African Leaders to Seek Talks With Reagan
President Kenneth D. Kaunda said Sunday that he will ask President Reagan to meet with leaders of the black-governed nations around South Africa to discuss a new “humane U.S. policy” toward the region “now being strangled by the tentacles of apartheid.”
“Zambia and other front-line states are facing severe economic problems as a result of drought, debt and a dependence on transportation routes which are vulnerable to disruption and manipulation by South Africa and its surrogates,” Kaunda said.
Zambian sources said that if Reagan turns down the invitation, the leaders of Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe are prepared to go to Washington.
These sources said the decision to invite Reagan was made at a meeting of “front-line” leaders last week in Luanda, Angola.
The black leaders expressed support in Luanda for international sanctions against South Africa, although only two of the six--Zambia and Zimbabwe--have adopted such sanctions. Its neighbors are economically dependent upon South Africa, and vulnerable to economic retaliation by Pretoria.
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