External Actors in Zimbabwe's War of Liberation

Commonwealth, Frontline States and the Liberation of Rhodesia

Oct 17, 2009

The Commonwealth and Frontline States were two important groups of countries which exerted great influence on the course of Zimbabwe's struggle for independence.

The Commonwealth and Frontline States were two important groups of countries which exerted significant influence on the course of Zimbabwe’s struggle for freedom. The Commonwealth was composed of former British colonies while the Frontline States (FLS) was a group of African countries which agreed to coordinate their efforts in the fight against apartheid. Some countries like Tanzania and Zambia doubled as Commonwealth and Frontline states countries.

Commonwealth in the Zimbabwe Struggle for Freedom

In her speech at the Lusaka Commonwealth meeting in August 1979, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher admitted that Zimbabwe was a big problem for the Commonwealth. She summarized the problem in the following words:

The problem of Rhodesia has hung over the Commonwealth for many years. The present trouble began in 1965 when the Rhodesian government made the illegal declaration of independence. This was followed by years in which the efforts of successive British governments to achieve a settlement based on the wishes of a majority of the people of Rhodesia were frustrated, years in which the political rights of the majority were denied. Then came the war which has brought great hardship both inside Rhodesia and neighboring countries.

Thatcher’s speech was an admission that the Commonwealth owed a great deal of responsibility towards African masses in Rhodesia especially in their struggle for independence. Meanwhile before this time, many African members of this body had increasingly put pressure on Britain to assume its responsibility to decolonize Rhodesia.

At the Lusaka Conference of 1979, the Commonwealth rejected the lifting of sanctions against the regime of Albert Muzerewa. Their justification was that the lifting of sanctions would weaken the bargaining position of black nationalist fighters. With this pressure, Lord Carrington, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, and Sir Sridath Ramphal the Commonwealth Secretary General worked hard to ensure the success of the Lusaka Conference. This laid the ground work for the Lancaster Conference which eventually brought independence to Zimbabwe.

The Frontline States and the anti-Apartheid Struggle in Rhodesia

The express aim of the Frontline states was to combat apartheid in South Africa and to coordinate the responses of member countries to similar abuses in Africa. The group was formed in 1970 at a time when the apartheid government in Pretoria committed atrocities against blacks with impunity and attempted to export its system of oppression to neighboring countries in the region. This provoked hostile responses in the form of guerrilla movements throughout Southern Africa.

When Angola and Mozambique gained independence in 1974, attention was turned to Zimbabwe. The Frontline States vowed to end not only apartheid but white minority rule throughout the region. This added to the ferocity of the liberation war in Rhodesia which assured the U.S that a peaceful solution was urgent. Southern Rhodesia had already become a cold war theatre with the increasing popularity of communist ideology and weapons. In this search for peace, the U.S counted heavily on the support and collaboration of the Frontline States. This group rejected the an initial peace deal proposed by Henry Kissinger in 1976.

At individual levels, many Frontline States members offered direct help to black fighters in the form of training, bases and money. Training camps and military bases for ZANU guerrillas were readily available in Botswana, Tanzania and Mozambique. With diplomatic, economic and military support, the dream of freedom was realized in Zimbabwe after a 15-year war of liberation. As show of gratitude, Zimbabwe joined the Frontline States in 1980 and all forces turned to South Africa, the bedrock of apartheid.

Fowale, Tongkeh Joseph. “The Politics of Land Reforms in Zimbabwe 1980-2005: International Responses,” 2007.

Ngoh, Victor Julius. The Modern World from 1919-1983: A Concise History, 1984.

Patel, Hasu H and H. H. K Bhila. “The Last Becomes the First: The Transfer of Power in Zimbabwe,” in Decolonization and African Independence: The Transfer of Power, 1960-1980. 1980.

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