Background Rhodesian constitutional referendum, 1969

1 background

1.1 position of monarchy after udi
1.2 calls republic
1.3 new constitution

background
position of monarchy after udi

on 11 november 1965, self-governing british colony of southern rhodesia made unilateral declaration of independence (udi) although continued recognise british monarch, queen elizabeth ii, head of state, oaths of allegiance majesty queen elizabeth, queen of rhodesia, heirs , successors .

however, rhodesian front government of ian smith ceased recognise authority of de jure representative, governor sir humphrey gibbs. instead, on 17 november, appointed former deputy prime minister clifford dupont post of acting officer administering government .

clifford dupont, officer administering government, 1965-70, president 1970-1975

on 2 december, smith wrote personal letter queen, asking accept dupont new governor-general. in response, told majesty not able entertain purported advice of kind, , has therefore been pleased direct no action shall taken upon .

under 1965 draft constitution, if queen did not appoint governor-general within fourteen days of advice being tendered prime minister, regent appointed.

in deference royal family, however, on 16 december, smith amended original plan , dupont appointed officer administering government. continue use title until declaration of republic in 1970.

consequently, legislation passed after udi enacted excellency officer administering government, representative of queen s excellent majesty, , advice , consent of parliament of rhodesia .

similarly, dupont deliver speech throne before legislative assembly, , sign bills law. opponents of udi considered illegal move, such independent member of legislative assembly ahrn palley, refused recognise dupont s office, , walked out of opening of parliament in protest.

while gibbs continued occupy government house, dupont , wife held official receptions @ governor s lodge in salisbury suburb of highlands. in 1967, on second anniversary of udi, gibbs declared vistors book open wished show loyalty queen, while dupont, in response, announced vistors book @ office, on same street, open wished show support udi.

neither queen nor british government recognised dupont representative, , while issued reprieves 2 african men sentenced hanged in 1968, smith government did not accede clemency order.

calls republic

calls rhodesia declare republic began july 1966, when joint committee of rhodesian front caucus , local party chairmen put forward proposals sever links british monarchy , adopt republican constitution. later year, @ formal ball celebrate first anniversary of udi, there cries of republic, republic among attending.

as result of increasing ambiguity of queen s constitutional position, rhodesian government believed becoming republic rhodesia able improve trade , gain international recognition. following unsuccessful talks british prime minister harold wilson aboard hms fearless in 1968, smith predicted rhodesia become republic irrespective of outcome of dialogue britain .

later year, constitutional commission appointed, in 1 witness argued queen in capacity queen of rhodesia political prisoner of british government . 1 of eager advocates of republic status minister of internal affairs lance smith, who, on 30 may 1969, denounced queen figurehead , mouthpiece of whatever government in power in england.

writing in memoir, smith described republic status 1 of more controversial proposals , , no easy decision many of birth had been ingrained british empire , had become increasingly difficult separate monarch , empire deviousness of [british] politicians.

new constitution

in addition, smith government sought strengthen position of white minority through adoption of new constitution, replace 2 existing non-racial electoral rolls, determined property qualifications, separate rolls white , african voters.

under new constitution, white voters elect 50 members house of assembly, lower house of parliament, while african voters elect 8, additional 8 seats being indirectly elected represent chiefs , tribal interests. senate, indirectly elected new upper house, composed of 23 senators, of whom 10 elected white members of house of assembly, 10 african chiefs, half mashonaland , half matabeleland, chosen electoral college composed of members of council of chiefs, , 3 appointed president.