Internal Settlement
Encyclopedia
The Internal Settlement was the agreement between Rhodesia
n Prime Minister
Ian Smith
and Abel Muzorewa
in 1978.
by the international community and outright political pressure from South Africa
, Great Britain
and the United States
, the Rhodesian government sat down with its internal moderate black nationalist leaders to thrash out an agreement.
This agreement led directly to the election of March 1979
, which brought to Bishop Abel Muzorewa
and his UANC party to power. The election had been witnessed by international observers, who were all in complete agreement that everything had been free and fair. Muzorewa was set to take over the premiership from Prime Minister Smith on 1 June 1979.
and a new national flag was raised over Salisbury (now Harare
), signifying the transition. It was expected that all sanctions would be lifted, now that the country was under democratically elected black majority rule.
This however, did not lead to the lifting of sanctions as the hard-line parties ZAPU and ZANU were not involved in the political process. The British Government pressured Muzorewa to take part in the Lancaster House Conference
in late 1979 in return for international recognition of the country and the lifting of sanctions.
of 14 March 1978, declaring illegal any internal settlement of the Southern Rhodesia.
The result of the vote was:
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
n Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Rhodesia
The Prime Minister of Rhodesia was the head of government in the colony of Rhodesia. Rhodesia's political system was modelled on the Westminster system and the Prime Minister's role was similar to that of the same position in other countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New...
Ian Smith
Ian Smith
Ian Douglas Smith GCLM ID was a politician active in the government of Southern Rhodesia, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Rhodesia, Zimbabwe Rhodesia and Zimbabwe from 1948 to 1987, most notably serving as Prime Minister of Rhodesia from 13 April 1964 to 1 June 1979...
and Abel Muzorewa
Abel Muzorewa
Bishop Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa served as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia from the Internal Settlement to the Lancaster House Agreement in 1979...
in 1978.
Negotiations
Fed up with the sanctions leveled against RhodesiaRhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
by the international community and outright political pressure from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the Rhodesian government sat down with its internal moderate black nationalist leaders to thrash out an agreement.
This agreement led directly to the election of March 1979
Zimbabwe Rhodesia general election, 1979
The Zimbabwe Rhodesia general election of April 1979 was held under the internal settlement negotiated by the Rhodesian Front government of Ian Smith intended to provide a peaceful transition to majority rule on terms not harmful to Rhodesians of European descent...
, which brought to Bishop Abel Muzorewa
Abel Muzorewa
Bishop Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa served as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia from the Internal Settlement to the Lancaster House Agreement in 1979...
and his UANC party to power. The election had been witnessed by international observers, who were all in complete agreement that everything had been free and fair. Muzorewa was set to take over the premiership from Prime Minister Smith on 1 June 1979.
Zimbabwe-Rhodesia
Once Muzorewa had taken over the new government of national unity, the country was renamed Zimbabwe RhodesiaZimbabwe Rhodesia
Zimbabwe Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia, was an unrecognized state that existed from 1 June 1979 to 12 December 1979...
and a new national flag was raised over Salisbury (now Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
), signifying the transition. It was expected that all sanctions would be lifted, now that the country was under democratically elected black majority rule.
This however, did not lead to the lifting of sanctions as the hard-line parties ZAPU and ZANU were not involved in the political process. The British Government pressured Muzorewa to take part in the Lancaster House Conference
Lancaster House Agreement
The negotiations which led to the Lancaster House Agreement brought independence to Rhodesia following Ian Smith’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965. The Agreement covered the Independence Constitution, pre-independence arrangements, and a ceasefire...
in late 1979 in return for international recognition of the country and the lifting of sanctions.
Reaction
The internal settlement was condemned by United Nations Security Council Resolution 423United Nations Security Council Resolution 423
In United Nations Security Council Resolution 423, adopted on March 14, 1978, after recalling its resolutions on Southern Rhodesia, particularly 415 , the Council condemned attempts by the "illegal racist regime" in Southern Rhodesia to retain power and prevent the independence of Zimbabwe...
of 14 March 1978, declaring illegal any internal settlement of the Southern Rhodesia.
The result of the vote was:
- Y BOLIVIA
- A CANADA
- Y CHINA (permanent Security Council member)
- Y CZECHOSLOVAKIA
- A FRANCE (permanent Security Council member)
- Y GABON
- A GERMANY, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF
- Y INDIA
- Y KUWAIT
- Y MAURITIUS
- Y NIGERIA
- Y USSR (permanent Security Council member)
- A UNITED KINGDOM (permanent Security Council member)
- A UNITED STATES (permanent Security Council member)
- Y VENEZUELA
- Y=Yes
- A=Abstention
Further reading
- Catholic Institute for International Relations, Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Rhodesia. Rhodesia After the Internal Settlement, 1978.