Southern Rhodesia was ruled by a powerful white-settler minority who were largely unwilling to follow the British template of independence which emphasised rule by the majority. This resulted in a unilateral declaration of independence by the Ian Smith-led government. Rhodesia became an international pariah state and was subject to UN sanctions until 1979.

In 1964, failed talks with the British government and Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia Ian Smith on the issue of majority rule led to the unilateral declaration of independence of Rhodesia in the following year.

See below, Ian Smith’s return from talks with the British government in London and opinions of white Rhodesians on the issue of majority rule: