The United African National Council ( UANC ) is the Rhodesian and Zimbabwean political party of the 1970-1990s. Created on the initiative and under the guidance of a moderate African nationalist Bishop Muzoreva . He advocated a peaceful settlement of the armed conflict , dialogue with the Rhodesian Front , opposed the rebel movements ZANU and ZAPU . He was the ruling party in the state of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia . In independent Zimbabwe, he was defeated in the elections and was in opposition.
| Joint African National Council | |
|---|---|
| English United African National Council (UANC) | |
| Leader | Abel Muzoreva |
| Established | 1971 |
| Dissolution date | 1994 |
| Headquarters | |
| Ideology | social liberalism |
Content
- 1 Political struggle in Rhodesia
- 2 Success in Zimbabwe-Rhodesia
- 3 Defeat in Zimbabwe
- 4 See also
- 5 notes
Political Struggle in Rhodesia
The Methodist Bishop Abel Muzoreva has long been a popular activist for the equality of the black majority of Rhodesia [1] . In 1971, he led the African National Council, which was seen as the Rhodesian counterpart of the South African ANC Nelson Mandela . The party took center-left positions, ideologically adhered to moderate African nationalism and social liberalism . Since the mid-1970s, the name United African National Council (OANS) has been applied.
The Muzoreva Party advocated the transition to the rule of the black majority, the establishment of multiracial democracy, but by peaceful methods, taking into account the interests of the white community and while maintaining the foundations of the social system. On this basis, a tough conflict between the OANI and the Marxist rebel movements ZANU Robert Mugabe and ZAPU Joshua Nkomo has emerged .
In the late 1970s, the Rhodesian Front , led by Ian Smith , headed for an agreement with moderate African organizations. The Muzorev party, as the most influential of them, has become the main partner of the government. On March 3, 1978, an βinternal settlementβ agreement was concluded. ZANU and ZAPU did not recognize the agreements and continued the civil war . OANS supported the Smith government and emphasized the anti-communist component of its program. The party took an active part in the formation of SFA detachments , the pro-government militia of black anti-communists.
Success in Zimbabwe-Rhodesia
In April 1979, parliamentary elections were held in the state of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia . OANS won with 51 of the 100 mandates. June 1, 1979 Abel Muzoreva became Prime Minister [2] . OANI representative Josiah Zion Gumede also took the presidency. The party received 9 of the 18 ministries.
However, the refusal of ZANU and ZAPU to recognize the new state, the continuation of the war and the preservation of international sanctions made Zimbabwe-Rhodesia very short-lived. Already in December 1979, the Lancasterhouse Conference put an end to its existence.
Defeat in Zimbabwe
New elections were scheduled for February 1980 . It was assumed that the OASA would gain a wide representation in parliament. (In particular, Soviet news programs claimed that βwhite farmers force their laborers to vote for the Muzoreva party.β) However, the idea of ββthe influence of the OASs was greatly exaggerated. The party received only 8% of the vote and 3 parliamentary mandates out of 100 [3] . OANS positions were irreversibly undermined.
In independent Zimbabwe, the OANS was in opposition to the Robert Mugabe regime and was persecuted (in 1983, authorities claimed that thousands of OANS militants were being trained in South Africa to overthrow the Zimbabwean government) [4] . In the elections of 1985 and 1990, the party did not go to parliament. In 1992, OANS participated in an opposition unification project initiated by Ian Smith, but failed to create a coalition.
In 1994, OANS was dissolved. Supporters of Abel Muzorev joined the opposition organization United Parties .
See also
- United People's Organization of Zimbabwe
- United National Federalist Party