1970s

AA News explained the terms on which the Zimbabwe Patriotic Front would take part in the British Government conference on Zimbabwe. It asked Prime Minister Thatcher not to grant immunity to Ian Smith unless he stopped the hangings of Zimbabwean freedom fighters. It announced an international week of action against Barclays Bank and reported on the UN Committee Against Apartheid's appeal for government action to stop banks collaborating with South Africa. It exposed how British sports bodies were undermining the sports boycott. A centrespread featured a UN conference on apartheid's impact on children. Basil Davidson reported on his visit to Mozambique.

The October issue called for support for the Zimbabwe Patriotic Front in the Lancaster House constitutional talks. It reported that at least 7000 people were still held under martial law regulations in Zimbabwe. It exposed the sale of radar equipment by the British electronics firm Plessey in contravention of the UN arms embargo. A centrespread highlighted plans to protest against the South African Barbarians rugby tour of Britain. Basil Davidson remembered MPLA leader Agostinho Neto, who died on 10 September. SWAPO representative Shapua Kaugungua again accused Western governments of undermining negotiations for Namibian independence.

The November issue led on South African attacks against Zambia and Mozambique. It recorded the standing ovation for ANC President Oliver Tambo at the Labour Party Conference in September. It again alleged that Western governments were backtracking on the UN peace plan for Namibia. It exposed South African ‘reforms’ on trade unions, the pass laws, housing and education as ‘a new mask’ for apartheid. ZAPU women’s leader Jane Ngwenya told of the intimidation of women in Zimbabwe. South African lawyer Shun Chetty described South Africa’s rigged legal system.

As the Lancaster House talks on Zimbabwe drew to a conclusion, AA News warned that the British Government must not impose a settlement before a cease-fire agreement. It announced the launch of a campaign to save the life of ANC guerrilla James Mange, sentenced to death in Pietermaritzburg. Abdul Minty wrote about South Africa’s nuclear capacity. AA News reported on SWAPO’s rejection of the new Western plan for Namibia. It reviewed the conclusions of the AAM-UN Committee Against Apartheid international seminar on the role of transnational corporations in South Africa. It exposed Israel’s growing links with the apartheid government.