Everything about President Of Rhodesia totally explained
The position of
President of Rhodesia only existed from 1970 to 1979. It was never internationally recognised.
Until
1970, the head of state of
Rhodesia was the
British Monarch, represented in the country by a
Governor. On
11 November 1965,
Prime Minister Ian Smith's
Rhodesian Front Government proclaimed the
Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the
United Kingdom. On orders from the UK, the then Governor, Sir
Humphrey Gibbs, immediately sacked Smith and his cabinet. This action was ignored by Smith, who stated that the UDI brought into immediate force a new constitution which dissolved the position of Governor. Under this constitution, the position of Governor was replaced by an "Officer Administering the Government", and this position was filled by Deputy Prime Minister
Clifford Dupont.
Gibbs remained in
Salisbury, ensconced in
Government House. He was still internationally recognised as the legal Governor, while Dupont, Smith and their Government were regarded as outlaws. In 1969, Gibbs resigned his office and left Rhodesia.
Smith sought to make Rhodesia a
Commonwealth realm, with
Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Rhodesia, but he later decided to sever constitutional links with Britain and make the country a
republic. Following a whites-only referendum in
1969, Rhodesia was declared a republic in
1970. Dupont now assumed the ceremonial office of
President, Smith's position as Prime Minister remaining unchanged. A presidential flag was adopted, featuring a blue field with the coat of arms in the centre.
Dupont was succeeded as President in
1976 by
John Wrathall, who died in office in
1978. In
1979 there was an Internal Settlement, which saw a black majority government for the first time, and the country was renamed
Zimbabwe-Rhodesia.
Josiah Zion Gumede was chosen as its first (and only) President, which remained a ceremonial office. However, like the UDI and the declaration of a republic, Zimbabwe-Rhodesia was unrecognised internationally.
Following the
Lancaster House Agreement, Britain resumed control of the rebel colony, and appointed
Lord Soames as Governor until the country became independent as
Zimbabwe on
18 April 1980.
Canaan Banana became the first
President of Zimbabwe, serving until
1987, when
Robert Mugabe, previously
Prime Minister, became executive President.
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