At least 200 people remain in indefinite detention without charge or trial in Rhodesia, according to information available to the IDAF, despite the Executive Council's announcement, on 6 April 1978, of a "phased release" programme for political detainees. (see FOCUS 16 p.4) Meanwhile, arrests are continuing, meaning that detention camps such as Wha Wha may rapidly fill up again.
A total of 703 detainees had been freed by 26 April according to press reports and official statements (FT/BBC 27.4.78). Releases are known to have continued during May, though at a slower pace and on a much smaller scale. By mid-June, the name of 774 people released since the Executive Council's announcement were known to the IDAF. Little or no attempt has been made by the regime to provide for the welfare of the released men, few of whom stand any chance of finding employment. Many are afraid to return to their homes in the operational areas, while others have come out of prison to find that their cattle and other property have been confiscated or destroyed by the security forces.
Detainees have been required to sign a pledge not to engage in "subversive" or unlawful activities", as a condition for their release, and the regime has made it clear that those still considered to present a threat to law and order are to remain behind bars. According to information received by IDAF from detainees themselves approximately 213 persons remained in detention at five main prisons at 8 May 1978, of whom around 183 were believed to be supporters of the African National Council of Zimbabwe (ZAPU). These were distributed as follows: Gwelo Prison - 17 persons; Wha Wha - 93 persons; Connemara Prison - 57 persons; Marandellas Prison - 42 persons (on 8 May 39 of these were due to be transferred to Wha Wha); Gatoooma Prison - 4 persons. According to a further report received on 16 June there were by then 208 detainees at Wha Wha of whom 198 were believed to be supporters of the Patriotic Front led by Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe.
A number of leading nationalist figures are known to have been kept in detention by the regime. These include Rev. Canaan Banana, publicity secretary of the People's Movement (the organization inside the country of supporters of ZANU (Patriotic Front)); Robert Marere, chairman; James Basopomoyo, treasurer; Nelson Mawema, Enos Nkala and Nolan Makombe - also supporters of the People's Movement. (Enos Nkala was detained in April 1976; Canaan Banana in January 1977, on his return from the Geneva constitutional talks; and the other four in early 1977. See FOCUS 4 p.7; 10 p.8). On 13 June the six men were brought from detention to Salisbury to meet the U.K. and U.S. envoys at that time visiting Rhodesia in connection with settlement negotiations. (T 14.6.78)
Meanwhile, many people are known to have been arrested, interrogated, beaten up and tortured by the security forces since the signing of the "internal settlement" agreement on 3 March 1978. (Over 200 names are known from the March-April period alone). Those arrested have in many cases been held without charge under 30 day detention orders by the police and are not included in the figures for long term detainees given above, (see FOCUS 16 p.2). (Further details of police and security force operations against supporters of the Patriotic Front and those opposed to the "internal settlement" have been published by IDAF in the form of a Fact Paper. "Smith's Settlement - Events in Zimbabwe since 3rd March 1978". IDAF Fact Paper No. 6, is available from the IDAF Publications Department, 104 Newgate Street, London EC1A 7AP, price 50 p.)
In a statement issued in Salisbury at the beginning of May, the African National Council of Zimbabwe (ZAPU) condemned "the continued detention of members of ZAPU for fictitious reasons". Their imprisonment, the statement continued, "is an effort to frustrate our organization...in order to give succour to the regime's puppet organizations". (ZT 9.5.78)
Letters received from detainees released in April/May 1978:
"I was arrested in 1973 because of political activities and (detained) for an indefinite period. Just recently I have been freed back to my family where I have found out desperate life. All my possessions, fields, cattle, were taken by force, leaving my wife and children without anything. Properties were burnt by soldiers."
"I have been detained at Wha Wha for three years. I was released on 14th April. My family and I are out of clothes. I need money for my children for school fees. We need blankets. We are facing the coldest season in Rhodesia. I used to get money by selling crops like maize, cotton and ground nuts. While I was at my home the government put a keep around my field. My family had no field to grow crops."
From one who remains in detention, as at 13 June 1978:
"Maybe a bit of my history may interest you. I am going to celebrate my full 37 years in July this year. But to tell you the truth I am disappointed that at this early age I am already greying at the temples. However, the whole reason may be that my head is adapting to its environment within which I've been condemned for the last 12 years, for I was put behind bars since 1966. See how old I was then. At any rate, I am highly pleased that in spite of all this cruelty I find my heart as determined as ever before..." (dated 25 January 1978)
