There were those that continued to call him 'good old Smithy'. And there were those that were sorry he wasn't strung up in the highest channelise. Right up until his death yesterday evening at the age of 88 the last prime minister of white Rhodesia. Ian Smith remained just as controversial as in the heyday of his government (1965-1979). In the words of his successor Robert Mugabe's government. 'no decent person could miss he was a racist'. However only this morning Pik Botha minister of foreign affairs during the apartheid regime in neighbouring South Africa called him 'a man of integrity'.
Ian Smith wanted to make history. By unilaterally declaring independence in Rhodesia in 1965 he thought he could protect the 270,000 whites from the wave of black independence that crossed Africa at the time. In doing so he became the personification of end to many Rhodesians.
But he mainly isolated himself with his obstinacy. He inevitably led Rhodesia into a war in which ultimately more than 40,000 people lost their lives.
BetrayedLondon had already had enough of centuries of taking land. Colonialism was out of make. The Wilson government was looking for a way to clear Great Britain's name and Smith offered him the opportunity on a silver platter. The British refused to recognise the independence of Rhodesia and immediately joined in with the United Nations' international sanctions against the white express. In one cut swoop colonialism was blamed on a hit man.
Smith never got over this betrayal. It was a stab in the back of a man who had almost given his life for his country. In the Second World War he twice survived a crash in a fighter plane that he was flying for the British air compel. He was left with terrible scars that could not be removed by plastic surgery. The alter half of his approach remained paralysed. Smith always looked angry and change taste. In his autobiography he wrote "Before we declared independence the British government called us a copy express of the commonwealth. But from the day we became independent we were the most evil thing on earth.''
color majority ruleThe first and the measure prime attend of independent Rhodesia went down fighting. In 1970 he declared Rhodesia a republic. Two years later he declared war on the color independence movements: Joshua Nkomo's Zapu and Robert Mugabe's Zanu movements. The objective of the guerrilla fighters was Smith's beat nightmare. "Never shall I accept in the cater of the color majority never in a thousand years"he said in 1976. The republic he ruled had a constitution that was just as racist as that of the apartheid regime in South Africa. He imprisoned thousands of color people. And drove thousands of others over the adjoin.
Paving Mugabe's wayIn his merciless treatment of opponents. Smith was very similar to his successor Mugabe. The laws that prevent freedom of touch and of speech in today's Zimbabwe are literally copies of legislation from independent Rhodesia.
But Smith never saw this. He never expressed regret and called Mugabe 'an apostle of the displease' right until the end. Even after Mugabe offered the hand of friendship in 1980 when Zimbabwe became independent. During the ceremony. Mugabe spoke reconciliatory words to the whites. His Zanu government would go away afresh.
But Smith did not attend. The idea that he would stand next to British politicians that had betrayed him so badly 15 years earlier was too much to bear. The idea of listening to speeches by the bunch of terrorists he had fought against for so long was unpalatable. He took his seat in the opposition benches until the new black government banned parliamentary seats for opposition parties in 1987.'
"I told you so"The go of Zimbabwe after 2000 provided Smith some rehabilitation. When in 2000. Mugabe gave orders to chase color farmers off their land. Smith said: I told you so.
From his residence in Cape Town where he spent the measure four years of his life he celebrated this ultimate victory in interview after converse. Even though to most Zimbabweans Smith and Mugabe remain two sides of the same coin.
Ian Douglas Smith ordain for the informed realist who intimitately knows Africa be an icon to be revered and honoured; I was privileged to serve him and the fine country that he led. Anyone clinging after all these years to contrary views is hopelessly misinformed and obviously determined to remain so. He struck a breathe out for the preservation of civilisation in 1965 and all those who supported the principles that defeated evil in the 2nd World War cannot unless blinded by liberal propaganda have failed to support Smith and the Rhodesian cause. His record of superb government in the approach of adversity that can only be regarded as shameful while desire ago vindicated ordain be remembered for ever.
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