Muzorewa says British must curb rural violence

January 21, 1980

Bishop Abel T. Muzorewa has threatened to torpedo the forthcoming independence elections unless the British clamp down on a wave of rural violence attributed to the Patriotic Front guerrillas. Mr. Muzorewa, who stepped down as prime minister for the cease-fire agreement, said the guerrillas were continuing to terrorize the countryside as a matter of policy and that the British governor , Lord Soames, must act forcibly to halt these activities.