Browse the AAM Archive

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.

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. 

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.

A report on the AAM’s annual general meeting highlighted campaigns to stop a sell-out on Zimbabwe, for an end to investment and trade with South Africa, and support for SWAPO’s armed struggle in Namibia. AA News revealed how the British Government was undermining sanctions against Rhodesia. In an interview, MPLA leader Jose Condessa, asked for educational materials for schools in Angola’s liberated areas. A centre spread featured the British companies that backed UKSATA (UK-South Africa Trade Association). 

This issue highlighted the strike by thousands of Durban dockworkers and the poverty wages paid to black workers in South Africa. An article by John Sprack analysed ‘Apartheid – Rhodesian Style’ and Ruth First reported on the talks held by UN special envoy Dr Albert Escher with Prime Minister Vorster on Namibia. Pam Logie told of her conversations with women in the liberated areas of Mozambique when she visited Tete province. AA News special correspondent Antonio de Figueiredo reported on Portugese war crimes in its African colonies exposed by Portuguese priest Father Luiz Afonso da Costa.

This issue highlighted an appeal by SACTU (South African Congress of Trade Unions) to British companies asking them to withdraw from South Africa. It mourned Amilcar Cabral, leader of the liberation movement in the Portuguese colony of Guinea-Bissau, assassinated in January 1973. The newspaper reported on strikes by African workers in Durban and carried an interview with SWAPO leader Peter Nanyemba on SWAPO's guerrilla war. An article reviewed 600 years of the Anglo-Portuguese alliance in advance of the visit by Portugal’s dictator Marcello Caetano to Britain in June.

The March issue led on Durban African workers' spiralling strike movement and solidarity action by British trade unions. A centre spread reported that at the height of the strike 100,000 workers had walked out. Ros Ainslie reported on the failure of South Africa’s Bantustan policy. The newspaper exposed South Africa’s military support for the Smith regime and carried an interview about FRELIMO schools in the liberated areas of Mozambique. It reported on the disinvestment campaign against Gulf Oil in the USA.

Sporadic strikes by Durban workers were continuing, reported this issue of AA News. The newspaper highlighted the banning of student leaders, including the entire leadership of the South African Student Organisation (SASO). Marie Louise Moumbaris, released after four months in solitary, described her ordeal and a feature by Albie Sachs exposed the travesty of South Africa’s justice system. A centre spread exposed the starvation workers paid to African workers by British companies'  South African subsidiaries.