President of Rhodesia

President of Rhodesia
Flag of the President of Rhodesia (1970–1979)
Style	The Honourable
Formation	2 March 1970
First holder	Clifford Dupont
Final holder	Henry Everard (Acting)
Abolished	1 June 1979
Succession	President of Zimbabwe Rhodesia

Rhodesia
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Rhodesia
Constitutional history — Overview 1890–1923  BSA Company rule 1923–1980  Southern Rhodesia 1953–1963  Rhodesia–Nyasaland Federation 1965–1979  Rhodesia under UDI  1979  Zimbabwe Rhodesia (under UDI)
Government Governor / President Prime Minister
Legislature 1899–1923  Legislative Council 1924–1970  Legislative Assembly 1970–1979  Parliament Leader of the Opposition
Elections General 1924 1928 1933 1934 1939 1946 1948 1954 1958 1962 1965 1970 1974 1977 1979 1980 Legislative Council 1899 1902 1905 1908 1911 1914 1920 Referendums 1922 1934 1953 1961 1964 1969 1979
Political parties African National Congress Communist Party Labour Party Liberal Party Rhodesia Party Rhodesian Action Party Rhodesian Front United African National Council United Federal Party Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU)
Foreign relations Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) Mission in Lisbon Passport
National symbols Flag (other flags) Anthem
Other countries Atlas

The position of President of Rhodesia was the head of state of Rhodesia from 1970 to 1979. As Rhodesia never adopted a presidential system of government, the president's post was almost entirely ceremonial, and the real power continued to be vested in Rhodesia's Prime Minister, Ian Smith. Two individuals held the office of president, while two others served as acting presidents. All were white people of British descent. As with Rhodesia itself, the position lacked international recognition for the entire period.

Origins

On 11 November 1965, Ian Smith's Rhodesian Front Government proclaimed the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) from the United Kingdom. On orders from the UK, the then-Governor of Southern Rhodesia, 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 dispensed with the position of Governor. Under this constitution, the position of Governor was replaced by an "Officer Administering the Government" in lieu of the appointment of a Governor-General. Deputy Prime Minister Clifford Dupont assumed this post. Following a referendum of the mostly white voters in favour of a republic in 1969, Gibbs resigned his office and left Rhodesia.

Republic

Smith had sought to reconstitute Rhodesia as a Commonwealth realm, with Elizabeth II as Queen of Rhodesia and Dupont as Governor-General. However, Elizabeth would not even consider Smith's "advice" to appoint Dupont as her representative. Instead, Whitehall insisted that Gibbs was the Queen's only legitimate representative, and hence the only lawful authority in what it still maintained was the colony of Southern Rhodesia–a position backed by most of the international community.

For five years, Smith and his government continued to profess loyalty to Elizabeth and recognised her as Rhodesia's head of state. Indeed, the UDI announcement ended with the words "God Save The Queen." However, in 1970, Smith decided to sever constitutional links with Britain, by making the country a republic. Following the declaration of a republic in 1970, Dupont assumed the office of president; Smith's position as prime minister remained unchanged. A presidential flag was adopted, featuring a blue field with the coat of arms in the centre. Following the model of the State President of South Africa, Rhodesian presidents had little de facto executive power, and mostly acted on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Dupont resigned due to ill health in 1975. He 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 president. Like the UDI and the declaration of a republic, Zimbabwe Rhodesia was unrecognised internationally and in 1979, Britain resumed control of the rebel colony under the Lancaster House Agreement. Britain appointed Lord Soames as governor until the country became independent as Zimbabwe on 18 April 1980.

List of presidents of Rhodesia

Parties

  Rhodesian Front

Footnotes

External links

• Humphrey Gibbs, 87, of Rhodesia And a Foe of White Rebels, Dies

See also

• Governor of Southern Rhodesia
• Prime Minister of Rhodesia
• President of Zimbabwe Rhodesia
• President of Zimbabwe