Zimbabwe ends attempt to expel Nkomo as MP

August 18, 1983

The government withdrew its motion to expel opposition leader Joshua Nkomo from Parliament, one day after his return from self-exile. But Prime Minister Robert Mugabe repeated his accusations that guerrillas loyal to Mr. Nkomo caused recent violence in his home province, and urged him to help stop them.

The government said it would have pressed on with the expulsion move had Mr. Nkomo stayed abroad. Nkomo said he did not regard the withdrawal of the motion as a conciliatory gesture by the government.