Rhodesia was a British colony in southern Africa, the population of which was never more than 6% white. Just as Britain was about to relinquish the territory back to black majority control, the governor of Rhodesia, the ever redoubtable Ian Smith, rebelled and declared Rhodesia independent (the UDI proclamation, November, 1965).
(Smith saw combat in WW2, and was once shot down and nearly killed. Within weeks, he had rejoined his unit).
Prime Minister Ian Smith fought a long bush war against the blacks, and the country endured harsh economic sanctions imposed by most of the world. (Smiths son defected so he would not have to serve in the Rhodesian military, and moved to Norway. Despite the betrayal, Ian never rejected his son, and even maintained good relations with him throughout their lives. When international sanctions kept Ian away from his sons wedding in Norway, Ian was deeply disappointed).
Eventually worn down, in 1980 the redoubtable Smith allowed an inclusive national election; and Africans, led by Robert Mugabe, a communist, took power. Smith retired to his ranch in the country...
Mugabe's rule has been an unmitigated disaster for Rhodesia, renamed Zimbabwe. Inflation is higher than in any other country in the world, the currency is valueless, food shortages are chronic and severe. Rhodesia was once known as the breadbasket of the region... what little food that is produced there now is often withheld by the army from regions thought to be unsympathetic to Mugabe. The policy of seizing white owned farms and trying to run them with unemployed youth (thugs?) from the cities has failed miserably.
While out of the country a few years ago, Smith in an interview called Mugabe "seriously mentally deranged" Western reporters lined the tarmac in Harare to witness the returning Smith, anticipating his arrest as he stepped off the plane. But the redoubtable Ian Smith wasn't arrested by Mugabe's goons- no one is quite sure why.
Ian Smith died in 2007, possibly from grief over his sons death from a heart attack about a year and a half earlier.
Zimbabwe could use another man like Ian Smith right now.
(Smith saw combat in WW2, and was once shot down and nearly killed. Within weeks, he had rejoined his unit).
Prime Minister Ian Smith fought a long bush war against the blacks, and the country endured harsh economic sanctions imposed by most of the world. (Smiths son defected so he would not have to serve in the Rhodesian military, and moved to Norway. Despite the betrayal, Ian never rejected his son, and even maintained good relations with him throughout their lives. When international sanctions kept Ian away from his sons wedding in Norway, Ian was deeply disappointed).
Eventually worn down, in 1980 the redoubtable Smith allowed an inclusive national election; and Africans, led by Robert Mugabe, a communist, took power. Smith retired to his ranch in the country...
Mugabe's rule has been an unmitigated disaster for Rhodesia, renamed Zimbabwe. Inflation is higher than in any other country in the world, the currency is valueless, food shortages are chronic and severe. Rhodesia was once known as the breadbasket of the region... what little food that is produced there now is often withheld by the army from regions thought to be unsympathetic to Mugabe. The policy of seizing white owned farms and trying to run them with unemployed youth (thugs?) from the cities has failed miserably.
While out of the country a few years ago, Smith in an interview called Mugabe "seriously mentally deranged" Western reporters lined the tarmac in Harare to witness the returning Smith, anticipating his arrest as he stepped off the plane. But the redoubtable Ian Smith wasn't arrested by Mugabe's goons- no one is quite sure why.
Ian Smith died in 2007, possibly from grief over his sons death from a heart attack about a year and a half earlier.
Zimbabwe could use another man like Ian Smith right now.
posted by Zero at 1:33 PM
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