Stage set for Zimbabwe's big day

A stream of world leaders poured into Salisbury Wednesday for independence celebrations, including Prince Charles, representing Queen Elizabeth; Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser of Australia; and President Zia ul-Haq of Pakistan. UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of India were also due.

The former british colony of Rhodesia formally gains independence as Zimbabwe at midnight Friday, when a black government takes power after seven years of guerrilla war for majority rule.

Robert Mugabe, the nationalist leader who ws elected prime minister earlier this year, says one of his first priorities will be to unify the Rhode sian Army and the guerrillas who fought the bush war against the colony's former white rulers.