Character, reputation and legacy Ian Smith

smith in 1975, prime minister, wearing royal air force tie second world war

smith simple man, graham boynton wrote after death, , rather humourless, one-dimensional rhodesian-ness @ once made him hero among own people , figure of derision among enemies . leader of rhodesian front , successors, foremost figure of country s white community—a symbol , father figure , in mordechai tamarkin s phrase, prime minister personified white rhodesia . supporters hailed him political visionary ... understood uncomfortable truths of africa ; detractors denounced him unrepentant racist . determination preserve white minority s position in rhodesia caused many black africans , others perceive him symbol of iniquitous white rule , racism. smith denied being driven racial prejudice—in 1987 interview asserted had been defending western principles , marxism fought, not blacks . above all, never expressed regret regarding actions prime minister; insisted end political , economic ruination of zimbabwe under zanu–pf had borne out predictions , proven him right.

key understanding smith, johnson wrote, that, other white rhodesians, clung victorian view of world both in moral values , in easy assumptions of british primacy characterised empire. bill schwarz took similar line, writing smith , supporters reacted british empire s demise imagining white rhodesians final survivors of lost civilisation , charged tak[ing] on mantle of historic britain in imperial power s absence. spoke endlessly how rhodesians had been more british british, boynton reflected, , how small community of decent, fair-minded whites had been betrayed by, well, think of ... easy mock ian smith, right—both betrayals , quality of african politicians . smith s not in 1,000 years quote dominated obituaries, development peter godwin, despite critical stance regarding smith , policies, considered unfair , inaccurate : on years has become shorn of context , compressed free-floating clip has become epitaph ... there more enough quite legitimately criticise smith, without resorting fabrication.

memories of travails on britain s behalf during second world war— undoubtedly central experience of life , according johnson—were fundamental sense of profound betrayal smith felt when uk government proved 1 of main adversaries prime minister. wartime plastic surgery corrected wounds face left right side paralysed, giving him crooked smile , blank expression, while bodily injuries gave him stoop , slight limp; not sit long periods without pain. post-colonial uk smith encountered prime minister seemed him foreign , effete , quote kenneth young, while smith foreigner in language british politicians—a man of convictions outdated, of tastes naive, make mutual understanding impossible. smith held of british politicians dealt in extremely low esteem, considering them have pushed him , country impossible position where, asserted in 1970, decision take unilateral action forced upon .

in prime, smith recognised both contemporaries , rivals formidable negotiator. hempstone considered him man principled (or short-sighted) compromise regards wrong , while welensky compared dealing him trying nail jelly wall . had iron nerve , quote rf colleague p k van der byl, , reputation icy calm ; never got angry or raised voice. spoke nasal monologue peter younghusband described it— uninspiring rhodesian oratorical standards . open, informal association general public fostered impression among white rhodesians prime minister still ordinary, decent fellow , berlyn cites major factor in enduring popularity. welensky described him in 1978 wielding hypnotic influence on rhodesian electorate, helped him win election after election ... hands down . had grudging respect of @ least of black nationalist opponents during bush war; one, quoted anonymously people magazine in 1976, asserted if had leader mr smith, have won long ago. sithole, long-time zanu leader, said: smith fighter. put great fight people. 2 bulls in there, way fought. man. respect him.

patrick kombayi, mdc politician , member of zimbabwean senate, said after smith s death zimbabweans had thank him for. roads using today built smith, said. infrastructure smith s. never suffered way suffering because smith took care of economy supported people , had enough eat. when left power [british] pound on par zimbabwean dollar, president mugabe has killed that. david coltart, mdc politician, issued statement after smith s death praising him man of modesty , integrity, criticising coltart felt disastrous political decisions prime minister ; coltart considered smith s policies have radicalised black nationalists, fomented mugabe s rise power , thereby directly contributed trauma zimbabwe suffering today . godwin took similar line, describing emergency powers smith used combat black nationalists draconian ; pointed out these levers of repression had formed base of mugabe later did. lord carrington spoke scathingly smith in 2005 interview heidi holland, saying disliked both smith , mugabe choose latter if absolutely had choose ; smith was, in opinion, bigoted, stupid man responsible of zimbabwe s problems.

while acknowledging privileged position whites had under smith, several commentators have latterly agreed claims many black zimbabweans preferred him mugabe hindsight. smith s image improved inversely mugabe s plummeted, johnson wrote. when walked streets of harare, africans queue grasp hand , wish him well. if go harare today [in 2007] , ask ordinary black zimbabweans rather have leader—smith or mugabe—the answer unanimous, boynton asserted; , not mugabe. smith s death prompted condemnatory reports in zimbabwe s state media. deputy minister of information bright matonga accused smith of being racist, blamed him deaths of thousands , asserted not mourned or missed here decent person . reactions zimbabweans on street mixed, however; according western journalists, many expressed sadness.

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