adminThe Rhodesia Herald, 12 November 1965
THIRTY-SIX African nations will ask the United Nations Security Council to declare “as soon as possible” that the Unilateral Declaration of Independence by Rhodesia has created a threat to international peace and security requiring the application of sanctions, the Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity, Mr D. Telli, said yesterday.
The African group decided to counter Britain’s request for a Security Council meeting with their own appeal.
Meanwhile, an emergency resolution was tabled by African sponsors to have the General Assembly formally condemn the UDI.
Both moves would invite Britain to “apply without delay” the provisions of pertinent previous resolutions of the Assembly and of the Security Council.
These include two appeals within the last month for the use of force, if necessary, and for economic and diplomatic sanctions.
The draft was expected to be considered at an afternoon meeting of the Assembly’s Trusteeship Committee.
If adopted, as seems certain, the Assembly might be called into plenary session tonight.
Sanctions could only be effective if they were enforced on a world-wide basis, and the attitude of Portugal and South Africa is considered to be crucial, they said.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
November 11 marks 55 years since Ian Smith declared UDI. Southern Rhodesia became the second British colony to declare unilateral independence after the United States of America had done the same in 1776.
Smith declared UDI on the 11th month, the 11th day and the 11th hour of 1965. 11/11/11 were not magical numbers that Smith came up with. He was following the European tradition of commemorating the Armistice or Veterans Day that was signed on November 11, 1918 to mark the end of World War I.
UDI was a game-changer for a government representing a minority group of white settlers that chose to shut out the majority black population in the governance of Zimbabwe, considering that they were the rightful owners of the land and its resources.
UDI was not an event, but a process. This is why the Organisation of African Unity, and the United Nations took decisive measures: the imposition of legal sanctions backed by the world body.
The imposition of sanctions against Rhodesia is different from the illegal sanctions imposed at the turn of the millennium when Zimbabwe reclaimed its stolen land.
The involvement of African states in the Southern Rhodesian issue has seen the African Union seriously involved in the call for the removal of the illegal sanctions imposed by the United States and its Western allies. October 25 is now an anti-sanctions day.
By the time UDI was declared, nationalist politics had also taken root, leading to the liberation struggle (Second Chimurenga) that led to Independence 40 years ago.
Online Reporter