Part 7/10:
The political landscape became increasingly fraught with tension following the dissolution of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in 1963, which led to a rise in political agitation among Africans for greater representation and rights. The British government was determined to establish majority rule but faced resistance from the white minority government led by Prime Minister Ian Smith.
In a dramatic turn of events, on November 11, 1965, Rhodesia’s cabinet issued a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI). This act, echoing past revolutionary sentiments, was a bid to escape British control while maintaining white governance. It sparked mixed feelings globally, with many viewing it as a rejection of progress toward equality and civil rights.