adminThe Rhodesia Herald, 6 November, 1965
A STATE of emergency has been proclaimed in Rhodesia. The Minister of Law and Order, Mr Lardner-Burke, said in a statement yesterday that the emergency had been declared because there was a threat to a security in the country and that the proclamation would last for three months.
The Prime Minister, Mr lan Smith, denied last night that the state of emergency had been declared as prelude to a UDI.
“If we want to declare a state of emergency for a UDI, we will tell you about it,” he said to reporters when he left his office at the end of the second Cabinet meeting of the day. Asked if a UDI was any closer, he said: “No”.
Mr Smith looked rather tired as he left his office just after 5.30 pm. He did not whistle or make any quips as he had done the night before after a much longer day that included the Rhodesian Front caucus and two Cabinet meetings.
But he was affable towards newsmen, leaning casually on the open driver’s door of his car in front of his office.
He said the Cabinet had drafted a reply to Mr Wilson the proposed Royal Commission — “but it would be quite wrong of me to tell you its contents beforehand.” Informed sources said Mr Smith was taking new initiative.
Asked if the reply had been sent to Mr Wilson, the Prime Minister replied: “No”. We have done a rough draft. It has to be polished up.”
“I’m going to forget about politics,” he said when asked if the Cabinet would be meeting again over the weekend.
As the Prime Minister told reporters he would tell them if he was going to declare an emergency in the event of UDI, a smaller group of bystanders cheered.
Yesterday afternoon’s Cabinet meeting lasted about three hours. The morning session lasted more than two hours.
As he left to go home for lunch, Mr Smith repeated “No comment” to every question put to him by waiting reporters.
But he held up a magazine and said: “I’ve got the Australian News Review here. It says: ‘Australia supports Smith’s stand’. I would advise you to read it. It’s very good.”
Lessons For Today
The proclamation of a state of emergency in Rhodesia was a measure that allowed the Smith regime to implement special powers and restrictions aimed at maintaining order and protecting citizens during times of crisis.
A state of emergency typically grants authorities enhanced powers, which may include curfews, restrictions on movement, increased police presence and limitations on gatherings.
Despite Smith’s evasive responses, the build-up resulted in the Unilateral Declaration of Independence on November 11.
The declaration provoked varied responses from the public, ranging from support for government actions aimed at restoring stability to opposition against perceived overreach or authoritarianism.
Smith’s intransigence led to a full-blown war of liberation.
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