The regime has warned that further executions will be carried out and that it has no intention of altering its policy on the issue. On 9 February, Mr. Bwanya, Member for Zambezi, asked the Joint Ministers of Justice in the Rhodesian House of Assembly "if they can confirm that eight tribespeople convicted under martial law have been hanged or are about to be hanged; and how they reconcile this with the Transitional Government's pledge not to continue with hangings during the transitional period".
Mr. Francis Zindoga, the Joint Minister of Justice and a prominent official of Bishop Muzorewa's UANC, replied that: "The death penalty is meant to be a deterrent. This object will be defeated if the penalty is not put into effect. The suggestion that the Transitional Government gave a pledge not to continue with hangings is not correct. No such pledge was given. The Agreement of 3rd March was not intended to, and does not, protect criminals and especially terrorists from the consequences of their criminal conduct. Not only was there no such pledge by the Transitional Government but on 28th September 1978, it published a Government Notice concerning the establishment of Martial Law Courts expressly empowered to impose the death sentence for offences for which it could be imposed by the High Court.
"The question indicates that some people believe that death sentences are not carried out. If such an impression is abroad and especially if it is believed by terrorists and the mujibas used by them, we must correct it. Such sentences have been, and will be carried out. We will not tolerate banditry and terrorist activity which can and does result in the death of innocent men, women and children.
"On previous occasions in answer of the same type of question, the number of persons executed has not been disclosed as a matter of policy. We see no reason to change that policy." (Debates 9.2.79)
