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Zimbabwe Rhodesia

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Republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia
1979–1980
Motto:Sit Nomine Digna(Latin)
May she be worthy of the name
Anthem:"Rise, O Voices of Rhodesia"
(1974–1979)
Location of Zimbabwe Rhodesia (dark green)
Location of Zimbabwe Rhodesia (dark green)
StatusUnrecognised state
CapitalSalisbury
Official languagesEnglish
Common languages
Demonym(s)Zimbabwe Rhodesian
Rhodesian
GovernmentParliamentary republic
President
• 1979
Josiah Zion Gumede
Prime Minister
• 1979
Abel Muzorewa
Historical eraCold War
1 June 1979
21 December 1979
18 April 1980
CurrencyRhodesian dollar
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Rhodesia
De facto:
Southern Rhodesia (1979)
De jure:
Zimbabwe (1980)
Today part ofZimbabwe

Zimbabwe Rhodesia(/zɪmˈbɑːbweɪroʊˈdiːʒə,zɪmˈbɑːbwiroʊˈdiːʒə/), alternatively known asRepublic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia,alsoinformally knownasZimbabweorRhodesia,was a short-lived sovereign state that existed from 1 June 1979 to 18 April 1980,[1]thoughlacked international recognition.[2][3]Zimbabwe Rhodesia was preceded by another state named theRepublic of Rhodesiaand was briefly under a British-supervised transitional government sometimes referred to as a reestablishedSouthern Rhodesia,which according to British constitutional theory had remained the lawful government in the area afterUnilateral Declaration of Independence(UDI) in 1965. About three months later, the re-established colony of Southern Rhodesia was granted internationally-recognized independence within theCommonwealthas theRepublic of Zimbabwe.

Background[edit]

Main article:Rhodesian Bush War

Under pressure from the international community, an "Internal Settlement"was drawn up between theSmithadministration of Rhodesia and moderate African nationalist parties. Meanwhile, the government continued to battle armed resistance from thePatriotic Front,[4]a coalition of two African Leadership parties: theZimbabwe African Peoples Union(ZAPU) and theZimbabwe African National Union(ZANU). The liberation war was a proxy conflict between the West and East.[5][6]

The "Internal Settlement", signed in March 1978, led to the creation of an interim government in which Africans were included in leading positions for the first time, while creating an independent civil service, judiciary, police force, and army.[7][8]The settlement also created an executive council composed of Ian Smith and three black individuals (Muzorewa, Sithole, and Chirau),[4]and a ministerial council, while Smith retained his title as Prime Minister. It was also stated that the primary job of this new government is to draw up a constitution for the country, hold elections in April 1979,[4]and arrange a ceasefire with thePatriotic Front.[9][10]A further goal of the agreement was said to be the hope of ending the country's civil war.[10]Following the election, Muzorewa remarked that he didn't want the country to be "a sham, a fraud, a hollow shell with the mere trappings of independence" or the country to "ever to become another banana republic."[11]

Furthermore, a goal of the settlement was for Rhodesia to receive international recognition and have the sanctions imposed on the country due to Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965 to be removed. Following the settlement, Muzorewa attempted to convince the British government to recognize the transitional government, but they did not do so.[12]In the same vein, some believed that the settlement was "sufficient" grounds for recognition of Rhodesia and lifting sanctions.[10]Later in 1978, the removal of sanctions was agreed to by theU.S. House of RepresentativesandU.S. Senate,with the caveat that they could only be lifted "once elections were held".[13]The settlement also reportedly resulted in the release ofpolitical prisoners.[14]However, the country's civil service, judiciary, police and armed forces continued to be administered by the same officials as before, of whom most wereWhite Zimbabweans,due to the composition of the upper-middle class of the period.[15]

The new state did not gain international recognition. TheCommonwealth Secretariatclaiming that the "so-called 'Constitution of Zimbabwe Rhodesia'"would be" no more legal and valid "than the UDI constitution it replaced,[16]TheU.N. Security Council,inResolution 448condemned thegeneral electionin April 1979 as "null and void" and described the country as an "illegal racist regime" which was attempting to retain and extend "racist minority rule and...preventing the accession of Zimbabwe to independence and genuine majority rule." It also called on all states to recognize the government and to strictly follow mandatory sanctions against the country.[17]As noted byTimein June 1979, United States PresidentJimmy Carterbelieved that the elections which installed the government in were neither "fair or free," because they were held under a constitution that reserved "a disproportionate share of power for the white minority."[18]He later, in November 1979, continued sanctions until the negotiations conducted by the United Kingdom to end the "peaceful resolution" of the conflict in Rhodesia had come to a close.[19]

Nomenclature[edit]

As early as 1960, African nationalist political organizations inRhodesiaagreed that the country should use the name "Zimbabwe"; they used that name as part of the titles of their organisations. The name "Zimbabwe", broken down toDzimba dzamabwein Shona (one of the two major languages in the country), means "houses of stone". Meanwhile, the white Rhodesian community was reluctant to drop the name "Rhodesia", hence a compromise was met.[20]

The Constitution named the new state as "Zimbabwe Rhodesia", with no reference to its status as a republic in its name.[21]Although the official name contained no hyphen, the country's name was hyphenated in some foreign publications as "Zimbabwe-Rhodesia".[22][23][24]The country was also nicknamed "Rhobabwe", a blend of "Rhodesia" and "Zimbabwe",[25][26]It had first been used in the late 1960s.[27]

After taking office as Prime Minister,Abel Muzorewasought to drop "Rhodesia" from the country's name.[28]The name "Zimbabwe Rhodesia" had been criticised by some black politicians like Senator ChiefZephaniah Charumbira,who said it implied that Zimbabwe was "the son of Rhodesia".[29]ZANU–PF,led byRobert Mugabein exile, denounced what it described as "the derogatory name of 'Zimbabwe Rhodesia'".[30]The proposed changes to the name were not implemented.

The government also adopted a new national flag, featuring the same Zimbabwesoapstone bird,on 2 September of that year.[citation needed]In addition, it announced changes to public holidays, with Rhodes Day and Founders Day being replaced by two new holidays, both of which were known as Ancestors Day, while Republic Day and Independence Day were to be replaced by President's Day and Unity Day, celebrated on 25 and 26 October of that year.[31]

In response, the Voice of Zimbabwe radio service operated by ZANU–PF fromMaputoinMozambique,carried a commentary entitled "The proof of independence is not flags or names", dismissing the changes as aimed at "strengthening the racist puppet alliance's position at theZimbabwe conferencein London ".[32]

The national airline,Air Rhodesia,was also renamedAir Zimbabwe.[33] However, no postage stamps were issued; issues of 1978 still used "Rhodesia", and the next stamp issues were in 1980, after the change to just "Zimbabwe," and were inscribed accordingly.[34]

Government of Zimbabwe Rhodesia[edit]

Main articles:1979 Rhodesian general electionandGovernment of Zimbabwe Rhodesia

Zimbabwe Rhodesia's short-lived government was elected prior to the creation of the state, with the1979 Rhodesian general election,the first in which a majority of elected representatives were black. Adapting the constitution of theUnilateral Declaration of Independence(UDI), Zimbabwe Rhodesia was governed by a Prime Minister and Cabinet chosen from the majority party in a 100-member House of Assembly.[35][36]A 40-member Senate acted as the upper House, and both together chose a figurehead President in whose name the government was conducted.

Legislative Branch[edit]

Of the 100 members of the House of Assembly, 72 were "common roll" members for whom the electorate was every adult citizen. All of these members were black Africans. Those on the previous electoral roll of Rhodesia (due to education, property and income qualifications for voter rolls) elected 20 members; although this did not in theory exclude non-whites, very few black Africans met the qualification requirements. Adelimitationcommission sat in 1978 to determine how to reduce the previous 50 constituencies to 20. The remaining eight seats for old voter role non-constituency members were filled by members chosen by the other 92 members of the House of Assembly once their election was complete. In theonly election held by Zimbabwe Rhodesia,BishopAbel Muzorewa'sUnited African National Council(UANC) won a majority in the common-roll seats, while Ian Smith'sRhodesian Front(RF) won all of the old voter roll seats.Ndabaningi Sithole'sZimbabwe African National Union(ZANU) won 12 seats.

The Senate of Zimbabwe Rhodesia had 40 members. Ten members each were returned by the old voter roll members of the House of Assembly and the common roll members, and five members each by the Council of Chiefs of Mashonaland and Matabeleland. The remaining members were directly appointed by the President under the advice of the Prime Minister.

Executive Branch[edit]

ThePresident of Zimbabwe Rhodesiawas elected by the members of the Parliament, sitting together. At the election on 28 May 1979,Josiah Zion Gumedeof theUnited African National Council(UANC)[37]andTimothy Ndhlovuof theUnited National Federal Party(UNFP) were nominated.[38]Gumede won by 80 votes to Ndhlovu's 33.[39]

Starting with 51 seats out of 100,Abel Muzorewaof the UANC was appointed asPrime Minister,and also appointed Minister of Combined Operations and Defence.[40]He formed a joint government withIan Smith,the formerPrime Minister of Rhodesia,who was aMinister without Portfolio.[41]Muzorewa also attempted to include the other African parties who had lost the election.Rhodesian Frontmembers served as Muzorewa's ministers of justice, agriculture, and finance, withDavid Smithcontinuing in the role ofMinister of Finance,whileP. K. van der Byl,the former Minister of Defence, serving as both Minister of Transport and Minister of Power and Posts.[40]

End of Zimbabwe Rhodesia[edit]

TheLancaster House Agreement,signed on 21 December 1979,[42]stipulated that control over the country be returned to the United Kingdom in preparation forelectionsto be held in the spring of 1980. Before the negotiations had ended, on 11 December 1979, the law was passed which declared that "Zimbabwe Rhodesia shall cease to be an independent State and become part of Her Majesty's dominions".[43]In response, the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed Order 1979, on 14 December, establishing the offices of Governor and Deputy Governor of Southern Rhodesia, filled byLord SoamesandSir Antony Duffrespectively,[44]creating a "permanent government" for the country.[45]

Although the name of the country formally reverted toSouthern Rhodesiaat this time, the name "Zimbabwe Rhodesia" remained in many of the country's institutions, such as theZimbabwe Rhodesia Broadcasting Corporation.[46]On 18 April 1980,Southern Rhodesiabecame the independentRepublic of Zimbabwewithin theCommonwealth of Nations.[47]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"New Hope For A Settlement: Mrs. Thatcher finds a fresh approach for Zimbabwe-Rhodesia".Time.Vol. 114, no. 7. MasterFILE Complete. 13 August 1979.Retrieved4 August2023.
  2. ^Waddy, Nicholas (2013)."The Strange Death of 'Zimbabwe-Rhodesia': The Question of British Recognition of the Muzorewa Regime in Rhodesian Public Opinion, 1979".South African Historical Journal.66(2): 227–248.doi:10.1080/02582473.2013.846935.S2CID159650816.Retrieved4 August2023.
  3. ^Masters, Paul E. (2000)."Carter and the Rhodesian Problem".International Social Science Review.75(3/4).Retrieved4 August2023.
  4. ^abcOliver, Roland; Atmore, Anthony (2009).Africa Since 1800(5th ed.). New York City: Cambridge University Press. p. 281.ISBN9780511800283.
  5. ^Turner, William B. (24 February 2022)."The Rhodesian Bush War/Zimbabwe War of Liberation: A Political-Military Analysis".Small Wars Journal.Retrieved4 August2023.
  6. ^"Conflict in and around Zimbabwe".Imperial War Museum.Archivedfrom the original on 23 May 2023.Retrieved4 August2023.
  7. ^Mutunhu, Tendai (September 1978)."The Internal Political Settlement in Zimbabwe: A Sell-Out or an Advancement to African Majority Rule".The Black Scholar.10(1): 2, 4–5.doi:10.1080/00064246.1978.11412666.JSTOR41163648.Retrieved28 April2023.
  8. ^Zvobgo 2009,pp. 186.
  9. ^"RHODESIA: First Step Toward Black Rule".Time.13 March 1978.Archivedfrom the original on 28 April 2023.Retrieved28 April2023.
  10. ^abcUllman, Richard H. (1 June 1979)."Salvaging America's Rhodesian Policy".Foreign Affairs.57(Summer 1979): 1111–1122.doi:10.2307/20040275.JSTOR20040275.Archivedfrom the original on 2 February 2023.Retrieved28 April2023.
  11. ^"Now, Zimbabwe-Rhodesia: The blacks cast ballots at last, but that will not stop the shooting".Time.Vol. 113, no. 18. MasterFILE Complete. 30 April 1979.Retrieved4 August2023.
  12. ^Zvobgo 2009,pp. 184–185.
  13. ^"Sanctions Against Rhodesia".CQ Almanac.CQ Press.Retrieved28 April2023.
  14. ^Zvobgo 2009,pp. 185–186.
  15. ^"Will We Destroy Zimbabwe-Rhodesia?".Sarasota Journal.18 July 1979. p. 4. Archived fromthe originalon 11 March 2016.Retrieved4 August2023.
  16. ^An Analysis of the Illegal Regime's "Constitution for Zimbabwe Rhodesia".United Kingdom:Commonwealth Secretariat.1979. p. 2. Archived fromthe originalon 21 November 2018.
  17. ^Wellens, Karel C., ed. (1990).Resolutions and Statements of the United Nations Security Council (1946 - 1989): a Thematic Guide.Boston: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. pp. 103–105.ISBN9780792307969.
  18. ^"Sanctions Stay But the Senate battles Carter on Zimbabwe-Rhodesia".Time.Vol. 113, no. 26. MasterFILE Complete. 25 June 1979.Retrieved4 August2023.
  19. ^Carter, Jimmy."Memorandum From the President on Trade Sanctions Against Zimbabwe-Rhodesia".The American Presidency Project.UC Santa Barbara.Archivedfrom the original on 31 May 2023.Retrieved4 August2023.
  20. ^A Concise Encyclopedia of Zimbabwe.Mambo Press. 1988. p. 422.ISBN9780869224410.Archived fromthe originalon 24 September 2017.
  21. ^"Constitution of Zimbabwe Rhodesia, 1979"(PDF).IFES.Archived(PDF)from the original on 4 February 2016.Retrieved3 February2016.
  22. ^Editorials on File.Vol. 10. Facts on File, Incorporated. 1979. pp. 873, 875, 877.
  23. ^Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report.Vol. 37. Congressional Quarterly. 1979. p. 1585.
  24. ^"African Leaders United On View Of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia".Toledo Blade.Archivedfrom the original on 10 March 2016.Retrieved4 August2023.
  25. ^Caute, David (1983).Under the Skin: The Death of White Rhodesia.Evanston, Illinois:Northwestern University Press.p. 354.ISBN9780810106581.
  26. ^"Confusion in Rhobabwe".The Spectator.20 May 1978. Archived fromthe originalon 15 August 2017.Retrieved4 August2023.
  27. ^Bull, Theodore (1967). Theodore Bull London (ed.).Rhodesia Perspective.Michael Joseph. p. 146.
  28. ^"Zimbabwe Rhodesia Bids To Shorten Name To Zimbabwe".Lakeland Ledger.Lakeland, Florida.26 August 1979.Archivedfrom the original on 10 March 2016.Retrieved4 August2023.
  29. ^Fisher, J.L. (2010).Pioneers, Settlers, Aliens, Exiles: The Decolonisation of White Identity in Zimbabwe(reprint ed.).Canberra, Australia:ANU E Press.p. 58.ISBN9781921666148.Archived fromthe originalon 23 March 2017.
  30. ^Zimbabwe News.Vol. 11–16. Zimbabwe:Zimbabwe African National UnionCentral Bureau of Information. 1979. p. 2.
  31. ^British Broadcasting Corporation 1979,pp. 3.
  32. ^British Broadcasting Corporation 1979,pp. 7.
  33. ^Africa Calls from Zimbabwe Rhodesia.Africa Calls Publishers. 1979. p. 33. Archived fromthe originalon 15 November 2018.
  34. ^Summary of World Broadcasts: Non-Arab Africa.British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring Service.1980. p. 11. Archived fromthe originalon 15 November 2018.
  35. ^Novak, Andrew (2009)."Face-Saving Maneuvers and Strong Third-Party Mediation: The Lancaster House Conference on Zimbabwe-Rhodesia".International Negotiation.14:149–150.doi:10.1163/157180609X406553.Retrieved5 August2023.ALT URL[permanent dead link]
  36. ^Waddy, Nicholas (2014)."The Strange Death of'Zimbabwe-Rhodesia': The Question of British Recognition of the Muzorewa Regime in Rhodesian Public Opinion, 1979".South African Historical Journal.66(2): 228–229, 237.doi:10.1080/02582473.2013.846935.S2CID159650816.Retrieved5 August2023.
  37. ^United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs(1979).Chronologies of major developments in selected areas of foreign affairs. 1979 Jan-Sep.Washington, D.C.:Government Publishing Office.pp. 28, 164–165.
  38. ^"Sub-Saharan Africa Report".Sub-Saharan Africa Report(2114–2120).Foreign Broadcast Information Service:75, 78, 80. 1979. Archived fromthe originalon 24 September 2017.Retrieved4 August2023.
  39. ^"Africa Research Bulletin".Africa Research Bulletin.Blackwell: 5278. 1979. Archived fromthe originalon 24 September 2017.Retrieved4 August2023.
  40. ^ab"Muzorewa Names a Cabinet, Reserving Key Roles for Himself and Smith".New York Times.31 May 1979. Archived fromthe originalon 24 June 2018.Retrieved4 August2023.
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  43. ^Gowlland-Debbas, Vera (1990).Collective Responses to Illegal Acts in International Law: United Nations Action in the Question of Southern Rhodesia.Boston: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. p. 91.ISBN9780792308119.
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  46. ^"Zimbabwe Bill".Hansard1803-2005.Parliament of the United Kingdom.17 December 1979.Archivedfrom the original on 4 April 2023.Retrieved4 August2023.HL Deb 17 December 1979 vol 403 cc1470-514
  47. ^Ross, Jay (18 April 1980)."Zimbabwe Gains Independence".Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on 1 November 2020.Retrieved4 August2023.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

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