Opposition Ian Smith

robert mugabe, elected prime minister in 1980, faced official opposition headed smith until 1987.

the new zimbabwean parliament opened on 15 may 1980, month after formal independence britain, smith reconstituted country s first leader of opposition. continuing long-standing tradition rhodesian era, government , opposition entered house in pairs—mugabe , smith walked in side side respective mps following, aptly symbolis[ing] mood of reconciliation , martin meredith comments. around 1,000 whites leaving zimbabwe each month, smith took radio urge them stay , give mugabe s new order chance, on half of country s whites left within 3 years. meredith records, 100,000 or remained retreated own world of clubs, sporting activities, , comfortable living . mugabe made great efforts when first took power endear himself white farming community, accounted @ least 75% of zimbabwe s agricultural output. amid booming zimbabwean commodity prices in years following 1980, many white commercial farmers came support mugabe. new prime minister continued cordially meeting smith until rf leader took him task in 1981 openly calling one-party state; smith said putting off foreign investors. mugabe not impressed and, according smith, refused ever meet him again.

as mugabe s main opponent in parliament @ head of republican front (as rf renamed in 1981), smith presented himself guardian of called zimbabwe s white tribe . spoke gloomily zimbabwe s future prospects, repeatedly accused mugabe administration of corruption, malevolence , general incompetence, , criticised mugabe s support one-party system. rf took increasingly confrontational line in house after mugabe , other government ministers began regularly pouring scorn on white community in national broadcasts , other media. amid rising tensions south africa, various white zimbabweans arrested, accused of being south african agents, , tortured. when smith complained whites being imprisoned without trial under emergency powers, number of zanu–pf mps pointed out had been detained under same legislation, , far longer, smith s government. mugabe openly admitted torturing suspected spies, had found not guilty high court rearrested on street outside, , accused western critics of caring because people in question white.

smith visited britain , united states in november 1982, , spoke scathingly zimbabwe reporters, claiming mugabe turning country totalitarian marxist–leninist dictatorship. government retribution immediate. on smith s return home, police raided art exhibition hosting him guest of honour in harare (as salisbury had been renamed in april 1982) , took attendees in questioning, ostensibly because of suspicions might illegal political meeting. week later, police seized passport, according government statement because criticism of zimbabwe while abroad constituted political bad manners , hooliganism . police meticulously searched harare house , gwenoro on next week, confiscating firearms, personal papers , diary. smith told reporters part of game intimidate me , demoralise whites . rf mps left party sit zanu–pf or independents, feeling confronting mugabe ill-advised , unnecessary. smith, however, remained convinced nobody stand white zimbabweans if did not stick , defend interests in parliament.

smith hempstone later wrote former prime minister had resolved go down ... rhetorical guns blazing . in spite of increasingly unstable health; in june 1982 collapsed in house of assembly, clutching @ side , shaking. half year later had arrange treatment in south africa condition stemming hardening of arteries. government s confiscation of passport , 2 refusals of return prevented him going, in april 1983 smith applied british passport. ll still try zimbabwean passport back, said. born here , passport should travel on. smith regained zimbabwean papers after year. in 1984 declared intention renounce british nationality abide new zimbabwean law outlawing multiple citizenship. britain did not recognise legislation; according smith, british officials refused take uk passport when tried return it.

gukurahundi; last years in politics

after tense relations between zanu–pf , zapu disintegrated amid mugabe s wish adopt one-party system in zimbabwe, mugabe expelled nkomo government in february 1982, accusing him , zapu of plotting coup. year later, mugabe deployed north korean-trained 5 brigade matabeleland, zapu s heartland, massacred thousands of civilians accused of supporting dissidents in became called gukurahundi. meredith asserts far exceeded had occurred during bush war, opinion shared geoff hill. white farmers killed. estimates number of deaths during five-year gukurahundi campaign range 10,000 30,000. mugabe concurrently took steps marginalise other main black nationalist leaders chimurenga. nkomo fled uk in march 1983, fearing life; sithole exiled himself in united states. muzorewa stayed in zimbabwe , detained in late 1983 alleged subversive links south africa. on arriving in england, nkomo accused mugabe of genocide , asserted things worse ever under ian smith . mugabe denied improper happening , put reports contrary down reactionary foreign journalists .

the zimbabwean government publicly threatened smith on regular basis, in practice left him , property largely untouched—mugabe pointed smith s freedom evidence of zimbabwe s reconciliation policy. smith renamed rf conservative alliance of zimbabwe (caz) on 21 july 1984, concurrently removing racial criteria membership , inviting black zimbabweans join. caz successful in 1985 parliamentary election, winning 15 of 20 white seats; smith won decisively in bulawayo central. mugabe interpreted racists of country defying government , rejecting reconciliation, , pledged abolish white seats, said compromised sovereignty of our people . after smith described mugabe s government illiterate on bbc television in november 1985, mugabe told house of assembly smith incorrigible racist should long ago have been hanged , hanged publicly . later month, smith s close friend , long-standing political associate boss lilford, had provided of finance form rf, found beaten , shot death on ranch. smith described lilford afterwards man prepared die [his] principles , refused openly discuss possible political motive, saying premature come conclusions .

smith in twilight of career, outspoken, confrontational stance continued irritate zanu–pf government. declared fifth columnist information minister nathan shamuyarira in february 1987 after advised group of south african businessmen survive economic sanctions if white south africans stood together. 3 months later, after suspended zimbabwean parliament year on comments in south africa , criticism of zanu–pf, resigned leader of caz. 4 decades mp formally ended in september 1987 when, allowed under lancaster house terms, zanu–pf scrapped white seats amid sweeping constitutional reforms. office of prime minister abolished in october; mugabe became country s first executive president 2 months later. mugabe , nkomo signed unity accord @ same time merging zapu zanu–pf stated goal of marxist–leninist one-party state.

this marked end of smith s front-line political career—gerald smith (no relation) replaced him leader of caz—but remained active in opposition @ reduced level. in july 1992 chaired meeting caz, muzorewa s uanc, sithole s zanu–ndonga party , edgar tekere s zimbabwe unity movement formed coalition challenge mugabe , zanu–pf in next parliamentary election. result short-lived united front, smith agreed chair, saying had no more political ambitions , therefore regarded neutral figurehead. united front failed, largely due lack of common ground between constituent parties, , never contested election. brief collaboration between smith, muzorewa , sithole in march 2000 led nothing.

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