Zimbabwe: From UDI to Independence

EFFECT of nationalistic shifts in neighbouring countries: In the early 1970s, informal attempts at settlement were renewed between the United Kingdom and the Rhodesian administration. Following the April 1974 coup in Portugal and the resulting shifts of power in Mozambique and Angola, pressure on the Smith regime to negotiate a peaceful settlement increased. In addition, sporadic antigovernment guerilla activity, which began in the late 1960s, increased dramatically after 1972, causing destruction, economic dislocation, casualties and a slump in white morale.

Creation of Zanu PF and talks with Ian Smith:

In 1974, the major African nationalists groups — the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (Zapu) and the Zimbabwe African National Union (Zanu), which split away from Zapu in 1963 — were united into the “Patriotic Front” and combined their military forces. In 1976, a combination of embargo-related economic hardships, the pressure of guerilla activity, independence and majority rule in the neighbouring former Portuguese territories and a UKUS diplomatic initiative, the Smith government agreed in principle to majority rule and to a meeting in Geneva with black nationalist leaders to seek an end to the failure of the Geneva meeting and a new initiative:

Blacks represented at the Geneva meeting included Zapu leader Joshua Nkomo, Zanu leader Robert Mugabe, UANC chairperson bishop Abel Muzorewa, and former Zanu leader Rev. Ndabaningi Sithole.

The meeting failed to find a basis for agreement because of Smith’s inflexibility and the inability of the black leaders to form a common political front.

On September 1, 1977 a detailed Anglo-American plan was put forward with proposals for majority rule, neutrally administered with pre-independence elections, a democratic constitution and the formation of an integrated army. Reactions were mixed, but no party rejected them.

Failure of the Geneva meeting and a new initiative:

Blacks represented at the Geneva meeting included Joshua Nkomo, Robert Mugabe, bishop Abel Muzorewa and former Ndabaningi Sithole. The meeting failed to find a basis for agreement because of Smith’s inflexibility and the inability of the black leaders to form a common political front.

On September 1, 1977 a detailed Anglo-American plan was put forward with proposals for majority rule, neutrally administered with pre-independence elections, a democratic Constitution and the formation of an integrated army. Reactions were mixed, but no party rejected them.

Troubled road to universal suffrage:

On March 3, 1978, the Smith administration signed the “internal settlement” agreement in Salisbury with Bishop Muzorewa, Rev. Sithole and Chief Jeremiah Chirau. The agreement provided for qualified majority rule and elections with universal suffrage. Following elections in April 1979, in which his UANC party won a majority, Bishop Muzorewa assumed office

on June 1, becoming “ZimbabweRhodesia” first black prime minister. However, the installation of the new black majority government did not end the guerilla conflict that had claimed more than 20 000 lives since 1972.

The Commonwealth steps in:

Shortly after British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s conservative government took power in May 1979, the British began a new round of consultations that culminated in an agreement among the Commonwealth countries as the basis for fresh negotiations among the parties and the British involving a new constitution, free elections and independence.

Lancaster House Agreement:

British and the African parties began deliberations on a Rhodesian settlement at Lancaster House in London on September 10, 1979. On December 10, in preparation for the transition under British authority to officially recognised independence, the “Zimbabwe-Rhodesia” reverted de facto to colonial status.

On December 12, British Governor Lord Christopher Soames arrived in Salisbury to reassert British authority over the colony. His arrival signalled the end of the Rhodesian rebellion and “internal settlement” Zimbabwe began a transition to independence. The UK and US lifted all remaining sanctions shortly afterwards.

A new Constitution is agreed:

On December 21, after 3 months of hard bargaining, the parties signed an agreement at Lancaster House calling for a cease-fire, new elections, a transition period under British rule, and a new constitution implementing majority rule while protecting minority rights. The agreement specified that upon the granting of independence, the country’s name would be Zimbabwe.

The same day, the UN Security Council endorsed the settlement agreement and formally voted unanimously to call on member nations to remove sanctions.

Free and fair elections for Independence:

During the transition period, nine political parties campaigned for the February 27 to 29 pre-independence elections. The elections were supervised by the British Government and monitored by hundreds of observers, most of whom concluded that, under the prevailing circumstances, the elections were free and fair and reflected the will of the people. Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party won an absolute majority and was asked to form Zimbabwe’s first government.