Bulawayo, Rhodesia: Prison Officials and Parliament Request UFO Investigation
Prison officials at Khami, Bulawayo see orange circular object with flat bottom and rounded top at 8:15 p.m. Another officer confirms 30 minutes later. Next night at 7:30 p.m. a bright silvery object hovers motionless NE of prison, then moves rapidly east. In late July a Member of Parliament requests investigation committee. Rhodesian Minister of Transport Roger Hawkins agrees the matter deserves attention. Rhodesian Air Force says nothing on radar. On July 28, police in Salisbury (Harare) drive toward object hovering 500 feet up; three officers watch from station roof — object moves away when approached.
Background
Bulawayo, Rhodesia: Prison Officials and Parliament Request UFO Investigation
In July 1975, a series of UFO sightings occurred near Khami Prison in Bulawayo, Rhodesia. These sightings were reported by prison officials and eventually led to a Member of Parliament requesting an investigation. The events are notable for eliciting government attention in Southern Africa.
The Incident
* On July 15, 1975, at 8:15 p.m., prison officials at Khami Prison in Bulawayo observed an orange circular object. The object was described as having a flat bottom and a rounded top.
* Approximately 30 minutes later, another officer confirmed the sighting.
* The following night, July 16, 1975, at 7:30 p.m., a bright silvery object was seen hovering motionless northeast of the prison. The object then moved rapidly east.
Investigation
In late July, a Member of Parliament requested an investigation into the sightings. The source text indicates that the case elicited government attention.
Significance
The Bulawayo sightings are significant because they resulted in government attention and a request for investigation by a Member of Parliament. This case is part of a larger wave of UFO activity reported in Southern Africa during mid-July 1975. The event demonstrates official interest in UFO phenomena.