1970s

AA News reported on the TUC decision to sell its holdings in companies with subsidiaries in South Africa. Leading members of CFMAG (Committee for Freedom in Mozambique, Angola and Guine) told of their visit to the liberated areas of Mozambique. An interview with ZAPU (Zimbabwe African National Union) National Secretary Edward Ndlovu highlighted armed struggle as the only path to democracy in Zimbabwe. A feature on South Africa’s relations with African states argued that Prime Minister Vorster’s policy of dialogue had failed. A centrespread focused on British student action against apartheid.

The September issue reported on the annual conference of the black student organisation SASO, highlighting a speech by Steve Biko. An interview with the former Organising Secretary of ZANU, Michael Mawema, exposed attempts by the Smith regime to misrepresent African opinion in Zimbabwe. A special feature on Namibia reported on the apartheid government’s plans to set up Bantustans there. AA News revealed a developing two-way arms trade between Israel and South Africa. 

Under the headline ‘Who is kidding who?’ this issue exposed the British Government’s failure to implement sanctions against the Smith regime in Zimbabwe. It reported on the state of emergency imposed by the regime and on the formation of a joint guerrilla command by Zimbabwe’s liberation movements ZAPU and ZANU. In a report on the Brussels International Conference on Namibia held in May, AA News listed boycott targets. A centre spread featured South African student action against apartheid. The newspaper carried extracts from ANC President Oliver Tambo’s speech on South Africa Freedom Day on 26 June calling for united action against racism.

In a summary of the Pearce Commission report AA News showed how the people of Zimbabwe had overwhelmingly rejected the British Government’s settlement proposals. A paper prepared by Ruth First for an international conference on Namibia analysed the apartheid government’s plan to divide and rule the country. In the run-up to the planned 1973 rugby Springbok tour of New Zealand, HART (Halt All Racist Tours) chair Trevor Richards described the background to New Zealand’s sporting links with South Africa. The issue reprinted extracts from an interview with FRELIMO President Samora Machel about the guerrilla war in Mozambique’s Tete province.

AA News again led on the British Government’s attempts to override the rejection of its settlement proposals by the people of Zimbabwe. It reported on protests at the AGM of Barclays Bank against the bank’s Southern African operations, the first time a company AGM had ended in uproar. On Namibia AA News revealed that SWAPO guerrillas were now fighting in the Caprivi Strip and more than 900 workers had been detained after the recent strike wave. A centre spread featured the Conservative MPs who were profiting from their holdings in companies involved in Southern Africa.

The April issue reported on the rejection of proposals for a settlement on Rhodesia by meetings held by the Pearce Commission all over Zimbabwe. In Britain, MPs handed in to 10 Downing Street an 80,000-signature petition calling for no independence before majority rule. In Namibia, AA News reported on more strikes and detentions of Namibian workers. MPLA leader Daniel Chipenda revealed that MPLA had opened a new front near the Cunene dam project on the Namibian border. Recently released prisoners Fred Carneson and Hugh Lewin told AA News about the conditions endured by white political prisoners in Pretoria Local Prison.

A report on the Zimbabwe demonstration held in London on 13 February highlighted police attacks on demonstrators. AA News carried an interview with Bishop Abel Muzorewa, Chair of the African National Council, the lead Zimbabwean organisation opposing the British settlement proposals. The issue reported on protests in northern Namibia and on the trial of striking workers. AA News correspondent Antonio de Figueiredo exposed Portuguese ‘multi-racialism’ as a cover for white domination. 

The February issue led on the campaign to stop the British government granting independence to Zimbabwe without any guarantee of majority rule. It advertised a demonstration in London organised by the Zimbabwe Emergency Campaign Committee. It reported on a strike by Ovambo workers in Namibia and carried an interview by SWAPO Secretary Moses Garoeb. The centrespread celebrated the 60th anniversary of the formation of the African National Congress. A feature on the US campaign to persuade Polaroid to discontinue sales of ID equipment to the apartheid government exposed the poverty wages paid by its South African distributor.