Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
After World War Two's end, Southern Rhodesia decided to become involved in a war known as the Malayan Emergency, where Britain, South Rhodesia, Malaysia, and Fiji fought against the communist party of Malaysia. Many Southern Rhodesians were killed in a war which seemed unnecessary for South Rhodesia to take part in. Soon after, Southern Rhodesia decided to amalgamate itself with Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland. At the time, all three countries had a British population of under 5%, and in Nyasaland (Malawi) only .13% percent of the population of the state was white. This new country perhaps could be efficient in making an exclusively black state without British control, which would be an ideal situation. While not becoming completely independent, this new conglomeration effectively boosted African-Rhodesian and African-Nyasa human rights, assisted by Andrew Cohen (the Undersecretary of African Affairs, he was Jewish and involved in the Holocaust which led him to be anti-racialist and anti-discriminant.) The federation had a booming economy, eventually totaling 450 million pounds. The federation also built a hydro-electric dam, something never seen before in Africa in Zambia. These advances in equality led to a new surge of African nationalism and a new idea of a future where Britain wasn't involved. However, Zimbabwe decided to secede from this "perfect union." Why? The decision was fueled by a colossal influx of refugees from the extremely complicated and horrific Congo Crisis, where the Congo
decided to unilaterally declare independence. This was met with a high level of resistance by the Belgian government, and thousands were killed as rebels and government troops attempted to secure the country as their own. The UN eventually intervened as well as the US and the Soviet Union engaging in proxy wars while the Belgians in the Congo fled the country and then the head of the UN and the Congo were killed and there were protests after elections and everything was terrible.
Anyways, Zimbabwe had a huge influx of all of these refugees making the Europeans in the country even more of a minority. And the leader of the federation didn't like them. Many of the citizens of the entire federation criticized this leader, Roy Welensky, as an opponent of the state. Then things became precarious for the federation. People were starting to silently protest British rule in all three nations comprising the federation. Britain soon began to see that clinging on to this colony was hopeless (it had already decided to let a couple of other colonies go.) and held a final summit at Victoria Falls to see if the federation was worth saving. The people at the summit decided it wasn't, and one by one the three nations of the federation seceded. Southern Rhodesia or Zimbabwe was the last to go.
Anyways, Zimbabwe had a huge influx of all of these refugees making the Europeans in the country even more of a minority. And the leader of the federation didn't like them. Many of the citizens of the entire federation criticized this leader, Roy Welensky, as an opponent of the state. Then things became precarious for the federation. People were starting to silently protest British rule in all three nations comprising the federation. Britain soon began to see that clinging on to this colony was hopeless (it had already decided to let a couple of other colonies go.) and held a final summit at Victoria Falls to see if the federation was worth saving. The people at the summit decided it wasn't, and one by one the three nations of the federation seceded. Southern Rhodesia or Zimbabwe was the last to go.
The Unilateral Declaration of Independence
At last, in 1965, Zimbabwe declared independence from Britain, ending a long history of discrimination and racism in the country.
The Declaration is as follows:
The Declaration is as follows:
Whereas in the course of human affairs history has shown that it may become necessary for a people to resolve the political affiliations which have connected them with another people and to assume amongst other nations the separate and equal status to which they are entitled:
And Whereas in such event a respect for the opinions of mankind requires them to declare to other nations the causes which impel them to assume full responsibility for their own affairs:
Now Therefore, We, The Government of Rhodesia, Do Hereby Declare:
That it is an indisputable and accepted historic fact that since 1923 the Government of Rhodesia have exercised the powers of self-government and have been responsible for the progress, development and welfare of their people;
That the people of Rhodesia having demonstrated their loyalty to the Crown and to their kith and kin in the United Kingdom and elsewhere through two world wars, and having been prepared to shed their blood and give of their substance in what they believed to be the mutual interests of freedom-loving people, now see all that they have cherished about to be shattered on the rocks of expediency;
That the people of Rhodesia have witnessed a process which is destructive of those very precepts upon which civilization in a primitive country has been built, they have seen the principles of Western democracy, responsible government and moral standards crumble elsewhere, nevertheless they have remained steadfast;
That the people of Rhodesia fully support the requests of their government for sovereign independence but have witnessed the consistent refusal of the Government of the United Kingdom to accede to their entreaties;
That the Government of the United Kingdom have thus demonstrated that they are not prepared to grant sovereign independence to Rhodesia on terms acceptable to the people of Rhodesia, thereby persisting in maintaining an unwarrantable jurisdiction over Rhodesia, obstructing laws and treaties with other states and the conduct of affairs with other nations and refusing assent to laws necessary for the public good, all this to the detriment of the future peace, prosperity and good government of Rhodesia;
That the Government of Rhodesia have for a long period patiently and in good faith negotiated with the Government of the United Kingdom for the removal of the remaining limitations placed upon them and for the grant of sovereign independence;
That in the belief that procrastination and delay strike at and injure the very life of the nation, the Government of Rhodesia consider it essential that Rhodesia should attain, without delay, sovereign independence, the justice of which is beyond question;
Now Therefore, We The Government of Rhodesia, in humble submission to Almighty God who controls the destinies of nations, conscious that the people of Rhodesia have always shown unswerving loyalty and devotion to Her Majesty the Queen and earnestly praying that we and the people of Rhodesia will not be hindered in our determination to continue exercising our undoubted right to demonstrate the same loyalty and devotion, and seeking to promote the common good so that the dignity and freedom of all men may be assured, Do, By This Proclamation, adopt enact and give to the people of Rhodesia the Constitution annexed hereto;
God Save The Queen Given under Our Hand at Salisbury this eleventh day of November in the Year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and sixty-five.
Prime Minister (signed by Ian Smith)
Deputy Prime Minister (signed by Clifford Dupont)
Ministers (signed by John Wrathall; Desmond Lardner-Burke; Jack Howman; James Graham, 7th Duke of Montrose; George Rudland; William Harper; A. P. Smith; Ian McLean; Jack Mussett; and Phillip van Heerden)
And this ended Zimbabwe's colonial history. What would come after this would be a 15 year war.
The Rhodesian Bush War
The Rhodesian Bush War, coming after Rhodesia's designation that it was now an independent nation was a war of five parties vying for control of the country. The first was Rhodesia's ruling party, the members of the party now called "the white man" by the party that won; ZANU-PF. The Zimbabwe African National Union - People's Front was led by Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's current leader. This party was supported by FRELIMO, the Mozambique Liberation Front. The other two parties have probably been long forgotten, the Zimbabwe African People's Union and the African National Congress, both of which supported each other.
Anyways. The Rhodesian Government didn't like ZANU-PF and ZAPU because they were both trying to take over the kingdom and establish a black government, and it was supported by South Africa because South Africa had apartheid at the time and was open at the time to the idea of having an all-white government in Zimbabwe as well as Portugal because Portugal didn't want FRELIMO to take away its colony of Mozambique.
ZANU-PF didn't like the Rhodesian government because of its oppressive, racist government and the fact that it was all-white, and didn't like ZAPU for its somewhat communist ideals. It was backed by China, Yugoslavia, and Tanzania for adopting their ideals in war and perhaps a chance at an alliance in the future.
And finally, the pro-Soviet ZAPU didn't like the Rhodesian government or ZAPU for its democratic system of government. Thus, it was backed by the Soviet Union, East Germany, and Cuba for its ideals.
Anyways, the war continued for the 15 years between the signing of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence and 1980, when modern Zimbabwe was founded. Most of the minority European population in Zimbabwe fled the country or were killed. But after this, Rhodesia would finally become the country we know today.
Anyways. The Rhodesian Government didn't like ZANU-PF and ZAPU because they were both trying to take over the kingdom and establish a black government, and it was supported by South Africa because South Africa had apartheid at the time and was open at the time to the idea of having an all-white government in Zimbabwe as well as Portugal because Portugal didn't want FRELIMO to take away its colony of Mozambique.
ZANU-PF didn't like the Rhodesian government because of its oppressive, racist government and the fact that it was all-white, and didn't like ZAPU for its somewhat communist ideals. It was backed by China, Yugoslavia, and Tanzania for adopting their ideals in war and perhaps a chance at an alliance in the future.
And finally, the pro-Soviet ZAPU didn't like the Rhodesian government or ZAPU for its democratic system of government. Thus, it was backed by the Soviet Union, East Germany, and Cuba for its ideals.
Anyways, the war continued for the 15 years between the signing of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence and 1980, when modern Zimbabwe was founded. Most of the minority European population in Zimbabwe fled the country or were killed. But after this, Rhodesia would finally become the country we know today.
Propaganda: RNG at left, ZANU in the middle, and ZAPU-ANC at right. Note that the RNG advertises in a style seen most commonly in the two World Wars and shows a European Man, while both ZANU and ZAPU advertises for African-Zimbabweans and show a brighter future for Zimbabwe if the people side with their party.