Rhodesia: Constitutional Conference papers, 1979

This material is held atInstitute of Commonwealth Studies Library, University of London

Scope and Content

Papers delivered to the Southern Rhodesia Constitutional Conference, Lancaster House, London 1979, comprising summary of independence constitution; British Government proposals for the ceasefire arrangements; statement by Lord Carrington, British Foreign Secretary; Patriotic Front proposals on basic principles for a ceasefire and the British Government's full presentation on the ceasefire.

Administrative / Biographical History

The Zimbabwe-Rhodesia Constitutional Conference, held at Lancaster House, London, began on 10 September 1979. The delegates included Lord Carrington, the British Foreign Secretary, Bishop Abel Muzorewa, Prime Minister of Rhodesia since the general election in April, and other members of his Government of National Unity including the former premier, Ian Smith, Joshua Nkomo, head of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) and Robert Mugabe, head of the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), both representing the Patriotic Front. Although none of the participants began the conference with any real expectations that a solution would be reached, after four months of negotiation a settlement was concluded. On 21 December 1979 the delegates signed an agreement to accept a constitution for a new independent Zimbabwe and to implement a cease-fire in the civil war.

Arrangement

Chronological

Access Information

Open although advance notice should be given. Access to individual items may be restricted under the Data Protection Act or the Freedom of Information Act.

Acquisition Information

The source of acquisition by ICS is not known.

Other Finding Aids

Catalogued to item level (see link to repository catalogue).

Archivist's Note

Compiled by Alan Kucia as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

Conditions Governing Use

A photocopying service is available, at the discretion of the Library staff. Copies are supplied solely for research or private study. Requests to publish, or to quote from, original material should be submitted to the Information Resources Manager. Several documents UK Crown Copyright.

Related Material

ICS holds a number of collections containing material on Rhodesian politics including African National Congress (ICS 1), Ignatius Chigwendere (ICS 12), Canon Leslie Gready (ICS 25), Joe Kennedy (ICS 42), Tim Matthews (ICS 54), Anthony McAdam (ICS 50), Southern Rhodesia Legal Aid and Welfare Fund (ICS 107), Kenneth Manyonda (ICS 108), D D E Mutasa (ICS 91), Rhodesia: UDI (ICS 83), Miles Pedder (ICS 58), Southern Rhodesia: Ministry of Justice (ICS 53) and Southern Rhodesia: Ministry of Native Affairs (ICS 78).