Category:Ian Douglas Smith

Article Placed by Rhodesians Worldwide (TM) Magazine at Rhodesia.org

Prime Minister of Rhodesia 1964 - 1979 Arguably one of the greatest statesmen and visionaries of the 20th century

Ian Douglas Smith, destined to become the first Rhodesian Prime Minister of Rhodesia, was born in the town of Selukwe on the 8th April 1919. He completed his early education in Gwelo before moving on to the Rhodes University in South Africa to study for a degree in commerce.

When war broke out in Europe, putting aside his studies, he immediately volunteered for service against the evils of Nazism, and joined the British RAF, serving with No. 237 (Rhodesia) Squadron. Little did he suspect that twenty five years later he would be fighting the equally odious evils of Marxism and dictatorship at home in Rhodesia.

During the war he served with courage and distinction, being badly injured in a Hurricane crash in 1943 from which he fully recovered, only to be shot down whilst over the Po river in Italy during June 1944. He survived the experience and fought with the Italian partisans, before being able to escape across the border to liberated France. He soon rejoined his squadron and saw active service over Germany up to the close of the war in Europe.

After the war, he returned to Rhodes University in South Africa to continue his studies and complete his commerce degree, which he passed with flying colours. He married in 1948 and acquired a farm in Selukwe, he also became a member of parliament, first for the Liberal Party, then as a member of Sir Roy Welensky’s United Federal Party. In 1962 he formed the Rhodesian Front Party with Winston Field, to thwart the plans which the British government had for Rhodesia, plans that were to the detriment of all the people of Rhodesia.

At the 1962 elections, the Rhodesian Front won a majority of 5 seats and were able to form a government, headed by Winston Field. In April 1964, Ian Smith succeeded the indecisive and wavering Field as Prime Minister, and led the ultimately fruitless negotiations with a petulent British government over the future of Rhodesia. The British government were determined to dump Rhodesia at any cost to show their liberal credentials, and appease the sordid "dictators club" of the OAU.

By November 11th 1965, the situation had become so critical that there was no alternative but to make a Unilateral Declaration of Independence. UN Sanctions were soon imposed but to little effect. After repeated attempts to reach a settlement to the crisis, an internal agreement was reached with the moderate black nationalist leaders. An internationally observed free and fair election took place in early 1979, which brought to power the Government of National Unity under the leadership of Bishop Abel Muzorewa, Rhodesia’s first black Prime Minister.

Ian Smith continued as a Minister without portfolio in the Muzorewa government in the newly named, Zimbabwe – Rhodesia, and remained in parliament until he was expelled by the Marxist dictator Robert Mugabe in 1986.

Mugabe had come to power by threat and intimidation in the scandalously corrupt election of 1980, held in response to an agreement for international recognition brokered by the British government. The weak willed and gullible Muzorewa had allowed himself to be brow beaten by the British into a new election involving the terrorist leaders, Mugabe and Nkomo, a decision which was to have devastating consequences for the nation.

Ian Douglas Smith, still lives in his beloved country, which has been called Zimbabwe since 1980. He has refused to be forced into exile by the threats, harassment and racist policies of Mugabe. Policies which have seen the once thriving and advanced Rhodesia fall into an abyss of dictatorship and corruption, which is the hallmark of Mugabe´s despotic state of Zimbabwe.