On this day in 1919, politician Ian Douglas Smith was born in Selukwe now Shurugwi, a small town in Midlands Province. His father was a prominent rancher in Rhodeisa. He did his primary education at Selukwe Primary, secondary education at Chaplin High School in Gweru and did a Bachelor of Commerce at the Rhodes University in South Africa. After completing his studies, Smith joined the British Royal Air Force in the World War
On this day in 1925, politician and religious leader Bishop Abel Muzorewa was born in Old Umtali (Mutare), Zimbabwe. Muzorewa studied theology at Old Umtali Bible School, he was ordained as a Methodist priest in 1963 and in 1968 he was ordained as Bishop. In 1971, together Canaan Banana, they formed the United African National Congress (UANC). In 1978-79, he was the principal negotiator with Ian Smith and the negotiations led to the formation of the Interim Government making him the first black Prime Minister of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia under the Internal Settlement. However, other parties (ZANU and ZAPU) did not support rather they continued with the armed struggle. Muzorewa’s reign as Prime Minister ended at the Lancaster in 1980 when Zimbabwe was declared independent. He died in 2010.
On this day in 1941, the late Zimbabwean Politician Stan Mudenge was born. In 1965 ater excelling with flying colours at Goromonzi mission, he enrolled for honours degree in History at the then University of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. During the course of the studies, he was involved in student activism. He joined with other students in demonstrating for economic malaise seeking for stability in political, social and economic spheres of Rhodesia. In 1966, Mudenge protested against Ian Douglas Smith’s Declaration of Independence (UDI). He wrote the famous book of the Munhumutapa Empire titled, ‘a political history of Munhumutapa’, C1400-1902.
On this day in 1964, Ian Douglas Smith became the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) succeeding Winston Field.
On this day in 1965, Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith and his cabinet signed a proclamation of Independence from the British Parliament. The British government responded by requesting the United Nations to impose sanctions against the rebel country in which Ian Smith and his cabinet signed this agreement. The agreement was signed at 11AM on this 11th day of the 11th month.
Ian Smith, then Prime Minister of Rhodesia anounced the Unilateral Declaration of Independence on this day. This basically was independence of Rhodesians from Britain. Britain was facing pressure from the United Nations to promote rights of Africans.
On this day in 1970, Prime Minister Ian Smith declared Republic of Rhodesia and Clifford Dupont was named the interim president.
On this day in 1978, Prime Minister Ian Smith and moderate African leaders including Bishop Abel Muzorewa, Ndabaningi Sithole and Jeremiah Chirau signed the Internal Settlement, an agreement which favored African majority rule for the time.
On this day in 2007, Former Rhodesian Prime Minister, Ian Smith died. Smith served as PM from 1964-1979 and at that time he enforced some real white supremacy in the country. He remained vocal in opposition to Mugabe even after the parliamentary seats reserved for whites were abolished in 1987. He and Mugabe were known for having conficts. At some point in March 2002, Smith at the age of 82 queued with the support of a walking stick to vote against Mugabe for presidential elections.