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The Herald, December 7, 1979
LONDON. – The Zimbabwe Independence Bill was tabled in Parliament here last night and will be taken through all its stages next week.
Progress was guaranteed by the Labour Opposition when the enabling legislation was passed last month.
Once it becomes the law it can be triggered by an Order in Council. According to plans this will happen after the elections.
The Bill provides for the establishment of an independent republic and ends Britain’s responsibility over Southern Rhodesia.
It removes Zimbabwe Rhodesia from the list of countries whose citizens are also British or Commonwealth citizens.
Certain people would for a limited period, still have the right to be registered as British citizens, if they qualify as Commonwealth citizens by independence day.
These complicated nationality issues will change if, as expected, Zimbabwe becomes a Commonwealth member.
Commonwealth membership is a collective decision over which the British have no control. The Bill contains a two-way amnesty: For crimes of those connected with UDI and crimes committed against the “illegal” government in Salisbury.
Lessons for today
- Some agreements reached at Government level need to be buttressed by requisite legislation that make the agreements legal and binding. This was the case with the agreement reached at the Lancaster House conference.
- The House of Commons is the democratically elected house of the UK Parliament, responsible for making laws and checking the work of Government.
- Whenever a Bill is going through the motions in Parliament it is critical that there is a side that supports the legislation and mobilises support for it until it passes. In this instance the Labour Opposition was the one backing the process.
- The enactment of the Zimbabwe Independence Bill was critical in ensuring that Zimbabwe is an autonomous country that is free from British rule.
Online Reporter