Danielle`s Experiences of democracy......... by David Johnson

I`m writing a biography for Danielle as she will never write it down herself, but some of the things that happened to her need recording otherwise no one will know what happened to her in her homeland of Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe.

Both her parents were French and lived on the Island of Mauritius. After World War 11 it was recommended to them that they move to Rhodesia as it was the land of opportunity.

 They moved, then had three children and bought a house where they lived happily.
Rhodesia was a British Colony and about a quarter of a million of the people who lived there were white. The rest were black. The white people were more wealthy than the black people and the country was ruled by a white government lead by Ian Smith who was an ex fighter pilot. Most of the black people had jobs, mainly as servants or in agriculture. No one starved. Rhodesia was the bread basket of Africa
After World War 11 the whole world was changing.

 During the war , the only country that had made a profit from the war was the USA, because they weren't bombed and supplied weapons and materials for the war effort. Many countries were bankrupt including the UK after the war. The UK were number 55 in the wealth league after starting the war at the top.

 The USA gave many countries money or loans. Britain received a loan despite being on the side of USA which was only paid back by installments in about 2003. As everybody knows if you loan a country money you have control. The USA did not agree with the British and French empires. The French and British ran many countries which they could not afford to run after the war.

 It all started with the Suez Canal when Egypt under President Nasser took control although it was owned by France and Britain. Although it was taken back by British and French troops the USA did not support the Europeans and France and Britain had to withdraw and it now belongs to Egypt. Also when the Americans wanted help in Vietnam they asked for British help. Harold Wilson refused and it is thought he did so because of the American's lack of support during the Suez crisis

This was now what other countries saw and realised they could do the same. Also democracy became very important to the USA and the United Nations and there was a cold war with the Russians who believed in the communist system. One man one vote black or white became the norm, that was democracy.

Britain wanted Rhodesia to become independent and self governing. Elections were important and the white ruling party knew that if there were elections there would be a black government. Ian Smith was not prepared for this. The black community were not trained to run the country and it would take many years for them to do so successfully. 

The leader of Rhodesia Ian Smith

The British government knew this but they wanted democracy and elections. They didn't care much for the whites who live there, although they were mainly British. It was the 1960s and Britain had a very left wing government under Harold Wilson. He and Ian Smith carried out talks on HMS Tiger anchored in the channel. They couldn't agree and a war was taking place in Rhodesia. Terrorists were fighting for control of the Rhodesia, lead by Robert Magabi, who was a terrorist and had been in prison and was from a neighboring country. 

Most of the white population were fighting
the terrorists

Where there had been peace, there was now war in Rhodesia. Ian Smith wanted to run the country with Bishop Muzorewa to train him in running a country but the British government wouldn't allow it. They thought the fighting would not cease and wanted elections. Harold Wilson and Ian Smith could not agree and Ian Smith declared UDI ( unilateral declaration of independence ) This put an illegal white regime in charge of Rhodesia. Big sanctions were introduced not only from Britain but most of the world. It was only a matter of time before Rhodesia would have to compromise.

Eventually they did and elections were held. An MP called Lord Christopher Soams was made governor and turned a blind eye to many things that were not right because Britain wanted the country to become independent.

Danielle had been married but her husband died some years before, she had a child, Later she met a British soldier and they got married. He and many soldiers were sent to Rhodesia to monitor the elections. As anticipated a black government was elected under Robert Magabi who became the president.

Mugabi who became prime minister

 Most of the white people remained there and not much changed initially. It wasn't long before Magabi wanted more black people to own the farms and do the jobs. Many whites were shot as the government stirred black people up and told them of their entitlement.

Eventually Mugabi decided to turn all the white people out of the country. He made a radio broadcast telling the whites that they were to leave with minimum luggage or be shot. South Africa was the country who took the white population in, eventually finding them houses and jobs. At this time South Africa had an apartheid regime ( again the blacks out numbered the whites) and they had limited rights, but had work and money.

Danielle's, family were a group of people who had to leave Rhodesia in a hurry leaving their house and possessions behind or be shot. To begin with in South Africa they lived in tents but eventually bought a house and Danielle got a job in the insurance industry.
After the elections Danielle's husband, Paul returned to the UK followed later by Danielle

 On reaching the UK Danielle was arrested and put into Hollingworth detention centre with her 10 year old child, by her first marriage. She was there for three months. The only femail. The plane that she travelled on was full of dark skinned people who had no trouble entering the UK and were from the same country that Danielle had come from. Presumably Danielle was imprisoned because of her country declaring UDI. (Unilateral Decleation of Independence)

Eventually she was released when Margaret Thatcher heard about it. Her secretary John Gammer came and took her to the airport where she was flown back to Rhodesia. John Gammer told her to say nothing about her awful experience in the UK and told her she should never have been locked up.

Statue of Cecil Rhodes in Bulawayo. Founder of
Rhodesia (Zimbabwe)

Sometime later Paul, her husand got her a British Passport and they left South Africa because they thought the same thing could happen as the whole world was trying change South Africa as had happened in Rhodesia. Apartheid was going and there were elections and it resulted in the country having many black presidents some of whom were very corrupt, but the same thing never happened in South Africa like it had done in Rhodesia and to this day although all employment is done by black people and whites generally have their own businesses, although the ANC would like it if the whites left the country.

Rhodesia has had it's name changed to Zimbabwe and as a result of what happened, has massive inflation and is a mess as a result of the world wanting democracy and Magabi`s hatred of the white people. It is no longer the bread basket of Africa and has big problems. When the black community leaders learn to run the country and are less corrupt maybe it will improve, but that`s going to take many years.

 Most people have forgotton about what happened in Rhodesia because it happened years ago, when the news media was less developed, but hundreds of soldiers and terrorists died in the fighting that took place, but it is still remembered by the hundreds of effected people who blame Britain for not supporting them during the crisis.

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