Commentary Robin Norton 2005
Ever since I first wrote the previous paragraph I have realised that anyone not from 'British' Africa would laugh at what was written, it does sound like a recording from a propaganda machine, it could be better expressed, but I have chosen to leave it as it stands.
If you have taken the trouble to open this page, thank you. I hope that if you are not Rhodesian you might have some understanding or even a willingness to put aside what you have been told by the media over the last 40 or even 50 years.
I live in England, therefore the media I refer to is the 'British Media', sadly many parts of which has taken upon itself to rewrite history and almost without exception put forward the view that everything 'White' Britain did in the British Colonies was bad for the 'Black' people of those countries, then in the case of the British Colony of Southern Rhodesia which became Rhodesia in 1963 and then Zimbabwe in 1980, the 'White' government of Ian Smith which held power between 1965 to 1979, its actions were totally without merit and detrimental to the 'Black' people of that country.
My own insignificant part in this is that I was born in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), both parents British, my father was a regular in the British Army having joined up in the early 1930s, serving in India and throughout the Second World War, post WW2 he was sent by the British Army, first to Nyasaland (now Malawi) and then Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), when he was due to leave the British Army he was still in Northern Rhodesia and accepted the advice to be demobbed in that country where his talents could be put to use.
What is forgotten is that post WW2, Great Britain realised that it had an obligation to all its loyal colonies to help them develop at a much faster pace, the World was a very different place compared to the 1930s,
My mother was in a small group of people who flew out to Northern Rhodesia in 1951 with an ex Royal Air Force pilot who was starting up an air transport company, details in another part of this website.
This is just my story; there were many thousands who did exactly the same as my parents post War. At the same time these people and colonies were something the British government and British people were immensely proud of, the 'British Media' reflected this pride.
Then, in a very short period, this all changed, the so called 'Winds of Change' came about after a speech including that phrase by the then British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan in 1960 on a visit to South Africa (look in 'Africa –Maps and Facts' explaining that South Africa is a country, not an area). It was this speech it seems that spelt out the future for Britain's colonies in Africa, to my mind the promises given at that time indicating Great Britain would ensure that 'Responsible Governments' would be left in charge to run the colonies was not kept, the countries which gained their independence almost immediately under 'Black' rule have not prospered, those that held on to 'White' rule have now after long wars succumbed to 'Black' rule. Responsible Government was it seems not important in the rush to relieve the United Kingdom of its responsibilities.
The two countries which tried to keep what they considered responsible governments were what was Southern Rhodesia/Rhodesia now Zimbabwe and South Africa.
cont..