A photo of Abel Muzorewa

ZIMSEC O Level History Notes: The Struggle for Independence in Colonial Zimbabwe 1900-1980: Internal Settlement and Zimbabwe-Rhodesia

  • After Smith accepted the One Man One Vote he began talks with local moderate nationalists such as
  • Abel Muzorewa,
  • Chief Chirau and
  • Chief Ndiweni
  • The settlement allowed Africans to vote on equal terms with whites
  • General elections were held in April 1979 and blacks under Muzorewa won 72 seats out of 100
  • Smith stepped down to allow for Muzorewa to become Prime Minister of Rhodesia
  • The new government failed to stop the war, bring international recognition and remove sanctions
  • The British and Americans felt that the elections had to include the PF for them to be recognized as effective
  • The OAU and UN dismissed the elections as invalid

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