 The transitional government was badly received abroad , partly because the Internal Settlement kept control of law enforcement , the military , the judiciary and the civil service under white control . No country recognised Rhodesia 's interim administration . Smith again worked to bring <unk> into the government , hoping this would lend it some <unk> domestically , prompt diplomatic recognition overseas , and help the security forces defeat ZANLA . Starting on 14 August 1978 , he attended secret meetings with <unk> in <unk> , Zambia ( where <unk> was based ) , doing so with the assistance of the mining corporation <unk> . Attempts were made to also involve the <unk> leader Robert <unk> , but <unk> would have no part in the talks . According to the South African military historian <unk> <unk> , negotiations between Smith and <unk> progressed well and " seemed on the verge of success " by the start of September 1978 . On 2 September , Smith and <unk> revealed publicly that the secret meetings had taken place . 
