Zimbabwe | Goodbye Rhodesia |1979 

Glad everything worked out so well for Zimbabwe. Quite the economic and technological superpower these days

"Our children are dying of hunger, food is what we need. Conditions are getting worse. We may as well be dead..." ~ Zimbabwe 2020, 41 years later

I hear Rhodesians liked the rapper 50 cent, or as Zimbabweans call him, 500 million dollars

Who knew their descendants was gonna become trillionares. 😂😂

"Some of us are starving" "We want freedom and equality" "All of us are starving"

Breadbasket of Africa, now it's the world's biggest net importer of foreign aid.

Rhodesia in 1980 had the same GDP as NZ. Zimbabwe pissed on everything within ten years

What was discovered after the lightbulb in Zimbabwe? The candle.

Mugabe was going to save the country,LOL...That didn't turn out very well,now did it?

Why are these old documentaries so much more interesting? If there was a similar one made today on bbc 4, you can guarantee it would be mostly talking heads and still pictures!

A Zimbabwean 100 trillion dollar note is worth U.S 40 cents. Truly Zimbabwe is flourishing.

"We hope our children will have a better future." The children in Zimbabwe probably have it worse than adults did in Rhodesia.

The man who says that he fought for Britain deserved better but millions of British war veterans and their families, who fought in France, Germany, Italy, North Africa and Burma were also let down by the British government. The coal, steel, aviation, cotton, woolen, fishing, shipping and many other industries were allowed to be decimated in the 1960's to the 1980's, almost to the point where the UK doesn't make a fraction of the cars, trains, ships, steel, textiles, etc etc today than 40-50 years ago. That man felt abandoned by the British government, but he wasn't the only one who felt like that.

"The myth, that they were left alone and betrayed by their allies." Isn't that exactly, what happened?

Ian Smith was 100% right about EVERYTHING!!!! HE CALLED IT ALL OUT & PREDICTED 2020 ZIMBABWE DECADES AGO... It was all predicted!

And, after the Chinese take it over it’ll be called zimbung wai

Well, you got the zimbabwe you deserve, well done.

5:35 "Monty Pesco knows that the good times are over. He's off to South Africa". This guy must have had the shittiest luck ever.

This film was shot in 1979 but all events happening there relate so well you might thing it was shot in 2019! What a shame. We Africans have destroyed our own country.

Rest in peace Rhodesia.

Watching this in 2020 I have to say it is rare to see journalists who just listen to all sides of the story. Neutral journalism is a rare quality in the west.

all those future doctors and leaders! so glad they got their freedom

And what has happened to both Rhodesia and South Africa since leadership has changed hands?

The missionary doctor had the clearest idea of the issues of the time. If only anyone would've listened to people like him. Perhaps we would be having a different conversation right now about Zim.

Great to see Zimbabwe doing so great these days!! South Africa next.

An old guy I used to work with spent 3 years in Rhodesia in the late 1970s working for the government as a civil servant. He said it was truly a beautiful country back then, well run, prosperous, clean, safe, richest in Africa. When he left there at the end of his 3 year posting he said the writing was on the wall as things were deteriorating and when he looked back in later years he was upset and couldn't believe how it went so far downhill. And no, he wasn't white - he was Indian. So sad when you look at the people then who had so much hope for the future under a new regime, only to suffer considerably more than before. It's still the same today. Yes Mugabe may be dead, but little has changed.

Britain should not have let Rhodesia down. When Britain needed help in 1st and 2nd w war Rhodesian troops came to help fight and win the war.

Was born in Southern Rhodesia, Salisbury...3 week old baby... mom had to go work .... was breast-fed by a wonderful Shona lady, Hannah... til I was 4 years old... (still see her face in my mind's eye) ...we then headed for Northern Rhodesia, Lusaka... the most wonderful childhood thanks to the great staff who worked for my parents...sadsa & brisket with onions was SO delicious! The games in the sand with stones in little hollows... magic! The Askaris at Xmas time in their Ndebele tribal wear... huge shields & spears... feathers & leopard skins... wld circle hse & make scarey noises then come to front door & knock ...asking for "Chrismissy box Bwana" ... we wld be staring from safety of my moms side... the Mozambican, the Shona, the Zambian, the Ndebele were most kind to us little European kids... our introduction was priceless... coming to SA in 1961 ...Cape Town was inevitable as my dad cld see the writing on the wall...

Zimbabwe: what happens when you virtue-signal so hard you kick of decades of ethnic cleansing, famine, communist dictatorship and economic collapse.

Ah yes. The media painting Mugabe as a hero and basically disregarding the actual facts...some things never change

Rhodesia makes sense if the simple questions are asked, for example - why is it that the only time that the country has experienced any significant development, growth, prosperity, law and order was during the Rhodesian era? Why was there no refugee crisis during the Rhodesian era? Why was the Rhodesian army 80% percent black, with only white conscripts? Why were the standards of health housing and education the highest in Africa for all races during the Rhodesian era? Why was there high levels of employment? Why did the nationalists start their war of liberation 18 months before UDI? Why did the nationalists boycott the 1962 election which was based on the non-racial constitution that they amended and agreed to in 1961? What was the purpose of nationalists' war given that the 1961 constitution guaranteed "unimpeded progress to majority rule"? Why do people only want to discuss the country's history from 1893? Do people realise that the matabele had invaded the country 70 years before the pioneers arrived and were in the process of annihilating other tribes including the Shona? Do people know that it was the actions of the pioneers that brought peace to the warring tribes? Are people aware that blacks were guaranteed representation in the Rhodesian parliament - they had seats reserved exclusively for them? Are people aware that the tribal trust areas were set aside to ensure that blacks always had land that the whites could not buy? Do people know that Rhodesia always had a non-racial constitution, that enabled anyone, regardless of race or colour, to hold the highest office in the country? Why does the country pre- and post- Rhodesia look the same, with rampant tyranny and tribalism with despotic leadership? I could go on, but why? Ignorance is something that many people just don't want to let go of! Was the country perfect - no, not by a long shot, but it was better than any other country in Africa and many globally. Even by today's standards, the Rhodesian policies on managing and respecting diverse cultures, agriculture, environment, economics, and social issues are excellent. Rhodesia had long term plans for growth and development that were aimed at raising the standard for all. Now compare and contrast Rhodesia to Zimbabwe, or any other african country including Botswana... bearing in mind the high levels of support and money pumped into them - Rhodesia actually sent money and food to the UK!

1979: "Come to Rhodesia and visit the Zimbabwe ruins". 2017: "Come to Zimbabwe and visit the Rhodesia ruins".

By 2006, Zimbabwe had the shortest average lifespans in the world. It was 37 years for men and 34 for women. Just think of that. A nation in 2006 had average lifespans of under 40 years. Zimbabwe absolutely wrecked everything Rhodesia accomplished.

I was in Rhodesia from the UK working on the independence elections working with Zanu PF (Joshua Nkomo), all the black people we met were pleading with us not to pull out. The countryside was mile after mile of green fields farmed by the whites with black labour, I'm not saying anything about what is right or wrong, just that it was a wealthy and beautiful country with a decent economy. Such a shame what it became under one man.

Remember the saying. Come to Rhodesia and see the Zimbabwe ruins. Then it changed to come to Zimbabwe and see the Rhodesian Ruins. No truer a saying.

So how are you Zimbabweans enjoying that independence?

The white Doctor was breathtakingly noble. What an erudite, honourable man.

I was born and bred in Rhodesia. It breaks my heart to see how my beloved country has become. A once best country is now a waisted country

In this post I am merely going to take a trip down memory lane. I was born in Rhodesia’s capital, Salisbury, a spacious and attractive place whose skyline boasted several multi-storey buildings, of which the highest was the 20-storey Livingstone House in Jameson Avenue. From time to time, as a family, we used to drive up the kopje, a large rocky hill on the fringe of the city and enjoy the panoramic views. We also had some wonderful times at Mermaid’s Pool. More frequently, however, we headed out to Lake Mcilwaine for weekends and some of my happiest recollections of my childhood are of zooming around the lake on my father’s small motorboat. Other happy memories are of holidays at Lake Kyle, and during one of them we visited the ruins of Great Zimbabwe, the fascinating former capital of a powerful Shona kingdom-with extensive trading links-which enjoyed its heyday in the 14th century. We also had a holiday in the Matopos National Park where, among other things, I visited World’s View and saw the grave of Cecil John Rhodes and the monument honouring the ill-fated members of the Shangani Patrol which was wiped out during the Matabele War of 1893. Moreover, in the Matopos I also visited the grave of Mzilikazi (who was born in Zululand) and founded the warlike Matabele kingdom which dominated life between the Limpopo and Zambezi for much of the 19th century. I also remember going on holiday to Hot Springs and the beautiful Chimanimani Mountains where we visited Bridal Veil Falls- unfortunately, owing to the Rhodesian Bush War, my parents never took me to the country’s most famous natural wonder, Victoria Falls. I also spent wonderful times on my grandparents’ farm in Matabeleland, and sometimes arrived there after travelling to Bulawayo on the overnight train from Salisbury. Bulawayo was Rhodesia’s second largest city and my memories of time spent there include a visit to the attractive museum where the most eye-catching exhibit was a large stuffed elephant that dominated the entrance foyer. In short, I shall always treasure my memories of growing up between the Limpopo and the Zambezi.

This makes me so sad. Imagine having all that hope for absolutely nothing in return. We could have been the greatest nation of all time but here we stand broken.

I had relatives from Rhodesia. They left for Australia late 1970's. My Grandmothers cousin was a Doctor there. She told me that he served half a year military... half year civilian. I remember her telling me that Nkhomo rather than Mugabe would have been a preferable leader for post Rhodesian rule. BBC every morning together as a child,

This is one of the saddest wars of the 20th century. An oppressed people fought against their oppressors, not realizing the misery they'd endured was only a taste of the misery they'd win. There was no hero leading their people to salvation on either side. A diseased government fighting against the next diseased government.

Rhodesia: *turns to Zimbabwe* Geography now: we will go through alphabetical order Zimbabwe: *damn you Mugabe*

My maternal Grandmother’s family came from Rhodesia. It’s a hell hole now. Went to high school with a bunch of other Dutch South Africans in South Florida.

same old left wing press , what a great place it become

"I don't know how long we can do this, but I won't give up." The true spirit of Anglo culture that still permeates throughout the commonwealth and beyond.

I think there is something very special about Zimbabwe. I can see why whites very much wanted to make that place their permanent home. It just looks like a garden of eden, very cozy. A paradise.

Well how did that Zimbabwe thing work out??

As a zimbabwean its hard to watch this.. i was born 7yrs later

On Ian Smith's gravestone it's written, "I told you so".

Whoever wrote those subtitles was definitely high on something

back to square one

17:16 I really enjoyed Father Kennedy’s insight. His voice is pure asmr. He knew too well what has happened and what will happen. He certainly lived a good life regardless.

My grandma always warned me, "be careful of what you wish for, cause you just might get it". I've met 2 families from Zimbabwe. One the last was born around time of the switch and the other before and both moved to America. Both said life would've been better if it stayed Rhodesia. That's why families are fleeing in droves. I live in little old Kentucky and met 2 families in 6 months. Just saying

So sad, for both the black and white people of Rhodesia

Goodbye, Rhodesia ? goodbye banks, grocery stores, running water, goodbye, electricity, goodbye, stable, currency and goodbye, thriving economy, goodbye, agriculture and industry, goodbye, hospitals and universities, goodbye, paved, streets and railroads, and airports, and hello to trash all over the streets, graffiti all over the buildings and unimaginable poverty returning the locals to the Stone Age

There are none so blind as those who refuse to see.

A perfect example of being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Looks like reporters have always been against decency.

Can’t say Rhodesian leaders did themselves any favours with the way they treated the black people and their dignity. It’s a worst shame to see Zimbabwean leaders do worse to its citizens and destroy a country with such potential. The loss of shame in being incompetent is the route all failed and failing countries follow.

That's what they get for killing the best nation on earth, damn Shona.

Britain is my second favourite country, being second to the country of my birth. But here, the British media are trying to prove themselves, that they have chosen right by supporting the terrs. Unfortunately, personally I know no mistakes that could be called "right". Rest in Peace Rhodesia

As someone who was never given a whole lot of insight into the colonization of Africa and the bloody wars during this period, and struggles, this is invaluable. It gives so much perspective on today. Thank you for this content!

I did a thesis in 1970 about employment in Rhodesia. There was the perfect formula for insurgents. Good education but no chance of a job. I could see it was futile to resist history. I have no political bias, it's sad to see what the winners have done with their country.

Thanks for the documentary such stuff is hard to come by on internet , if u have some more please post.

The Holy man has compassion and is a true Christian.

Little did they know the nightmare that lay ahead with Mugabe and ZANU-PF. Short of Rhodesia never existing as a colony, there was only one real moderate solution that could have avoided war prior to UDI or ended it prior to Mugabe’s power grab in 1980 if recognised by the West. Power sharing in 1979 between Smith and Abel Muzorewa would have been a more palatable solution for saving Zimbabwe-Rhodesia and promoting better racial cohesion and harmony; as well as better cooperation with their neighbours under a recognised newly formed government. Mugabe failed to provide any of those things throughout his autocratic rule and the country remained economically and socially fractured with inequality still evident among the very people he claimed to represent. A political merging of the old and new would have allowed for stability, a voice for all citizens and a certainty of their place and role in society for a new Zimbabwe-Rhodesia. The international community should have approved the changes made to accommodate a moderate government that would have facilitated a peaceful transition to majority rule on terms not harmful to settlers. Declaring the 1979 election illegal and recognising Marxist militant factions as a legitimate political voice for the future affairs of the country had sealed its fate. Amnesty should not have been granted to guerrilla forces who clearly intimidated and swayed votes throughout the country against moderate candidates in 1980. The initial 1979 election may not have been as representative of the people as was desired but would have acted as a cornerstone for sweeping changes throughout the decade. Black majority rule and freedom from a racist system was inevitable, even under a Smith government if it had survived, as it would have modernised in line with a post-colonial world and re-evaluated its wider role to end alienation and isolation under sanctions. Marxist forces applied pressure, but changes came from sanctions and the desire for legitimacy and recognition. Efforts were eventually made but it came too little and too late. The power shift was too swift for a country that was ill prepared for an imperial decoupling after years of civil war. The departure may have seemed like a smooth transition but the economic decline after years of sanctions, poor education and a skills shortage would hit Zimbabwe hard. The steady deterioration was a direct result of Mugabe's irresponsible and illogical policies that quickly led to a crisis. Interracial harmony never existed even after Mugabe came to power and he would leverage support for farm seizures to deflect from his own failings. Eventually the newly independent state's colonial infrastructure would be largely ruined through neglect. There will be no realistic recovery after Zimbabwe's inability to maintain and rehabilitate the existing infrastructure since the country became immersed in economic and political turmoil in the 1990's. There is no new investment and existing services are inefficient, costly, and unreliable. Defiant and unapologetic, Mugabe had crafted an image that cannot be separated from Zimbabwe itself. As all attempts to power share came too late, added with pressure from radical Marxist-Leninist militants and economic sanctions, then the most favourable option with hindsight would have been to argue the case with Britain over the fate of settlers without declaring UDI. The UK ignored the issue of a smooth phased transition. Unlike other colonies, Rhodesia had a longstanding and permanent white population who were expected to have no role in the future of a land that they called their home. Forced repatriation was not an option considering that most settlers had been born there over several generations. The UK had considered nothing but its own interests in washing its hands of the former colony, and as usual British mismanagement caused terrible repercussions by leaving no other option for the settlers other than UDI. Decolonisation was not possible when there was an old, settled and permanent colonist population that would effectively be ignored and left behind. Mediation, integration and a power sharing coalition was required before the UK relinquished her burden and her permanent footprint it left behind with its imperial children. Britain needed to invest in the future of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia by maintaining an agreed presence there during the 1960's to facilitate a peaceful and equal coexistence between its peoples, and to build a new diplomatic relationship based on historic ties and commonwealth membership for trade; something that can no longer exist within present day Zimbabwe. There was no responsible transition on both occasions. The issue with the illegally declared Smith government of the early 1960's was its racist policies that prevented equality among the Black and White population. If Smith had taken a more forward-thinking approach to ensure that the country, its industry and the future of white settlers was not in question, then he would have realised that Rhodesia couldn't survive without Black integration and equality. Adopting an inclusive nationalist idea would have nurtured a new identity were everyone worked towards the same goals to strengthen an inclusive nation and to support the interests of the people regardless of race or culture. The balance of power had to be on an equal footing if it was ever to survive from the onset of decolonisation. For the UK to expect a new Zimbabwe to succeed without support was deplorable. Smith’s fear that the country's infrastructure would collapse under an inexperienced black government was understandable, and no preparations had been made to educate and introduce a skilled black workforce into specialist areas where none existed. The UK attempted a hasty retreat as soon as it could and its actions caused fear and anger at how irresponsible it was behaving among the people who felt betrayed and irrelevant, like a living relic of the past from a country that no longer wanted them. The UK hadn't fully understood the implications of wrenching the colonies away from British administration and India was a chilling example of what could go wrong. I feel that it was the UK's moral duty to attempt to maintain some sort of order and a phased plan to enable Zimbabwe to succeed. Mugabe has raped Zimbabwe of its potential and discarded it for his own personal gain. I feel that the UK has a lot to answer for and that decolonisation couldn't have been fully achieved in the time scale that it had expected. It should have listened and worked with both parties to enable a responsible transition through a power sharing agreement. Mugabe was the result of a failure to communicate and understand the implications during decolonisation.

those who don't remember history are doomed to repeat it.

After suffering under Rhodesian oppression, the populace in the late 1970s placed their hopes in Mugabe, among others. What a tragedy that turned out to be.

Zimbabwe is located here->🌍 Rhodesia, is right here->♥️ 😔✊

He said he used "terrorist" instead of the neutral term "guerrilla" at about 9:25 like it was wrong for him to do so. Dude, they forced what they considered their own people out of their own town, that's terrorism.

Rhodesian soldiers> Zimbabwe

Turns out ZImbabweans were already literate as of 1978, for those who argue that Mugabe educated anyone

What a time it's been With so few friends to turn to What a time it's been When all we did seemed wrong We're trying to put things right But the battle still goes on What a time, what a time it's been - Clem Tholet

Glad to see Zimbabwe is doing do well these days!

5:40 that guy sold his house to go to South Africa XD imagine his disappointment

They all lived happily ever after

Damn those 70s interviews are heartbreaking. It is perfectly clear that both sides were fighting for their version of better future, for better justice. And it is also clear that the middleground that would've made everyone better off, some kind of a longer and peaceful transition, was not attainable. Cause it's too easy to flare up racial hatred in this setup. The racial war can only escalate and leaves a terrible legacy fucking up any chance for a reconciliation. In the end tens of thousands are dead and everyone else is worse off.

The "victim" and "rescuer" game is being played out in Britain and USA now. History is being rewritten with racism as main theme. The victims are never responsible for their fate, its always someone else keeping them down.

Interesting historical documentary

Look at all of these joyous people celebrating their impending starvation.

What rubbish… I lived there in 78 and people were NOT starving. In fact the population was doing much better than at any time since then.

Zimbabwe 2.0 currently loading: South Africa

Ian Smith had more guts than many people 🥰🥰😇😇😇

What america is going to look like in 70 years

Rhodesia had tribal reservations and allowed native land purchases, Rhodesia in policy was exactly the same as the USA in the Jim Crow era and instead of allowing sanctions to be lifted and the bush war to end, the UN isolated Rhodesia. The fact that the white population who were born there felt like they had to leave because of an invasion and rampant immigration from an invading force (which is against the geneva convention under genocide)

4 pounds only. Look at those houses, I cant even call it a house. Its a shak. It's sad that people in the comments think that the black people were better off like that.

Beautiful country gone to ruins no roads no nothing but pain and suffering God help us

8:00 what an absolute mad lad.

Zimbabwe has been abandoned by the world due to leaders. It is the people that suffer and not the leaders. People suffered in Rhodesia but a lot wasn’t documented. It just so sad that this beautiful country will always be at odds.

The South Africans are belatedly confronting the same fate

Now you got Mugabe with his endless inflation, loooool

Totally biased reporting , ask them today just how well their precious liberty has been

I wonder what Rhodesia/Zimbabwe would be like today if the country had more gradually and responsibly transitioned to majority rule with strong constitution that guarantees protection of civil rights and human rights, term limits, due process, etc.

So glad it worked out so well for a once great country

this is eye opening.this is different from what i was taught in school.zimbabwe is quite rich in history.but is filled with flaws.

"Africa is forever on our TV screens, but the bad-news stories (famine, genocide, corruption) massively outweigh the good (South Africa). Ever since the process of de-colonialisation began in the mid-1950s, and arguably before, the continent has appeared to be stuck in a process of irreversible decline. Constant war, improper use of natural resources and misappropriation of revenues and aid monies contribute to an impression of a continent beyond hope."

Look at the shining example of paradise under Mugabe...full employment highest standard of living no foreign debt.Yeah right.

This is heart wrenching 😖

We moved from Umtali to Fort Vic in 1976. I view the whole thing through different eyes and fear the reporting us biased. It has taken just over 37 years for the truth to be revealed, for our worst predictions to come true.