Welcome back to the Rhodesia series. Once again, I apologise for the wait, but this won’t happen again as I’m almost done with my book now, so we’ll be smashing through these until the end of the series in no time at all as I wrap up the Rhodesia chapter of this substack channel.
As the subject is generally pretty unfamiliar to most who will be watching this video, I’ve decided to leave a glossary and cast of characters below to help out a little just in case you end up scratching your head wondering what I’m banging on about during the video.
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Cast
Bishop Abel Muzorewa – Head of the UANC (United African National Council), friend or foe of the Smith regime, seemingly depending on his mood.
Alec Douglas-Home – British Foreign Secretary 1970-1974
Andrew Skeen – Rhodesian High Commissioner to Britain in 1965 and then Rhodesian Front MP, author of Prelude to Independence
Clifford Dupont – Rhodesian Head of State, ‘Officer Administrating the Government’ 1965-1970, President from 1970-1975
Edward Heath – Prime Minister of Britain 1970-1974, left his negotiations to his Foreign Secretary only to later betray the Rhodesians in order to join the EEC
Garfield Todd – Extremely liberal Prime Minister of Rhodesia 1953-1958. Ousted by his own party, went on to work with the African Nationalist terrorists. Frequent thorn in the side of the Rhodesian government and equally as frequently put in detention.
Harold Wilson – Labour Prime Minister, 1964-1970 and 1974-1976. Staunch opponent of Rhodesian independence and serial timewaster.
Humphrey Gibbs – Former Governor of Rhodesia, lived an isolated existence in his former residence until 1969
Ian Smith – Rhodesia’s most famous son. WW2 hero and later Prime Minister of Rhodesia, the only White post-UDI PM.
Joshua Nkomo – Chairman of the Rhodesian ANC, founder of the National Democratic Party and founder of ZAPU. The key figure in African Nationalism until Mugabe rose to prominence.
Kenneth Kaunda – Leading African Nationalist in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), went on to become President of Zambia from 1964-1991.
Ndabaningi Sithole – Founder of ZANU, de facto head of the party but losing power to Mugabe.
Robert Mugabe – Rising star of African Nationalism (and the only competent African Nationalist), contesting the leadership of ZANU.
Roy Welensky – The Driving force behind the creation and continuation of the Federation, second Prime Minister of the Federation. Prime Minister of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland 1956-1963. Opponent of UDI.
Winston Field – Prime Minister of Rhodesia 1962-1964, the first Rhodesian Front PM, picked due to being more ‘establishment’. Ousted in favour of Smith in 1964.
Glossary
Bulawayo – Rhodesia’s second city.
Federation – The Federation of Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
HMS Fearless – Royal Navy ship which hosted the second round of talks between Harold Wilson and Ian Smith
HMS Tiger – Royal Navy ship which hosted the first round of talks between Harold Wilson and Ian Smith
Lusaka – Capital of Northern Rhodesia (then Zambia from 1964).
Mashona – The largest native group in Rhodesia, based in the north-east .
Matabele – Former rulers of Rhodesia, the second largest native group in the country.
Salisbury – Capital of Southern Rhodesia.
UANC/ANC – United African National Council, Nationalist party, led by Bishop Muzorewa
UDI – Universal Declaration of Independence
ZANU – Zimbabwe African National Union, Nationalist party, split from ZAPU due to leadership disputes. Sithole was the President, Mugabe the Secretary-General (but locked in a leadership struggle).
ZAPU – Zimbabwe African People’s Union, Nationalist party, founded by Joshua Nkomo.
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