Letter to The Editor - He was a proven man of violence only enabled to take power by communist and other financial interests outside Rhodesia

to THE AUSTRALIAN
     Commentary on the fall of Mugabe in Zimbabwe (‘Down with the dictator’, 23/11) is misrepresenting the character of the Rhodesian governments under Ian Smith and the Rhodesian Front. They were principled, civilized and realistic about the rate of advancement of native Africans if law and order were to be maintained. They had seen the disasters that accompanied ‘liberation’ in other African nations such as Ghana and the Belgian Congo.

     The world should have supported them and refused money and arms to already known terrorists such as Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo. In intelligent heads Mugabe in 1980 was not a ‘revered liberation fighter’ or ‘an inclusive leader cultivating ties to the West and goodwill with the country’s white minority.’  He was a proven man of violence only enabled to take power by communist and other financial interests outside Rhodesia.    
     NJ, Belgrave, Vic