Muzorewa's new regime raises doubts at home and abroad
Sporting a tribal headdress and wearing a leopard-skin cloak over a rainbow-hued tunic, the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia moved into his official residence two weeks ago. Accompanied by a ululating crowd of followers, Bishop Abel Muzorewa rode in an ox-drawn cart to the stately white mansion —renamed from Independence House to Dzimbahwe (House of Chiefs)—that for 15 years was occupied by Ian Douglas Smith. The scene raised unsettling questions about Muzorewa's month-old multiracial government: Is it really more than an African show masking the continuation of effective white power? Is there any substance behind the pageantry?
Within Zimbabwe Rhodesia, the answers have not been encouraging. This week Muzorewa embarks on a trip to Washington and London to seek international recognition for his regime. He is unlikely to get it, since he has so far failed to push for badly needed internal reforms for the country's 6 million blacks or to reduce the disproportionate share of power retained by the white minority under the new constitution. And although he offered the "hand of fellowship" to the Patriotic Front upon taking office last month, he seems as determined as Ian Smith ever was to crush the black nationalist guerrillas with military force.
Muzorewa's failure to develop a reform program has diminished support among his black countrymen. Said a disgruntled black in Salisbury last week: "The bishop is consistently honest in one respect. He hasn't promised anything because he can't deliver anything." The restiveness was reflected in the recent defection from Muzorewa's parliamentary party of seven M.P.s, led by Joseph Chikerema, who are seeking to form a rival bloc. The defections potentially reduce Muzorewa's parliamentary support to a minority of 44 seats in the 100-member assembly, meaning that the bishop's survival may depend on the votes of Smith's Rhodesian Front Party.
Muzorewa's hopes of winning prompt international recognition received a setback last week: sources close to Britain's Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher revealed that she has modified her earlier view that Britain should quickly lift economic sanctions against Zimbabwe Rhodesia. During a brief visit to Australia, Thatcher said that she expected the House of Commons would simply not renew the sanctions when they expire in November. She added: "The question of recognition is a slightly wider problem and could take just a little longer."