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RHODESI
Six Years Afte
lndependence
Politically blackballed by world public opm1on in
1965,
hit by
an
attempted
economic
strangulation
from
U.N.–
imposed
trade sanctions and
pestered by the inherent
problems
of a
frontier nation struggling with Twentieth
Century
realities-those were the birth
pangs of
Rhodesia.
Today,
the
furor
has died toa low rumble. As November
11 ,
1971
rolls around-the sixth
year of
the nation's independ-
ence-
Rhodesia is alive
and
well.
T
HE NINETEEN FJFTIES and early
sixties saw the decline and fall of
European colonialism in Africa.
As European resistance against colonial
independence weakened, the current of
African nationalism ran stronger and
became more traumatic.
Sometimes change carne in an orderly
fashion. But all too often "progress"
was spotted with violence and blood–
shed, by both black and white.
Rhodesia's Stormy History
But the stage was set. Africa was now
ready to throw off the yoke of European
exploitation. And in nearly every colony
oc
territory the end result was the same
- the creation of another new and
independent African state.
In
1964,
the three-territory federation
of Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rho–
desia and Nyasaland were offered inde–
pendence from Britain. A principie
condition required each new republic to
be governed by majority rule.
Northern Rhodesia ( now the Repub·
líe of Zambia) and Nyasaland (now
the Republic of Malawi) readily agreed
to the terms. But Southern Rhodesia,
having been a white-controlled, self–
governing territory since 1923, refused
the British ultimatum and declared a
unilateral declaration of independence.
British Prime Minister Harold Wilson
and his Labor Government were visibly
shaken. Not since the Thirteen Colonies
in America rebelled against the Crown,
had an English colony declared its own
independence.
World opinion was immediate and
fierce. Overnight Rhodesia was labeled
a "Rebel Colony." Prime Minister Jan
Smith's white-minority government was
described as "white supremist" and
"racist." Jan Smith was called an out–
law, a hard-headed Scotsman, a dictator
- his cabinet was labelled as a pack of
Rhodesian cowboys.
The Smith Government - along
with Rhodesia's
250,000
white citizens
- was accused of establishing a police
state suppressing the nation's live mil–
lion black Africans.
Shock Waves After lndependeoce
Many African and Asían countries
mounted pressure against the British
Government and the United Nations.
There were críes to send out the troops!
To smash the rebellion through military
force! Demands were made for a one·
man-one-vote democratic system that
would guarantee Rhodesian rule by an
African black majority.
Y
et, the Smith Government stood
firm.
Britain refused to recogníze the new
state. Most other nations refused as
well. In the hope of forcing the white
Rhodesians to change their minds, Brit–
ain imposed a trade blockade. Tbe U. N.
called for universal trade sanctions.
Britain steadfastly refused to use mil·
itary force against their Rhodesian cous–
ins, despite pressure from other African
states to do so, arguing that such a
move would be "counterproductive."
The sanctions failed . Mozambique
and South Africa continued to trade
with Rhodesia. Even Zambia was forced
to trade with Rhodesia, since at least
half of its imports moved on routes
crossing Rhodesian territory.
During the first years of the sanc–
tions, Rhodesia's overall export trade
did register a decline. But by 1969 an
upward trend was noted.
In 1969, the Smith Government voted
to abandon their profession of loyalty to
the Queen of England, and proclaimed
Rhodesia a republic in March
1970.
lt
appears that the nation of Rhodesia is
here to stay, the last ties with Britain
having been severed.
To help bring readers of
The
PLAIN
TRUTH up to date on conditions inside
Rhodesia, we publish an exclusive inter–
view with Prime Minister Jan Smith,
beginning page
6.
Photographs on
following pages were taken by PLAIN
TRUTH staff photographers. O