Rhodesia: Constitutional Conference papers, 1979
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- Foreign and Commonwealth Office
TitleRhodesia: Constitutional Conference papers, 1979
Reference codeICS64
Date1979 September-December
Scope and ContentPapers 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.
NotesThe 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.
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Extent1 file
System of ArrangementChronological
Finding aidsHandlist available in the Special Collections reading room. A pdf copy is also attached to this description.
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Level of descriptionfonds