By Dorrothy Moyo | The late Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda was distrusted by Botswana on Zimbabwe issues, a leaked letter to the UK suggests. 

The classified latter dated 9 Aug 1979, has the late Sir Seretse Khama advising London that Kaunda is the least to be trusted on ending hostilities caused by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Patriotic Front party. 

The full letter reads:

I believe the Prime Minister mentioned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary orally in Lusaka a conversation which she had had with Sir Seretse Khama at the reception by President Moi of Kenya on 7 August. This letter records the exchange.

Sir Seretse Khama advised the Prime Minister “not to be taken in by the politeness of the African”. President Khama had gone on to urge the Prime Minister to “work on” President Kaunda. He said that President Nyerere, President Machel and he himself “wanted out” of their commitments to the Patriotic Front; but that it would be necessary for the Prime Minister to work on Kenneth Kaunda.

The Prime Minister deduced from this conversation that President Kaunda was likely to be the least reliable of the Front Line Presidents In bringing Pressure to bear on the Patriotic Front to cease hostilities in the event of an agreement on a Constitution for Rhodesia. I should be grateful for any comments which you may have.

I am sending a copy of this letter to Martin Vile (Cabinet Office).