Rhodesia

This article is about the former British colony of (Southern) Rhodesia , today Zimbabwe. See Rhodesia (disambiguation).

History

1953-1965

In 1953, with calls for independence mounting in many of its African possessions, the United Kingdom created the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which consisted of the current nations of Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi which at the time were called Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland respectively.

Related Topics:
1953 - United Kingdom - Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland - Zimbabwe - Zambia - Malawi - Southern Rhodesia - Northern Rhodesia - Nyasaland

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The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was dissolved on January 1, 1964 upon the independence of Malawi and Zambia. When Northern Rhodesia was granted independence by Britain in 1964, it changed its name to Zambia. Southern Rhodesia remained a British colony and came to be known simply as Rhodesia.

Related Topics:
January 1 - 1964 - Malawi - Zambia

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UDI

In its central and southern African colonies, the British government adopted a policy known as NIBMAR (No Independence Before Majority African Rule). This policy dictated that those colonies with a substantial white settler population would not receive independence except under conditions of universal suffrage and majority rule. This policy was opposed by the white minority Rhodesian Front (RF) government, led by Ian Smith. On November 11, 1965, Smith's government declared the country independent from British government rule, in what became known as the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (Rhodesia) (UDI).

Related Topics:
NIBMAR - Rhodesian Front (RF) - Ian Smith - November 11 - 1965 - Unilateral Declaration of Independence (Rhodesia)

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UDI was internationally condemned and, at the behest of Britain, Rhodesia was placed under the first United Nations Security Council authorised sanctions, beginning in 1965 up until its independence as Zimbabwe in 1980.

Related Topics:
United Nations Security Council - Sanctions

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Initially, the state maintained its loyalty to Queen Elizabeth II as 'Queen of Rhodesia' (a title to which she never consented) but not to her representative, the Governor Sir Humphrey Gibbs, whose constitutional duties were exercised by an 'Officer Administering the Government', Clifford Dupont. On March 2, 1970, Smith's government formally severed links with the British Crown, and Rhodesia was declared a republic, with Dupont as President.

Related Topics:
Queen Elizabeth II - Humphrey Gibbs - Clifford Dupont - March 2 - 1970 - Republic

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The Second Chimurenga (Bush War)

A lengthy armed campaign by ZANLA (the military wing of ZANU (the Zimbabwe African National Union)) and ZIPRA (the military wing of ZAPU (the Zimbabwe African People's Union)) against the Smith government followed UDI. This became known as the "Bush War" by the whites of Rhodesia and as "The Second Chimurenga" (or, "rebellion" in Shona) by supporters of the guerrillas. ZANU was, at that time, an African nationalist liberation movement, influenced and financed by China and North Korea, which was led by Robert Mugabe. ZAPU was also an African nationalist liberation movement, influenced and financed by the USSR, which was led by Joshua Nkomo. Both parties demonstrated broadly Marxist views, but were primarily African nationalist in nature, with their main objective being the end of white minority rule rather than the transformation of society.

Related Topics:
ZANLA - ZANU - ZIPRA - ZAPU - Bush War - Shona - China - North Korea - Robert Mugabe - USSR - Joshua Nkomo - Marxist

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The Rhodesian government controlled the guerrilla campaign with some success until the end of colonial rule in Mozambique in 1975. At that time ZANU's alliance with FRELIMO and the porous borders between Mozambique and eastern Rhodesia enabled large-scale training and infiltration of ZANU/ZANLA supporters, and the politicisation of Rhodesia's rural population.

Related Topics:
Mozambique - FRELIMO

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The Rhodesian government faced a serious economic struggle during the 1970s as a result of sanctions, emigration, and the strain imposed on the economic system by conscription of all white men (and, in the late 1970s, Asian and Coloured (mixed race) men as well). It also faced loss of support from South Africa, its main trading partner, which, while sympathetic to the white minority government, did not accord it diplomatic recognition. In 1976 the South African and US governments combined to place pressure on Smith to agree to a form of majority rule.

Related Topics:
Conscription - Coloured (mixed race) - South Africa - 1976 - US

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As a result of internal settlement or agreement between the Rhodesian government and moderate and peaceful African nationalist parties, which were not in exile and therefore not involved in the war, elections were held in April 1979, in which the UANC (United African National Council) party won a majority, and its leader, Abel Muzorewa, a United Methodist Church bishop, became the country's prime minister on June 1, 1979. The country's name was changed to Zimbabwe Rhodesia.

Related Topics:
UANC - Abel Muzorewa - United Methodist Church - June 1 - 1979 - Zimbabwe Rhodesia

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While the 1979 elections were described by the Rhodesian government as non-racial and democratic, they did not include ZANU and ZAPU, which remained banned in Rhodesia. Bishop Muzorewa's government did not receive international recognition, and the international community recognised that a successful resolution of the war in Rhodesia had to include ZANU and ZAPU, since as a result of their exclusion, armed conflict between these groups and Smith's government continued unabated. The British Government (then led by the recently elected Margaret Thatcher) issued invitations to all parties to attend a peace conference at Lancaster House in London in late 1979.

Related Topics:
Margaret Thatcher - Lancaster House

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Independence

Under the terms of the Lancaster House Agreement, Britain resumed control for a brief time in 1979 and then granted independence to Zimbabwe Rhodesia in 1980, following the first all-party multi-racial elections, which were won by Robert Mugabe and ZANU. On April 18th, 1980, the country became independent as the Republic of Zimbabwe, and its capital, Salisbury, was renamed Harare two years later.

Related Topics:
1979 - 1980 - Robert Mugabe - April 18th - Republic - Zimbabwe - Harare

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