The Rt. Hon. Ian Smith GCLM ID
1st Prime Minister of Rhodesia
In office 11 November 1965 – 1 June 1979
Monarch	Elizabeth II (1965–1970)
President	Clifford Dupont (1970–1976) John Wrathall (1976–1978) Henry Everard (1978-1979)
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	Abel Muzorewa
Constituency	Umzinganwe
8th Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia
In office 16 April 1964 – 11 November 1965
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Deputy	Clifford Dupont
Preceded by	Winston Field
Succeeded by	None
Born	April 8, 1919(1919-04-08) Selukwe, Midlands, Southern Rhodesia
Died	November 20, 2007 (aged 88) Cape Town, South Africa
Nationality	Rhodesian
Political party	Rhodesian Front
Spouse	Janet Watt (1948–1994)
Alma mater	Rhodes University
Religion	Presbyterian
Signature

Ian Douglas Smith GCLM ID (8 April 1919 – 20 November 2007) served as the Prime Minister of the British self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia from 13 April 1964 to 11 November 1965 and as the first Prime Minister of Rhodesia from 11 November 1965 to 1 June 1979 during white minority rule. The Right Honourable (abbreviated as The Rt Hon) is an Honorific prefix that is traditionally applied to certain The Legion of Merit was a Rhodesian order of merit awarded to both civilian and military recipients for service to Rhodesia The Independence Decoration was a Rhodesian Civil decoration awarded to persons who played a notable and significant part in the Unilateral Declaration of Independence The Prime Minister of Rhodesia (until 1964 Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia was the Head of government in the Colony of Rhodesia. Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. Events 193 - Roman Emperor Didius Julianus is Assassinated 987 - Hugh Capet is elected Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II Clifford Walter Dupont ( December 6 1905 &ndash June 28 1978) served in the internationally unrecognized positions as Officer Administrating John James Wrathall ( August 28, 1913 &ndash August 31, 1978) was a Rhodesian Politician. Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Breedon Everard DSO ( February 21, 1897 &ndash August 7, 1980) was a railway engineer and executive Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa (born on 4 April 1925) served as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia from the Internal Settlement to the Lancaster The Prime Minister of Rhodesia (until 1964 Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia was the Head of government in the Colony of Rhodesia. Events 1178 BC - A Solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II Clifford Walter Dupont ( December 6 1905 &ndash June 28 1978) served in the internationally unrecognized positions as Officer Administrating Winston Joseph Field MBE (1904 - 1969 was a Rhodesian politician Events 217 - Roman Emperor Caracalla is Assassinated (and succeeded by his Praetorian Year 1919 ( MCMXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Shurugwi, formerly Selukwe, a town and administrative centre in Midlands Province, southern Zimbabwe, located about 350km south of Harare; population Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British Colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa, and known today as Zimbabwe Events 284 - Diocletian was chosen as Roman Emperor. 762 - Bögü Khan of the Uyghurs, Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Cape Town (Kaapstad Xhosa: Ikapa) is the second most populous city in South Africa, forming part of the metropolitan municipality of the The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Rhodesia was the name adopted when the formerly British colony of Southern Rhodesia declared itself independent ( Unilateral Declaration of Independence The Rhodesian Front ( RF) was a Political party in Southern Rhodesia when the country was under White minority rule. Alma mater is Latin for "nourishing mother" It was used in Ancient Rome as a title for the mother Goddess, and in Medieval Rhodes University is a university in South Africa named after Cecil Rhodes. Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity The Legion of Merit was a Rhodesian order of merit awarded to both civilian and military recipients for service to Rhodesia The Independence Decoration was a Rhodesian Civil decoration awarded to persons who played a notable and significant part in the Unilateral Declaration of Independence Events 217 - Roman Emperor Caracalla is Assassinated (and succeeded by his Praetorian Year 1919 ( MCMXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 284 - Diocletian was chosen as Roman Emperor. 762 - Bögü Khan of the Uyghurs, Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Prime Minister of Rhodesia (until 1964 Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia was the Head of government in the Colony of Rhodesia. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British Colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa, and known today as Zimbabwe Events 1111 - Henry V is crowned Holy Roman Emperor. 1204 - The Fourth Crusade sacks Constantinople Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. The Prime Minister of Rhodesia (until 1964 Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia was the Head of government in the Colony of Rhodesia. Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. Events 193 - Roman Emperor Didius Julianus is Assassinated 987 - Hugh Capet is elected Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) A dominant minority, also known as alien elites if they are recent immigrants is a group that has overwhelming political, economic or Cultural Smith unilaterally declared independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965. The Unilateral Declaration of Independence ( UDI) of Rhodesia from the United Kingdom was signed on November 11, 1965 by the administration The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. The country failed to gain international recognition and United Nations economic sanctions were instituted. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security Economic sanctions are domestic penalties applied by one country (or group of countries on another for a variety of reasons

The party he led, the Rhodesian Front, won all but two general elections until the end of white rule in 1979, a period in which few blacks were qualified to vote. The Rhodesian Front ( RF) was a Political party in Southern Rhodesia when the country was under White minority rule. A small number of people of European ethnic origin ( Whites) first came as settlers to the African country now known as Zimbabwe during the late nineteenth century This article relates to Southern Rhodesia up to 1964 and Rhodesia thereafter The Smith administration fought against black nationalists in the 1971-1979 Rhodesian Bush War. The Rhodesian Bush War, also known as the Second Chimurenga or the Zimbabwe Liberation Struggle, was a war which lasted from July 1964 to 1979 and He negotiated an Internal Settlement in 1979 after fourteen years of maintaining white rule in the face of war, economic sanctions, and international pressure. The Internal Settlement was the agreement between Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith and Abel Muzorewa in 1978. The agreement led to biracial rule and a coalition government led by Prime Minister Abel Muzorewa of the UANC. Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa (born on 4 April 1925) served as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia from the Internal Settlement to the Lancaster The United African National Council (UANC is a political party in Zimbabwe. The Lancaster House Agreement and the election of Robert Mugabe as Prime Minister of the newly renamed Zimbabwe in 1980 marked the beginning of majority rule. The Lancaster House Agreement ended biracial rule in Zimbabwe Rhodesia following negotiations between representatives of the Patriotic Front (PF consisting of ZAPU See also Great Zimbabwe National Monument. For information about the March and June 2008 presidential elections see Zimbabwean presidential election Smith remained a member of the Zimbabwe Parliament until 1987. The Parliament of Zimbabwe consists of two chambers The Senate ( Upper Chamber; in existence from 1980 to 1989 and since 2005 The Subsequently, he enjoyed a long and comfortable retirement in Zimbabwe before relocating to Cape Town, South Africa. Cape Town (Kaapstad Xhosa: Ikapa) is the second most populous city in South Africa, forming part of the metropolitan municipality of the The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa

Family and early life

Smith was born in Selukwe, a small mining and farming town. Shurugwi, formerly Selukwe, a town and administrative centre in Midlands Province, southern Zimbabwe, located about 350km south of Harare; population He was the family's youngest child with two older sisters, Phyllis and Joan. He went to school in Gwelo and at Rhodes University in South Africa. Gweru ( formerly Gwelo) is a city near the centre of Zimbabwe at. Rhodes University is a university in South Africa named after Cecil Rhodes. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa

Smith's father was a Scottish butcher who had arrived in Rhodesia in 1898, where he became a cattle rancher. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. His mother was herself born in Rhodesia. Smith said of his father:

He was one of the fairest men I have ever met and that is the way he brought me up. He always told me that we're entitled to our half of the country and the blacks are entitled to theirs.

—Ian Smith quoted by Time Magazine^[1]

He attended Rhodes University in South Africa in 1938 taking a bachelor of commerce degree. ^[2] Smith interrupted his studies because of World War II and joined the Royal Rhodesian Air Force. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Royal Rhodesian Air Force was the air arm of the British colonial state of Rhodesia. After he had completed his flight training, he was seconded to the Royal Air Force in the rank of Pilot Officer. Pilot Officer ( Plt Off officially in the RAF PLTOFF in the RAAF and RNZAF P/O in the former RCAF and frequently in the RAF is the lowest commissioned He served with distinction in the Royal Air Force at RAF Pembrey, Pembrey, Wales. RAF Pembrey was a Royal Air Force station, home to 233 Operational Conversion Unit which flew De Havilland Vampires and Hawker Hunters Pembrey Delaware Pembrey ( Pen-bre) is a village in Carmarthenshire Wales, situated between Burry Port and Kidwelly, overlooking On 4 October 1943 his plane crashed on take-off because of a throttle malfunction and he crashed and rammed his face against the Hurricane’s gunsight. Events 610 - Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He sustained severe facial injuries as well as breaking his jaw, a leg and a shoulder. He also buckled his back. He received plastic surgery and half of his face remained paralyzed. Plastic surgery is a medical specialty interested in the correction of form and function Paralysed redirects here For other uses see xx Paralysed (disambiguation Paralysis is the complete loss of Muscle function Once he recovered he returned to active service in Corsica. Corsica (Corse Corsican and Italian: Corsica) is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily In mid-1944 German anti-aircraft fire shot down Smith's Spitfire during an attack on a railway facility. Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers Anti-aircraft warfare, or air defense, is any method of engaging hostile military Aircraft in defence of ground objectives, ground or naval forces WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout He parachuted safely from his aircraft, landing behind enemy lines. Italian partisan and French resistance groups gave him refuge. A partisan is a member of an Irregular military force formed to oppose control of an area by a foreign power or by an army of occupation The French Resistance is the collective name used for the French Resistance movements which fought against the Nazi German He and three other Allied fugitives made their way through occupied Italy to the Maritime Alps and reached Allied lines. The Allies of World War II were the countries officially opposed to the Axis powers during the Second World War. After the war Smith returned and finished his degree at Rhodes where he was also elected chairman of the students’ representative council. He bought a farm in Selukwe, later expanding it into a 21,500-acre (87 km²) estate. Shurugwi, formerly Selukwe, a town and administrative centre in Midlands Province, southern Zimbabwe, located about 350km south of Harare; population ^[2]

Smith married Janet Watt in 1948^[3] and had one child, Alec, whom he brought up with his wife's two children, Robert and Jean, from her earlier marriage to South African rugby player Dr. Alexander Douglas Smith, commonly known as Alec Smith ( May 25 1949 - January 19 2006) was born in Gwelo Rhodesia Piet Duvenage. Janet Smith died in 1994. He remained on close terms with his son Alec despite significant disagreement on political issues. Alec deserted from the Rhodesian army while serving as a conscript in the 1970s and went to Europe. There he married Elisabeth Knudsen, a Norwegian national, by whom he had three children: one son and two daughters. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional Alec died on 19 January 2006 of a heart attack at Heathrow Airport, London. Events 1419 - Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England completing his reconquest of Normandy. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. He always supported majority rule in Rhodesia and South Africa.

His stepson Robert travelled to the UK in April 1970 and stayed briefly, but lived in Rhodesia for most of the 1970s. After a brief period of doctoral studies in the USA. in the early 1980s, he returned to Zimbabwe permanently with his family in 1985 and worked as an agricultural engineer.

Smith's stepdaughter Jean married Rhodesian folk singer Clem Tholet in 1967. Clem Tholet (1948 – 6 October 2004) was a Rhodesian folk singer who became popular in the 1970s for his Rhodesian patriotic songs Tholet was famous for recordings such as Vagabond Gun and Rhodesians Never Die. ^[4] Jean, by then living in Cape Town, was widowed in 2004 when Tholet died of a heart attack aged 56. Cape Town (Kaapstad Xhosa: Ikapa) is the second most populous city in South Africa, forming part of the metropolitan municipality of the ^[5]

Political background

Smith became active in politics at the 1948 general election when he was elected to the Legislative Assembly as a Liberal for Selukwe district. The Southern Rhodesia general election of September 15, 1948 saw the Prime Minister Godfrey Huggins regain the overall majority he had lost at The Southern Rhodesian Liberal Party was founded and led by Jacob Smit ( 1881 - 1959) the former United Party (UP Minister of finance He was initially reluctant to stand due to his youth and the fact that he was establishing his farm. Indeed he was the youngest MP ever in the Southern Rhodesian Parliament. ^[2] In 1953 his support for the federation of Southern Rhodesia with Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland led him to join the Federal Party set up by Prime Minister Godfrey Huggins. Constitutional origins It was commonly understood that Southern Rhodesia would be the dominant territory in the federation — economically electorally and militarily Northern Rhodesia was a territory in south central Africa initially administered under charter by the British South Africa Company and formed by it in 1911 by The History of Malawi covers the area of present-day Malawi. The region was once part of the Maravi Empire. The United Federal Party, previously known as the United Party and the United Rhodesia Party, was one of Southern Rhodesia 's most successful political parties Godfrey Martin Huggins 1st Viscount Malvern, CH, KCMG, PC, ( July 6 1883 - May 8 1971) was a Rhodesian

In the federal general election he was elected as Federal Party member for Midlands, and therefore stood down from his seat in the Southern Rhodesian legislature. The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland general election of December 15, 1953 was the first election to the legislative assembly of the Federation of Rhodesia From 1958 Smith served as Chief Whip for the UNFP in the Federal Assembly, but grew increasingly apart from the position of the United Federal Party and the new Prime Minister Sir Roy Welensky. Sir Raphael " Roy " Welensky, KCMG (January 20 1907 – December 5 1991 was a Northern Rhodesian politician and the second In early 1962 he resigned the UFP whip and formed a breakaway party called the Rhodesia Reform Party. After a few months, this party merged with the Dominion Party to form the Rhodesian Front (RF). The Rhodesian Front ( RF) was a Political party in Southern Rhodesia when the country was under White minority rule.

Rhodesian Front

Smith was re-elected to Parliament as an RF member for Umzingwane in the 1962 general election, at which the RF won a slim majority and formed a government. The Southern Rhodesia general election of 1962 took place on December 14, 1962. He served as Minister of the Treasury under Prime Minister Winston Field. Winston Joseph Field MBE (1904 - 1969 was a Rhodesian politician Field's failure to secure independence from Britain upon dissolution of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in 1963 left many dissatisfied with his leadership and in April 1964 Smith deposed him.

Smith was staunchly opposed to the British government's insistence (see NIBMAR) that Rhodesia introduce majority rule before independence. No Independence Before Majority African Rule ( NIBMAR) was a policy adopted by the British Empire requiring the implementation of Majority rule in a colony Smith at one point stated that there would be no plans to bring Rhodesia under "black majority rule" in his lifetime, later adding, "or [my] children's. " Smith later maintained in his memoirs that he was referring to black rule as it was in other African countries such as Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, and Nigeria but a recording was played on the BBC World Service (on the day of his death) of Smith saying: "I don't believe in black majority rule ever, not in a thousand years". The Republic of Ghana is a country in West Africa. It borders Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast to the west Burkina Faso to the north Togo to the The Republic of Uganda is a Landlocked country in East Africa. Tanzania ˌtænzəˈniːə officially the United Republic of Tanzania (Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal Constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal Instead he believed in "parity" or "partnership" which meant that eventually the black and white communities would have equal seats and power regardless of numbers.

Smith at the Bulawayo Farmers' Fair, Easter 1964.

White minority rule originated in property and education qualifications for voting that were in place when the British government introduced self-government in 1923. Such qualifications were unexceptional by the standards of the 1920s and, although slightly modified over the years, they ensured a situation up to 1979 in which whites had 95% of the votes in national elections while they were never more than 5% of the population.

Smith and other white settler politicians argued there was nothing fundamentally racist about the electoral system in Rhodesia. They stated that improvements in black education and wealth would, over time, ensure a gradual move to majority rule. However, critics argued that the whole political arrangement in Rhodesia was intended to entrench economic and political privilege for whites.

During the mid 1950's a black nationalist movement emerged in Rhodesia. The early political parties were banned before the Rhodesian Front assumed power. They reemerged in the form of two main parties,the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and the Zimbabwe African People's Union which espoused an increasingly militant nationalism. The Zimbabwe African National Union was a militant organization that fought against White minority rule in Rhodesia, formed as a split from the Zimbabwe African Zimbabwe African People's Union is a defunct militant Communist organization and political party that fought for the National liberation of Zimbabwe from ZANU came to be led by Robert Mugabe and drew on a largely Shona speaking support base while Joshua Nkomo led ZAPU, supported primarily by the Sindebele speaking minority. Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo ( June 19, 1917 &ndash July 1, 1999) was the leader and founder of the Zimbabwe African People's Union Very soon after he became Prime Minister, Ian Smith imprisoned the entire leadership of the black nationalist movement. ^[2]. In his autobiography Smith says he opposed ZANU and ZAPU because of their Communist ideology. Communism is a Socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of an egalitarian, classless, stateless Society based However it was not until the 1970s that the parties adopted Marxist ideology. The banning of successive nationalist parties between August 1959 and August 1964 hastened their radicalisation and provided the impetus for civil war.

UDI and its aftermath

During the early 1960s most of the British government's African colonies won independence. Rhodesia also sought independence, but the British government would only consider independence with majority rule. The Rhodesian cabinet issued a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) on 11 November 1965 anyway, attracting widespread international condemnation and the first instance of economic sanctions in the history of the United Nations, led by Britain and the OAU. The Unilateral Declaration of Independence ( UDI) of Rhodesia from the United Kingdom was signed on November 11, 1965 by the administration Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. Economic sanctions are domestic penalties applied by one country (or group of countries on another for a variety of reasons The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security The Organisation of African Unity ( OAU) or Organisation de l'Unité Africaine ( OUA) was established on 25 May 1963. The government of South Africa, while privately sympathetic and supportive of the Smith administration, did not grant recognition. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa

Ian Smith defies the international community, 1975 (photo by W Higham)

The UN sanctions implemented restrictions on any form of trade or financial transaction with Rhodesia. They also made it difficult for Rhodesians to travel abroad. The Norwegian government angered Smith when it refused to allow him to attend the 1979 wedding in Norway of his son Alec. Politics of Norway takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic Constitutional monarchy. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional In the short term, Rhodesia was able to evade sanctions with the assistance of a few sympathetic governments and some 'sanction-busting' private companies. A number of white Rhodesians were uneasy about UDI. The business community was particularly concerned about the resultant economic dislocation and loss of markets. ^[6] The Rhodesian Council of Churches became increasingly opposed to UDI on moral grounds. ^[7]

In the three years after UDI, there were two rounds of negotiations between the Rhodesian and British governments. The issue was the terms on which UDI could be ended and the position of Rhodesia regularized within the international community. The central figures in both these negotiations were Smith and British Prime Minister Harold Wilson. James Harold Wilson Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, PC (11 March 1916 &ndash 24 May 1995 was one of the most prominent British politicians

The first round of negotiations was held in Gibraltar in December 1966 on board HMS Tiger. Gibraltar (dʒɨˈbrɒltər is a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar Construction redesign and commissioning Tiger started out as Bellerophon laid down in 1941 at the John Brown Shipyard as part of the ''Minotaur'' The terms the British offered on this occasion were that Smith's government should resign, allowing the British governor to appoint a "broad-based" government with an RF majority, but with five non-RF members of whom two would be black. The existing 1961 constitution would be modified to accelerate the expansion of black representation leading to majority rule in the near term. This offer was dismissed by Smith, who viewed it as terms for surrender.

De facto flag of Rhodesia (1968-1979)

De jure flag of Rhodesia (1964-1980)

A second round of negotiations took place on board HMS Fearless in October 1968. The Flag of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) changed many times as a result of political changes in the country Role See also Fearless class landing platform dock The LPDs provided support to a Royal Marines amphibious assault force and provided a platform The terms offered on HMS Tiger were moderated by dropping the need for an interim return to British rule. However, the requirement for the installation of a broad-based government and an accelerated move to majority rule remained. Smith dismissed this offer as well. Smith's perceived unconditional support from the South African government was critical to his decision not to agree to the deal. ^[8]

In 1969 Smith unveiled the new republican constitution for Rhodesia. The architects of UDI offered "equal partnership between black and white" as an alternative to majority rule. Whites and blacks would vote in general elections on separate rolls and the number of assembly members elected by each roll would depend on the total income tax paid by each community. Initially, whites would have 50 assembly members and blacks 16. But it was planned that the number of black members would rise over time in line with growing contribution to the “fisc” until there were 50. At that point, equal partnership would have been achieved and a final settlement would have been arrived at. This was presented to the outside world as Smith's vision for the future of the country.

However, Smith made comments indicating that his commitment to equal partnership was less than wholehearted. One journalist heard him say, "With immigration and so forth, this thing may never come. "^[9] White immigration in the late 1960s had pushed the white share of the population to its all time peak of 5. 5% in 1970. Smith indicated that a continuation of this trend might fundamentally shift the demographics of the country.

The Conservatives won the 1970 British general election and the new British government reopened negotiations with Smith. The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. In 1971 the British government offered the Smith administration even more generous terms to end UDI. In particular, the Rhodesian land apportionment which reserved 50% of the country's land for white ownership would be allowed to continue in perpetuity. British Foreign Secretary Alec Douglas-Home privately warned Smith that it would be unwise to do this. Alexander Frederick Douglas-Home Baron Home of the Hirsel, KT, PC (2 July 1903 - 9 October 1995 14th Earl of Home from 1951 to 1963 was a British ^[10] The electoral system would be modified to allow black representation in the assembly to grow in line with voter numbers rather than contribution to the fisc and there would be no equal representation cap. However, education and wealth qualifications in the electoral roll would keep black representation very much in a minority for an extended period. ^[11] Smith stated that this settlement allowed that "racial discrimination may continue as long as it is justifiable and reasonable" and he accepted it.

The head of Rhodesia's Methodist Church called it a "constitutional rape of Africans by both the Rhodesian and British governments. " The British withdrew the deal in 1972. A few months later Marxist insurgents attacked white-owned farms leading to the Bush War. The Rhodesian Bush War, also known as the Second Chimurenga or the Zimbabwe Liberation Struggle, was a war which lasted from July 1964 to 1979 and

In October 1974 Prime Minister of South Africa B.J. Vorster launched his policy of “détente” with black Africa and began pushing Smith to end white minority rule. The Prime Minister of South Africa was the Head of government in South Africa between 1910 and 1984 Balthazar Johannes Vorster (13 December 1915 - 10 September 1983 better known as John Vorster ("FOUR-stir" served as the Prime Minister of South Africa As a consequence he withdrew diplomatic support for the UDI regime which had become a major obstacle Vorster's new policy. Vorster demanded that Smith release the black nationalist leaders in detention and Smith reluctantly gave in and released them. Then suddenly without warning, Vorster then proceeded to remove the contingent of South African police guarding the northern border against guerrilla incursions. This shocked Smith. One could expect this from the British, he said, but now with the South Africans, “there was obvious deceit”. Vorster also severely limited the supply from South Africa of fuel, munitions and aircraft spares that were badly needed by the government in the Bush War and this consequently severely impeded The Rhodesian war effort. ^[2]

In 1976 US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger formulated what came to be known as a six-step "Kissinger Plan" (or "Kissinger Initiative") with the concurrence of the British government and the participation of South Africa's Vorster. The United States Secretary of State (commonly abbreviated as SecState) is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with Foreign affairs Henry Alfred Kissinger (born Heinz Alfred Kissinger on May 27, 1923) is a German -born American bureaucrat diplomat and 1973 Kissinger flew to South Africa and met with Smith and Vorster in Pretoria. Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. UK Prime Minister James Callaghan said the plan could end fighting in Rhodesia. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the political leader of the United Kingdom Leonard James Callaghan Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, KG, PC (27 March 1912 – 26 March 2005 was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979 Smith accepted the plan with reluctance, explaining,

"The proposals which were put to us do not represent what in our view would have been the best solution for the Rhodesian problem. Regretfully, however, we were not able to make our views prevail. . . . The American and British governments, together with major Western powers, have made up their minds as to the kind of solution they wish to see in Rhodesia, and they are determined to bring it about. "^[12]

Throughout the 15 year period leading up to the independence of Zimbabwe, Ian Smith was given support in both the UK and US by various groups, including the Conservative Monday Club who organized pro-Rhodesia demonstrations outside number 10 Downing Street several times during the late 1970s, and provided Smith with a platform at several receptions and major dinners. The Conservative Monday Club (widely known as the Monday Club) is a British pressure-group "on the right-wing of the Conservative Party " The Club had a Rhodesia sub-committee chaired by Tory MP, Harold Soref. Harold Benjamin Soref ( 18 December 1916 &ndash 14 March 1993) was twice a Conservative parliamentary candidate before being In December 1967 Barry Goldwater, Senator from Arizona and Republican candidate for the 1964 presidential election, praised Smith in an interview with Harvey Ward in Salisbury, saying, "We need more men like Ian Smith, I think, in the world today. The State of Arizona ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. Please DO NOT flip the colors -->The United States presidential election of 1964 was one of the most lopsided presidential elections in the history of the United States Harvey Grenville Ward (1927 — 1995 was Director-General of the Rhodesian Broadcasting Corporation, noted for his Anti-communism and for his support for Ian We have too few leaders and I'd like to see him multiplied a little bit, and spread around. "^[13]

However, groups from other positions on the Anglo-American political spectrum were opposed to the Smith regime. Peter Hain (the future Northern Ireland Secretary and Welsh Secretary in the British Government) was active, as a leading Young Liberal, in organising demonstrations and campaigns against Smith. Peter Gerald Hain (born 16 February 1950, Nairobi, Kenya) is a British Labour Party Politician who has US President Jimmy Carter and his Ambassador to the UN Andrew Young would become key figures in the ultimate demise of UDI. James Earl "Jimmy" Carter Jr (born October 1 1924 was the thirty-ninth President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981 and the recipient of the 2002 This page is about Congressman and Ambassador Andrew Young For other men with the same name see Andrew Young (disambiguation.

Having conceded the principle of immediate majority rule in 1976, Smith initially appeared reluctant to actually take the steps necessary to implement it. Smith conducted endless discussions with the US, British and South African governments as well as conducting secret and open talks with almost all the black nationalist parties. At one stage, the British appointed a governor-designate of Rhodesia (Michael Carver) in anticipation of an end to UDI. Field Marshal Richard Michael Power Carver Baron Carver GCB, CBE, DSO & Bar, MC ( 24 April 1915 - 9 December Opportunities to settle with moderate black leaders and the international community came and went.

"Smith failed to take advantage of opportunities, and in so doing, he came to appear both intransigent and indecisive. " – Brookings Institution study on conflict management^[14]

Smith's intention was to secure the position of the white community in a post-independence Rhodesia through implementing majority rule with some qualifications. The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington D The practical result of this delay was that the military balance in the Bush War began to tip decisively in the insurgents' favour. Heavily armed guerrilla fighters entered Rhodesia in large numbers from bases in Mozambique, Zambia and Botswana. 80% of Rhodesian war casualties were incurred in the period January 1977 to December 1979. ^[15]

End of the UDI

Salisbury, November 1978. Janet and Ian Smith at the final official celebration in Rhodesia of the anniversary of UDI

Rhodesia's isolation intensified once Mozambique became independent of Portuguese rule in 1975, and when South Africa started to scale back its support. Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique (Moçambique or República de Moçambique, ʁɛ'publikɐ d musɐ̃'bik is a country in southeastern Africa The measures required to evade UN sanctions meant that the Rhodesian economy as a whole had to buy at a premium and sell at a discount. There had been almost nil inward investment during UDI.

Eventually, Smith had to bow to the inevitable and concede a form of majority rule. However, he struggled to qualify the nature of majority rule. The "internal settlement" negotiated with some minor moderate black parties in 1978 left the white minority with an entrenched position. Whites were guaranteed nearly one-third of the seats in parliament, one quarter of the places in the cabinet and control of the police, army, civil service and judiciary.

In 1979 the first multi-racial parliamentary elections (but with separate black and white rolls) were held as part of this settlement. However, ZANU-PF and ZAPU did not participate because they opposed the internal settlement. Following the 1979 election, Rhodesia was re-named Zimbabwe Rhodesia. Zimbabwe Rhodesia (zɪmˈbɑːbweɪ rəʊˈdiːʒə officially the Republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia, was an unrecognized state that existed from June 1, Bishop Abel Muzorewa of the United African National Council party became the country's first and only black Prime Minister in June 1979. Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa (born on 4 April 1925) served as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia from the Internal Settlement to the Lancaster The United African National Council (UANC is a political party in Zimbabwe. Smith became minister without portfolio in the new government after failing in a bid to be made Minister of Defence.

War between the government and the insurgents continued. Sanctions continued and diplomatic recognition was not granted. The British Government persuaded all parties to come to Lancaster House under Lord Carrington in September 1979 to work out an agreement. Lancaster House is a Mansion in the St James's district in the West End of London. Peter Alexander Rupert Carington 6th Baron Carrington and Baron Carington of Upton A critical element in arriving at that agreement was the defection of one of the members of the RF delegation, much to Smith's disgust. A peculiar feature of both the internal and Lancaster House settlements was the retention of a significant number of parliamentary seats reserved for a white electorate. This reflected a wish among Rhodesian whites to maintain a distinct and separate status from the rest of the population. It was around this time that Smith used the phrase "Perfidious Albion," 'treacherous Britain', to refer to Great Britain and the sense of betrayal he felt from the British government. ^[16][17]

One thing Smith did achieve in the Lancaster House Agreement was an agreement that no form of compulsory land redistribution would take place for at least 10 years after independence, securing the immediate position of the white farming community. The Lancaster House Agreement ended biracial rule in Zimbabwe Rhodesia following negotiations between representatives of the Patriotic Front (PF consisting of ZAPU The Agreement gave unconditional immunity from prosecution to all those who had participated in UDI and the Bush War.

UDI ended and a British governor (Lord Soames) took over the running of Rhodesia on 12 December 1979. Arthur Christopher John Soames Baron Soames, GCMG, GCVO, CH, CBE, PC ( October 12, 1920 &ndash September Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) The Bush War ended and sanctions were lifted a few days later. ^[18]

1980 election and independence

Elections were held again in 1980 under international supervision. Smith hoped to retain a measure of white control over the government after this election by forming a coalition between his RF MPs and those of Muzorewa's UANC and Nkomo's ZAPU. But Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) (led by Robert Mugabe) won the election outright.

Smith initially demanded that the election be declared null and void because of widespread intimidation of voters and candidates during the election campaign. However, international observers concluded that the election was fair, given the time and place in which it was conducted. It was widely considered that ZANU-PF won the election because it had no credible opponent among the majority Shona population. In his memoirs Smith expressed contempt for Abel Muzorewa.

The British Governor declared his intention to endorse the result of the election (with the final results due to be declared on 4 March 1980) and a date was set for the independence of the country as Zimbabwe. Events 51 - Nero, later to become Roman Emperor, is given the title Princeps iuventutis (head of the youth Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) See also Great Zimbabwe National Monument. For information about the March and June 2008 presidential elections see Zimbabwean presidential election The situation was now delicately poised, with some whites planning a military coup (Operation Quartz) to prevent Robert Mugabe from taking power. ^[19] At this point, Smith's son Alec (newly returned from political exile) approached Smith while Joram Kucherera (a senior civil servant) approached Mugabe in order to arrange a meeting to discuss the future of the country. ^[20] On the night of 3 March 1980 Smith was driven to Mugabe's house by Kucherera. Events 1284 - Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated the Principality of Wales into England 1575 - Indian Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Smith and Mugabe spoke privately for two hours and immediately afterwards Smith met with other senior ZANU figures. The meetings were surprisingly cordial. Mugabe offered key Ministries in the new government to RF MPs and agreed to allow senior officials (such as Lieutenant-General Peter Walls, head of the army) to remain in post. Lieutenant General George Peter Walls (born in 1927 served as the Commander of the Combined Operations Headquarters of the Military of Rhodesia, and later Zimbabwe As far as is known, no minutes of the Smith-Mugabe meeting were kept. Both parties have been guarded about what was said and agreed that night.

On 4 March Smith advised the white community to accept the verdict of the election and respond "pragmatically" to events. Events 51 - Nero, later to become Roman Emperor, is given the title Princeps iuventutis (head of the youth Specifically, he told the white community to stay in the country and co-operate with the incoming ZANU-PF government. The Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF is a Zimbabwean Political party that was the ruling government in Zimbabwe Operation Quartz, scheduled for 4 March, was abruptly called off. Events 51 - Nero, later to become Roman Emperor, is given the title Princeps iuventutis (head of the youth

A few weeks later, the co-operation agreement resulted in the Rhodesian army (with white officers) acting to maintain government control of Bulawayo in the face of an attack by ZIPRA dissidents. Later in 1980, Smith was a member of a delegation making presentations in Europe to international financial institutions regarding investment opportunities in Zimbabwe. The former Rhodesian security forces acted throughout 1980 and 1981 to maintain stability in the country. Smith contributed to the orderly manner in which the country moved to independence.

Smith became official Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, as leader of the newly re-named Republican Front. The Parliament of Zimbabwe consists of two chambers The Senate ( Upper Chamber; in existence from 1980 to 1989 and since 2005 The But Smith insisted on keeping the RF as a whites only party. During the next five years, Smith's support among the white elite began to erode and 11 out of the 20 sitting white MPs defected to ZANU or became independents. In the 1985 election, Smith's RF managed to recapture 15 of the 20 reserved white parliamentary seats. As allowed by the independence constitution, Mugabe moved to abolish the reserved white seats.

Smith retired to his farm in Shurugwi, his political career of 39 years over. His RF party re-branded itself in 1986 as the multi-racial Conservative Alliance of Zimbabwe (CAZ), which eventually merged into the Movement for Democratic Change. The Conservative Alliance of Zimbabwe was the final incarnation of a party formerly called the Republican Front and prior to that the Rhodesian Front. The Movement for Democratic Change ( MDC) is a Zimbabwean Political party.

Retirement

After his retirement from active politics, Smith became an outspoken critic of Mugabe's government. Smith's autobiography, The Great Betrayal, is as much a criticism of Mugabe's governance as it is a memoir. The Great Betrayal The Memoirs of Ian Douglas Smith is a 1997 Autobiography written by Ian Smith covering his time as Premier of the British Smith is also the author of Bitter Harvest. Bitter Harvest is a 2001 book by Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith. Both books received mixed reviews. Long-term admirers of Smith had their view of him as a man of integrity confirmed. His critics saw in the books a stubborn refusal to acknowledge the need for any form of change. However, Smith's bitterness at his UDI government's isolation is a central theme.

At Harare airport 2000, Ian Smith defies threats of arrest in order to return home

Unlike most of his contemporaries from the UDI era, such as P. K. van der Byl, Smith stayed in Zimbabwe and retired. Pieter Kenyon Fleming-Voltelyn van der Byl, ID (11 November 1923 &ndash 15 November 1999 served as the Foreign Minister of Rhodesia from 1974 to His son Alec returned from Europe and became his business partner, taking over the running of the family farm. Police evicted activists who tried to occupy the Smith farm. ^[21]

Smith made a number of black friends and contributed regularly to both local and foreign media reports on current affairs. Those contributions became increasingly critical of his successor Robert Mugabe. While out of the country in 2000, Smith described Mugabe as "mentally deranged. " Mugabe responded by threatening to have Smith arrested and prosecuted for genocide should Smith ever return to Zimbabwe. ^[22] Upon Smith's return, he was met by a mass of reporters waiting to witness him being arrested. Smith was greeted warmly by immigration officials at Harare airport and went home. He was neither arrested nor prosecuted.

In early 2005 Smith travelled to South Africa for medical treatment. ^[23] He stayed on to live with his widowed stepdaughter Jean in Cape Town, South Africa, where there is a significant Rhodesian expatriate community, until he died on 20 November 2007 at the age of 88. Cape Town (Kaapstad Xhosa: Ikapa) is the second most populous city in South Africa, forming part of the metropolitan municipality of the The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Events 284 - Diocletian was chosen as Roman Emperor. 762 - Bögü Khan of the Uyghurs, Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^{[24] [25]} The cause of death was unknown but he had been reported to be in ill health in a residential home. ^[25]

Ian Smith lived an exemplary family life and in private was a down-to-earth, modest man. Ian Smith was not corrupt nor was he a megalomaniac. However whilst Ian Smith acted in what he thought were the best interests of then Rhodesia he made some disastrous political decisions as Prime Minister which directly contributed to the trauma that Zimbabwe is suffering from today. . . The policies of his Rhodesia Front party radicalized black nationalists and directly spawned the violent and fascist rule of Zanu PF.

—David Coltart, member of the Zimbabwe Parliament (House of Assembly and Senate) since 2000 ^[26]

References

• Smith, Ian Douglas: Bitter Harvest: The Great Betrayal and the Dreadful Aftermath, Blake Publishing, London, 2001, (ISBN 1-903402-05-0)
• Pollard, William C. David Coltart (born October 4 1957 in Gwelo, Southern Rhodesia) is a Zimbabwean politician A Career of Defiance: The Life of Ian Smith, Agusan River Publishing Co. , Topeka, KS, 1992.

Notes

External links

• Obituary in The Times, 21 November 2007
• Rhodesia: Mzilikaze to Smith (Africa Institute Bulletin, vol. The Guardian (until 1959 The Manchester Guardian) is a British Newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. Events 3114 BC - According to the Proleptic Julian calendar the current era in the Maya Long Count Calendar started Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. News24 is a South African news website with a largely wire-based offering that brings readers local and international news Events 740 - An Earthquake strikes Constantinople, causing much damage and death 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. News24 is a South African news website with a largely wire-based offering that brings readers local and international news Events 241 BC - First Punic War: Battle of the Aegates Islands - The Romans sink the Carthaginian fleet bringing Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 284 - Diocletian was chosen as Roman Emperor. 762 - Bögü Khan of the Uyghurs, Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 284 - Diocletian was chosen as Roman Emperor. 762 - Bögü Khan of the Uyghurs, Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. 15, 1977)
• 24 Sept. 1976, BBC reports that Smith accepts majority rule
• The Viscount disasters of 1978 and 1979
• A pro Ian Smith article by Kenyan author in the Zimbabwe Metro, 24 November 2007
• Telegraph.co.uk Obituary in British national newspaper dated 22 November 2007

Audio and video

• Audio of Ian Smith's radio address announcing UDI
• "What a Time", Clem Tholet songs, Youtube (8 mins)
• Ian Smith - "A bit of a Rebel", 2005 interview, Youtube (10 mins)