Garfield Todd
Sir Godfrey Huggins | |
---|---|
Succeeded by | Edgar Whitehead |
Personal details | |
Born | 13 July 1908 Invercargill, New Zealand |
Died | 13 October 2002 Bulawayo, Zimbabwe | (aged 94)
Political party | United Rhodesia Party United Federal Party |
Spouse |
Jean Grace Wilson (m. 1932) |
Children | Witwatersrand University Butler University |
Sir Reginald Stephen Garfield Todd (13 July 1908 – 13 October 2002) was a liberal
Background
Todd was born in
Todd emigrated to Southern Rhodesia from
Political involvement
In 1948 Todd won
From 1955 to 1960 Todd served as first vice-president of the World Convention of Churches of Christ.
Government
This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2019) |
Todd introduced modest reforms aimed at improving the education of the black majority by taking tax-money paid by Rhodesian property owners and appropriations from the British colonial authorities, and directing it toward black schools. His government introduced a plan to give elementary education to every African of school age. He doubled the number of primary schools and gave grants to missionary-run schools to introduce secondary school and pre-university courses for blacks.
He also introduced the appellation "Mr" for blacks instead of "AM" ("African Male") and ended the prohibition on the sale of alcohol to black residents of the reserves, who were allowed to drink European beer and wine, though not spirits.[1]
Todd pushed a bill through the Legislative Assembly, allowing for multiracial trade unions, thereby undercutting the growing white nationalist influence in the unions. Lastly, in a bid to increase the number of blacks eligible to vote from 2% to 16% of the electorate, he moved to lower property and education qualifications, but this was rejected.[3]
In response, Todd's ministers resigned en bloc, and following the appointment of a new cabinet, his party forced him out of power; three months later he was replaced as party leader and Prime Minister by Edgar Whitehead.[3]
In a farewell statement, he said "We must make it possible for every individual to lead the good life, to win a place in the sun. We are in danger of becoming a race of fear-ridden neurotics – we who live in the finest country on Earth."[4]
In addition to prime ministership, Todd was
Later life
After helping to co-ordinate the isolation and embargo of Rhodesia, and especially after his support for legitimising guerrilla activity by black nationalists, Todd was widely condemned as a traitor by white Rhodesians. When the Smith Government was ultimately forced to give up power and the nation became the independent state of
During retirement, Todd donated 3,000 acres (12 km2) of his ranch to former guerillas who had been maimed in the Rhodesian Bush War. Nonetheless, Todd's criticism of Mugabe intensified and, in 2002, he was stripped of Zimbabwean nationality. He died, aged 94, on 13 October 2002, in Bulawayo.[3]
Notes
- ^ Daily Telegraph, 14 October 2002
- ^ A daughter of Southlanders, The Southland Times, 31 January 2009
- ^ a b c Sir Garfield Todd – Liberal Rhodesian premier brought down over black reforms, The Guardian, 14 October 2002
- ^ The Politics of Partnership, Patrick Keatley, Penguin Books, 1963, page 250
- ^ F. M. G. Willson and G. C. Passmore. "Holders of Administrative and Ministerial Office 1894-1964" (PDF). University of Zimbabwe Library. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2020.
- ^ "No. 41531". The London Gazette. 24 October 1958. p. 6500.
- ^ "No. 50362". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 31 December 1985. p. 29.
External links
- Sir Garfield Todd – Liberal Rhodesian premier brought down over black reforms, The Guardian, 14 October 2002
- Mugabe was rotten from the start Interview with Judith Todd discussing her political activities in Zimbabwe and her father, The Sunday Times, 23 September 2007
- Interview on New Zealand television, 13 January 1980