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Rhodesia

Volume 976: debated on Thursday 17 January 1980

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asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will give detailed figures of the number of persons still detained in Southern Rhodesia under martial law.

No details are available here. I am consulting the Governor and will let the hon. Member have a reply in due course.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the amnesty ordinance in Southern Rhodesia applies to all those detained under emergency powers regulations.

The amnesty ordinance applies to persons who might otherwise be prosecuted for offences of the kind specified in the ordinance. As such it may have some relevance to people who are detained under emergency powers legislation. The Governor is reviewing the cases of all those detained under this legislation.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what has been the outcome of the current review by the Governor of Southern Rhodesia of the cases of persons detained by ministerial orders; and if he will publish the names of those not released and the reasons for their continued detention.

Revocation orders have now been signed in respect of all remaining ministerial detention orders under the emergency powers legislation. Those persons still detained will, therefore, be released shortly.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the fate of the 119 people sentenced to death in Rhodesia since the introduction of secret hangings in April 1975; how many were executed; how many are still in prison; and how many have been released.

Mr. Luce: The Governor and his staff are fully engaged in the administration of the country, the implementation of the ceasefire and the conduct of elections. In these circumstances it would not be appropriate to launch an investigation of events relating to the period before his arrival.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what legal representations will now be possible on behalf of persons not released by the Governor of Southern Rhodesia under the amnesty ordinance.

it is open for anyone who believes that his case should have been covered by the amnesty to seek to have his case reviewed.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the amnesty ordinance in Southern Rhodesia applies to all those detained or convicted under martial law.

A review of persons detained or convicted under martial law is being carried out. In cases of persons convicted the relevant factor is whether the offence would have been covered by the amnesty ordinance.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the amnesty ordinance in Southern Rhodesia applies to all prisoners serving sentences in terms of the Law and Order (Maintenance) Act and other political legislation.

A review of persons serving sentences under such legislation is being carried out. The relevant factor is whether the offences would have been covered by the amnesty ordinance.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what representations on Zimbabwe-Rhodesia have recently been made to Her Majesty's Government by President Nyerere of Tanzania; and in what circumstances they were communicated to the High Commissioner in Dar-es-Salaam.

President Nyerere wrote to the Prime Minister following a meeting of the Presidents of the front-line States in Beira on 10 January. The text of the letter was handed to the British High Commissioner in Dar-es-Salaam by a member of the President's staff. It is not the practice to reveal the contents of confidential exchanges with other Governments.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what percentage of the vote in Zimbabwe-Rhodesia each of the parties would have to obtain in order to achieve a majority of seals in the new Parliament.

The House of Assembly will consist of 100 members. 80 will be elected by voters on the common roll and 20 by voters on the white roll. Ten parties have registered to take part in the elections, though not all the parties will contest the elections in all electoral districts. The calculation which the hon. Member requires would, therefore, be very complex.