Row over Britain’s choice

The Herald, November 21, 1979 A ROW has blown up over the choice of governor for Zimbabwe Rhodesia even before Lord Carrington has made his decision known.

It coincided with the final hustle towards a settlement signalled by the arrival in Salisbury of the governor’s Daimler flown in by an RAF Hercules.

Mr Mugabe and Mr Nkomo scoffed at the favourite for the post, Lord

Soames.

Mr Nkomo: “We don’t want a Conservative stalwart.”

Mr Mugabe: “We don’t want Conservative ideas.”

LESSONS FOR TODAY

◆ When it comes to choosing a person for any position, it is very common for people to disagree and some disagreements can be moderate or in some instances, they can degenerate into rows because everyone would want individuals who add value to their cause. ◆ People tend to be suspicious or unsure of people who think differently than them or who have beliefs that are contrary to them. ◆ The Patriotic Front leaders were not happy with Lord Carrington’s choice for a governor because they felt that he had conservative ideas, which were going to work against their cause in the run up to the elections.

◆ You can only get to appreciate someone once you have spent time and interacted with them. At face value, Lord Soames the last colonial Governor of Southern Rhodesia/ Zimbabwe Rhodesia, was not a worthy candidate to lead the transitional period to independence.

But overtime, the Patriotic Front leaders warmed up to him.

◆ The late former President Robert Mugabe even took his advice by appointing whites in his cabinet upon being elected the first Prime Minister in 1980. He also attended Lord Soames’ burial in the UK in 1987.

◆ Lord Soames came in at a difficult

time and had to execute a very delicate task which was made worse by tensions among parties involved, but he succeeded in seeing the transition through to majority rule. For historical information contact: Zimpapers Knowledge Centre at Herald House on:

+263 8677 004323; +263 0242 795771