The Internal Settlement and Zimbabwe-Rhodesia in Patriotic Front Propaganda

In 1978, following years of failed negotiations with Britain, the Rhodesian government agreed to an 'Internal Settlement'. This eventually led to the creation of the new state of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia in 1979. This process posed a serious threat to ZANU and ZAPU, the African nationalists in arms against Rhodesia, and so they launched a propaganda campaign against the settlement. This article considers the different attacks that they made with the aim of explaining the nature of their propaganda and the ways in which they used it to put pressure on their opponents. It argues that the strength of their condemnation is suggestive of the extent to which they were fearful that their position was being undermined both internally in Rhodesia and on the international stage. It also highlights the nature of ZANU and ZAPU's public political thought during this crucial period at the end of the war in Rhodesia.