CM/Res. 62 (V)
SOUTHERN RHODESIA
The Council of Ministers, meeting in its Fifth Ordinary Session in Accra, Ghana, from 14 to 21 October 1965,
Deeply concerned by the gravity of the situation in Southern Rhodesia by the persistent threat of the white minority government to perpetuate its domination by means of a Unilateral Declaration of Independence,
Considering that the situation constitutes a serious danger to world peace,
DISAPPROVES the attitude of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland whose deliberate failure to take drastic political and military action against the white minority government bent on usurping power in Southern Rhodesia, now exposes the African people of Southern Rhodesia to servitude under a settler government;
URGES the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to immediately:
suspend the 1961 Constitution of Southern Rhodesia, a step taken for less valid reasons in British Guiana and Aden;
release all the leaders of the Nationalist Movements, JOSHUA NKOMO, SITHOLE and all other political prisoners;
hold a constitutional Conference with the participation of the duly mandated representatives of the entire population of Southern Rhodesia, with a view to adopting a new constitution guaranteeing universal suffrage, (one man, one vote) free elections and independence;
RENEWS its appeal to the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to use every means at its disposal to prevent a Unilateral Declaration of Independence as openly threatened by the minority settler government.
DECIDES that the Council of Minister recommended to the Assembly of Head of State and Government the following crisis:
to reconsider all political, economic, diplomatic and financial relations with the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the event of U.D.I.
to use all possible means, including force to prevent U.D.I.;
to give immediate assistance to the people of Zimbabwe in order to bring about majority rule in the country;
to appoint a special Committee to work out all forms of assistance to Southern Rhodesia;
REQUESTS those African States who are members of the Commonwealth to use all possible means at their disposal to bring about a speedy and effective solution to the Rhodesian problem;
APPEALS to all Governments not to recognize or give assistance of any kind of any minority government in Rhodesia established as a result of U.D.I.;
URGENTLY APPEALS once again to the United Nations and specially the Security Council to undertake without delay all possible means to prevent U.E.I. and help bring about majority rule in Rhodesia on the basis of “one, man, one vote”;
EMPOWERS the African Group at the United Nations with the assistance of the Secretary-General of the OAU to secure the realization of the request addressed to the United Nations and the Security Council with a view to implementing paragraph 7 above.