LUSAKA, Zambia -- Vice President George Bush arrived today for talks with President Kenneth Haunda during a one-day stopover on his trans-continental safari to outline America's African policy to black leaders.
A 19-gun salute, a detachment of the Zambia regiment and teams of energetic tribal dancers greeted Bush on arrival.
Before leaving Harare, capital of neighboring Zimbabwe, Bush said the United States and Zimbabwe had different ideas on how to bring independence to South West Africa (Namibia).
Bush said his talks with Prime Minister Robert Mugabe did not affect the U.S. stand calling for withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola as a prerequisite for a South African withdrawal from South West Africa.
'Our position is well known, it's clear, we cannot dictate solutions. We hope we will be a catalyst for peace there,' Bush said in a news conference at the end of a three-day visit.
Bush, on a five-nation African tour, was scheduled to travel on to Zaire and Kenya, where he is expected to make a major statement Friday on U.S. African policy, before returning to Washington.
South Africa has been fighting a 16-year war against Namibian guerrillas of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), which launches many of its strikes against South African government forces from Marxist-ruled Angola.
Mugabe outlined his government's position on Namibia Tuesday in a speech welcoming Bush, saying he rejected U.S.-South African proposals to link a Cuban troop withdrawal from Angola to Namibian independence.
Bush said, however, that the United States agreed with Zimbabwe on most issues aside from Namibia.
'One of the differences is over Namibia,' Bush said. 'How great the difference remains I don't know,' he said.
'We don't expect 100 percent agreement and we have never gotten 100 percent agreement with our allies, friends and those opposing us,' he said.
Bush said his talks with Zimbabwean leaders had pinpointed economic development as the main problem facing the country and he said he had 'upbeat' discussions on problems such as agriculture.
Bush said he would take back a 'very encouraging' report on Zimbabwe.
'Problems exist, certainly, but in the short time I have been here I have seen that Zimbabweans share an earnest desire to overcome those problems together,' he said.
On Wednesday, Mugabe assured Bush that no matter what political system Zimbabwe adopts, it would never become a dictatorship or totalitarian state.
Mugabe said his government supported socialist principles because it believed there was greater democracy under the system and would keep its commitment to the constitution.
'We cherish democracy. We fought and died for it and we know what it means to be an oppressed people,' Mugabe said.
