On 18 January it was announced that Lord Soames had decided to renew the national State of Emergency, in force in Rhodesia since before UDI, for a further six months. A notice in the Government Gazette revealed that the proclamation, which allows for continued detention without trial, martial law, censorship and other measures introduced over the years to suppress African political activity, had in fact been made on 11 January. The State of Emergency was renewed at yearly intervals by the regime following its introduction on 5 November 1965, until July 1979, when it was renewed by Bishop Muzorewa's government for six months only.
Commenting on the decision, a British spokesman said that "in the Governor's judgement the level of lawlessness and violence in the country as a whole is such as to conclude that there is still a need for a state of emergency in Rhodesia". A spokesman for Patriotic Front (ZAPU), however, said that "this action indicates that there will be no free and fair elections because the whole purpose is to limit the movement of people and freedom of speech".
