Statesman.
First Prime Minister of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).
Born in Selukwe, he became active in politics during the 1948 general election when he was elected to the Legislative Assembly, later was the Prime Minister of the British self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia from April 1964 to November 1965 and then became the first Prime Minister of Rhodesia from November 11, 1965, when he unilaterally declared independence from the United Kingdom, until June 1, 1979, an era of white minority rule.
The country failed to gain international recognition. Retired from the position of prime minister of the newly renamed Zimbabwe, he remained a member of Zimbabwe Parliament until 1987 when the prime minister, Robert Mugabe, expelled him.
Then retired to his farm in Zimbabwe and was an outspoken critic of Mugabe before finally relocating to Cape Town, South Africa in 2005 where he later died of complications from a stroke.
His ashes were laid to rest in the family cemetery in Selukwi
Statesman.
First Prime Minister of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).
Born in Selukwe, he became active in politics during the 1948 general election when he was elected to the Legislative Assembly, later was the Prime Minister of the British self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia from April 1964 to November 1965 and then became the first Prime Minister of Rhodesia from November 11, 1965, when he unilaterally declared independence from the United Kingdom, until June 1, 1979, an era of white minority rule.
The country failed to gain international recognition. Retired from the position of prime minister of the newly renamed Zimbabwe, he remained a member of Zimbabwe Parliament until 1987 when the prime minister, Robert Mugabe, expelled him.
Then retired to his farm in Zimbabwe and was an outspoken critic of Mugabe before finally relocating to Cape Town, South Africa in 2005 where he later died of complications from a stroke.
His ashes were laid to rest in the family cemetery in Selukwi
Bio by: Fred Beisser
Gravesite Details
Ashes deposited in family plot
Family Members
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