UPITN 15/02/80 IAN SMITH INTERVIEWED IN JOHANNESBURG

(15 Feb 1980) Former Prime Minister of Rhodesia Ian Smith speaking to reporters in Johannesburg about situation in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and his upcoming visit to USA.
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives ​​
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...

[@colinwhite3988]

Ian Smith... a wonderful, wise, courageous man.

[@obinnaosuagwu3685]

And today, we see much of Africa's problems is hinged on its elite toying with socialism.

[@h0ckeyd]

@@obinnaosuagwu3685 Then it's not really socialism is it. It's, as Smith says, totalitarianism. It's often rich people who are scared of their interpretation of whatever Marxism is and the poorer folk who embrace it. Free enterprise is good, but everyone should have a safety net so in that respect, something like a state healthcare system or housing system is indeed socialism but it need not take away rich people's ideas of making a profit.

[@mikcocoorney504]

And Mr Ian Smith was correct .

[@edgarindainyapadi]

As a Zimbabwean I must say his governance was way far better than all his successors. He was a strategist.

[@obinnaosuagwu3685]

Open your eyes: the only reason his government was better was its ideology-- freedom, capitalism, free enterprise rather than socialism.

[@vusumuzimathumo-githendu6949]

@@obinnaosuagwu3685 you sound Nigerian

[@mikcocoorney504]

He was the best man to have ever ruled

[@adamfox1669]

Truth

[@longandshort6639]

Pamberi ZANU PF! On and forward with the theft of all government wealth. Where is the capital of Zimbabwe? It’s not in Harare. It’s in a Swiss bank account. 😂😂😂😂

[@brianswynnerton4264]

One of the greatest men to ever draw a breath. RIP. Brian Swynnerton

[@8000SAC]

Rhodesian PM Smith = hero.

[@cesarvillegas3799]

nope he was a racist

[@elzaberoos2949]

Oh he stood in the gap for our country and her peolple...all people!👍

[@viccla1]

very clear statements! clever man indeed

[@karoi75]

A statesman unmatched when compared to today's leaders. R. I. P.

[@humbalapa]

The world is sorely wanting for a Statesman and Leader like Ian Smith. An utter privilege to meet him, hear him speak and filled with pride that he was my Prime Minister. RIP, Sir.

[@Paladin1776a]

May God rest his soul, Ian Douglas Smith was a hero and a 19th Century Leader in a very misunderstood time, fraught with Marxist poison. He benefited all people in Rhodesia. I pray I meet him in heaven.

[@Priapus212]

He was also a fascist

[@Paladin1776a]

@@Priapus212 You don't even know what a Fascist is moron.

[@TorenoMike]

@@Priapus212 He was literally a capitalist

[@HISTORYGUY300]

​@@Priapus212Bruh, he fought against the Nazis in WW2. Do your research.

[@Selous_Scout]

Rhodesia had communists on all sides and to be fair the security forces did well with what they had at there disposal to defend there home land…God bless Ian Smith and Rhodesia a true Prime Minister who did the best for his country

[@ayodejiolowokere1076]

Their homeland was Britain.

[@tabletsam5624]

Greatest man of the free World. We need you here in the BRD, once called Germany.

[@chrisoregan2932]

Sad this film has been edited so much but good nonetheless

[@UFOhunter4711]

it's too quiet

[@clarencelafuentes5331]

Remember, the USA government sent Representatives, such as Mr. Andrew Young, a few years before. This meeting, with PM Mr. Smith, going to the USA, is part of the peaceable transfer agreed to just a few years previous. The reporter had said "You are going on a visit at an critical time". It had been that way before the UDI, and the statement was wrong.

[@cybertronian2005]

Smith talked a lot about democracy when Rhodesia was anything but, with only a tiny percentage of the population having the franchise, with a property-based system to prevent the black majority from having any political voice. I do see the irony, however, that Britain and other powers harassed his regime for not having a 'one man, one vote' system when since majority rule came into effect there has only ever been one proper election! And it's not as though the 1980 election was truly democratic anyway as there was a high amount of intimidation from Mugabe's side. The whole situation was - and remains to be - a farce.

[@FINSuojeluskunta]

Ian Smith was naive to think Rhodesia could be run as it was without some sort of uprising, ultimately it is their fault. However it is interesting seeing the western world look on in admiration of the black takeover and subsequent utter silence and ignorance of the outcome. To this day it is used as inspiration in American and European universities despite its utter failure, not unlike communist states however. It's peculiar because any likewise happening in Europe is condemned with so much media influence it's insane, yet its applauded when done elsewhere. The point is it's dangerous that this type of genocide is to this day seen as positive. It makes you think twice about the safety of your hometown. The notion here of natives vs non-natives is easily construed to mean non-whites vs whites when in reality the same thought was used by the Nazis to expel the Jews. Then it was evil, here it was liberation.

[@greenpedal370]

What you say is simply not true. There was franchised voting in the urban areas, nothing wrong with that. Tribesmen were represented in parliament by their chiefs. A very African system. The only people not represented were immigrant farm workers and miners. The middle and upper class Black urban voters knew the last thing they wanted was a Mugabe government.

[@MichaelThompson-jq3zf]

​​​@@greenpedal370 It was not the type of democracy the West was talking about. In fact this word *democracy* is farcical & very damaging presently. The so-called none democratic countries are in better control of their affairs as they have a consistent heirarchy in governments, unlike the (supposed Democratic) West - chopping & changing their policies by putting in different regressive ideas etc etc. Look at USA, Europe, UK, S.America and some other western countries which are failing abysmally compared to the dictatorships, authoritarianism, one party state governments. That's my opinions from my observations .

[@obertmuchena8956]

A radical Rhodesian we taught democracy

[@karfomachet7265]

Rhodesia used to be the second richest state in Africa - today Zimbabwe is the words poorest state . the once lovely streets and houses of Salisbury have been turned in public toilets were people piss and shit on the street in public. These are the facts .

[@kanderson4417]

Wake up you fool

[@bubabarrow4960]

tar baby the angry racist.

[@whenwe9168]

@@bubabarrow4960 stfu

[@nolibtard6023]

„dEmOcRaCy“