries and the Cabinet Secretary, plus the commanders of the various security forces. With such a structure, Bishop Muzorewa, Rev. Sithole and Chief Chirau, who now share membership of the supreme Executive Council with Smith and have allocated the nine black ministerial posts in the transitional government's Cabinet Council to their respective organisations, would have been able to claim direct representation on the War Council. This prospect has been ruled out, however, by the regime's decision, immediately prior to the induction of the Executive Council, to abolish the Prime Minister's chairmanship of the War Council and to cut the Council down to five members only – the Commanders of Combined Operations (who will also take the chair), the Army and the Air Force, the Police Commissioner and the Secretary for Internal Affairs. Such responsibilities as were previously reserved for ministers with seats on the War Council have been delegated to (white) civil servants.
While the War Council will be formally answerable to the Executive Council, Bishop Muzorewa, Rev. Sithole and Chief Chirau are in practice likely to carry far less weight than Smith. They lack the latter's close personal channels with security force commanders, through which he will undoubtedly be able to retain a powerful influence over the conduct of the war.
