Bush War Ian Smith

rhodesian army soldiers on lake kariba in 1976, during bush war

the rhodesian bush war (or second chimurenga), had been underway @ low level since before udi, began in earnest in december 1972 when zanla attacked farms in north-eastern rhodesia. rhodesian security forces mounted strong counter-campaign on next 2 years. muzorewa re-engaged smith in august 1973, accepting 1971–72 douglas-home terms, , 2 signed statement effect on 17 august. uanc executive repudiated in may 1974, talks between smith , muzorewa continued sporadically. rf again won clean sweep of 50 white seats in july 1974 general election.

rhodesia s counter-insurgency successes undone political shifts in guerrillas favour overseas. april 1974 carnation revolution in lisbon led mozambique s transformation on next year portuguese territory friendly smith s government communist state openly allied zanu. wilson , labour returned power in britain in march 1974. portugal s withdrawal made rhodesia hugely dependent on south africa, smith still insisted held strong position. if takes 1 year, 5 years, ten years, re prepared ride out, told rf congress on 20 september 1974. our stand clear , unambiguous. settlement desirable, on our terms.

the geopolitical situation tilted further against smith in december 1974 when south african prime minister b j vorster pressured him accepting détente initiative involving frontline states of zambia, tanzania , botswana (mozambique , angola join following year). vorster had concluded rhodesia s position untenable , south african interests better served collaborating black african governments on rhodesian settlement; hoped success in might win south africa international legitimacy , allow retain apartheid. détente forced ceasefire, giving guerrillas time regroup, , required rhodesians release zanu , zapu leaders attend conference in rhodesia, united under uanc banner , led muzorewa. when rhodesia stopped releasing black nationalist prisoners on grounds zanla , zipra not observing ceasefire, vorster harried smith further withdrawing south african police, had been helping rhodesians patrol countryside. smith remained stubborn, saying in run-up conference have no policy in rhodesia hand on black majority government , government instead favoured qualified franchise rhodesians ... [to] ensure government retained in responsible hands times .

joshua nkomo, leader of zapu, 1 of main black nationalist parties in rhodesia

nkomo remained unchallenged @ head of zapu, zanu leadership had become contested between founding president, reverend ndabaningi sithole, , robert mugabe, former teacher mashonaland had won internal election in prison. when released in december 1974 under détente terms, mugabe went mozambique consolidate leadership of guerrillas, while sithole joined muzorewa s delegation. had been agreed talks take place within rhodesia, black nationalists refused meet on ground perceived not neutral. rhodesians insisted on abiding accord , negotiating inside country. please both camps conference held on train halfway across victoria falls bridge on border between rhodesia , zambia; delegations sat on opposite sides of frontier. conference, took place on 26 august 1975 kaunda , vorster mediators, failed produce settlement; each side accused other of being unreasonable. smith afterwards held direct talks nkomo , zapu in salisbury, these led nowhere; nkomo proposed immediate transition interim government headed himself, smith rejected. guerrilla incursions picked in first months of 1976.

on 20 march 1976, smith gave televised speech including became quoted utterance. don t believe in majority rule ever in rhodesia—not in 1,000 years, said. repeat believe in blacks , whites working together. if 1 day white , next day black, believe have failed , disaster rhodesia. first sentence of statement became commonly quoted evidence smith crude racist never compromise black nationalists, though speech 1 in smith had said power-sharing black rhodesians inevitable , have got accept in future rhodesia country black , white, not white opposed black , vice versa . not in 1,000 years comment was, according peter godwin, attempt reassure rf s right wing, opposed transition whatsoever, white rhodesians not sold out. in 1978 biography of smith, berlyn comments regardless of whether statement taken out of context, or whether actual intent misinterpreted , 1 of greatest blunders prime minister gave obvious ammunition detractors.

henry kissinger, secretary of state, instrumental in smith s public acceptance in 1976 of principle of majority rule.

henry kissinger, secretary of state, announced formal interest in rhodesian situation in february 1976, , on next half-year held discussions britain, south africa , frontline states in became anglo-american initiative . meeting smith in pretoria on 18 september 1976, kissinger proposed majority rule after transition period of 2 years. according smith, kissinger told him considered participation in demise of rhodesia 1 of great tragedies of life . encouraged smith accept deal, though knew unpalatable him, future offer worse smith s standpoint—especially if, expected, president gerald ford lost upcoming election jimmy carter. smith expressed great reluctance, agreed on 24 september after vorster intimated south africa might cut off financial , military aid if refused. first time smith had publicly accepted principles of unconditional majority rule , 1 man, 1 vote. however, frontline states abruptly revised stance , turned kissinger terms down, saying transition period unacceptable. britain arranged all-party conference in geneva, switzerland try salvage solution. zanu , zapu announced attend , summit thereafter joint patriotic front (pf), including members of both parties under combined leadership. geneva conference, held between october , december 1976 under british mediation, failed.

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