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1979 Rhodesian constitutional referendum

Field	Value
previous_year	1969
previous_referendum	1969 Rhodesian constitutional referendum
next_year	2000
next_referendum	2000 Zimbabwean constitutional referendum
date	30 January 1979
country	Rhodesia
yes	57,269
no	9,805
invalid	764
electorate	94,900

A constitutional referendum was held in Rhodesia on 30 January 1979. It followed the Internal Settlement drawn up between Prime Minister Ian Smith and Abel Muzorewa, leader of the non-violent UANC. The new constitution would bring in black majority rule in the country, which would be renamed Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The settlement was supported by the ruling Rhodesian Front, but opposed by the Rhodesian Action Party, which had broken away from the Front.

The referendum was open only to white voters, passing by 85%. Voter turnout was 71.5%.

Despite the transition to majority rule following elections in April, the country remained unrecognised by the international community, and the Patriotic Front parties continued the Bush War until the signing of the Lancaster House Agreement and fresh elections in 1980.

Results

Aftermath

Rhodesian Action Party president Ina Bursey denounced the "yes" vote in the referendum, declaring "The Rhodesian people have sold their souls to the devil and deserve to reap the fruits of the whirlwind." She announced that the party would be dissolved and that she would be emigrating from Rhodesia.

References

John F. Burns. (31 January 1979). "Rhodesian Whites Vote to Accept Limited Rule by Black Majority.". The New York Times.
Caryle Murphy. (31 January 1979). "Rhodesian Whites Vote Endorsement Of Limited Black-Rule Constitution". The Washington Post.
[http://africanelections.tripod.com/zw.html#1979_Constitutional_Referendum 30 January 1979 Constitutional Referendum] African Elections Database
[https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%22The+Rhodesian+people+have+sold+their+souls+to+the+devil+and+deserve+to+reap+the+fruits+of+the+whirlwind.%22&num=30&rlz=1C1GGRV_enGB751GB751&source=lnms&tbm=bks&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi28snGub3ZAhVkGsAKHU2YDk8Q_AUIECgB&biw=1024&bih=662 ''African Recorder''], Volume 18, page 5014
[https://books.google.com/books?id=ti3WAAAAIAAJ&q=%22The+leader+of+the+Rhodesian+Action+party%2C+Mrs+Ina+Bursey%2C+says+she+will+dissolve+the+party+this+weekend+and+leave+the+country+herself%22 ''The Economist''], Volume 270, Part 2, page 40

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