CONFIDENTIAL
IGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
CP 014/2
DIPLOMATIC REPORT No. 139/80
General (Q) Distribution
ZIMBABWE 14 May, 1980
THE INDEPENDENCE OF ZIMBABWE
The British High Commissioner at Salisbury to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
SUMMARY
The last British colony in Africa to achieve independence. Many distinguished guests. Zimbabweans particularly pleased by attendance of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales (paragraphs 1-3).
4-8).
2. The independence ceremony; a great success (paragraphs
3. Zimbabweans to be congratulated on the conduct of the celebrations; major contribution by the Governor, his staff and that of the military advisory and training teams (paragraph 9).
4. An excellent start for Zimbabwe, but horrendous difficulties ahead. The Prime Minister needs help to make his robust and pragmatic approach succeed. Much depends on it (paragraphs 10 and 11).
(Confidential) My Lord,
Salisbury,
14 May, 1980.
I regret that the daily business of the first month of independence has delayed this report on the emergence as the Independent Republic of Zimbabwe of the last British colony in Africa. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales presided over the celebrations and you yourself Sir were present with a British delegation which included Mr. Peter Shore, MP and Mr. David Steel, MP. The celebrations were conducted in an atmosphere of general enthusiasm and optimism and were a fitting culmination to the short period of direct British rule, during which the country was brought from illegality to lawful independence and from war to a widely welcomed though still precarious peace.
2. The Prime Minister-elect of Zimbabwe, Mr. Mugabe, and his Government wanted a major celebration to mark the end of their fight against White supremacy and Zimbabwe's return to the international community. The British staff at Government House took an active part in bringing this about, playing a major rôle on the Independence Committee which organised the celebrations: The Committee also included representatives of the Rhodesian civil service and forces, and the two parties in Government. Mr. Mugabe decided to invite a large number of countries to the celebrations, including all members of the OAU, the Commonwealth and the European Community. He also invited the US, the Soviet Union and many Communist countries. China, one of his main pre- Independence supporters, was represented by Mr. Huang Hua in person. But Mr. Mugabe displayed his reticence towards the Soviet Union, who had
CONFIDENTIAL
20974-139 12504-7
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