Garfield Todd
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| Reverend Sir Garfield Todd | |
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| In office 7 September 1953 – 17 February 1958 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Godfrey Huggins |
| Succeeded by | Edgar Whitehead |
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| Born | July 13, 1908 New Zealand |
| Died | October 13, 2002 Zimbabwe |
| Political party | United Rhodesia Party United Federal Party |
| Spouse | Grace |
| Children | Judith Todd, Alycen Watson |
| Religion | Protestant |
Sir Reginald Stephen Garfield Todd (July 13, 1908 - October 13, 2002) was a reformist Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia from 1953 to 1958 and later became an opponent of white minority rule in Rhodesia. He was born in Invercargill, New Zealand.
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[edit] Background
Todd immigrated to Southern Rhodesia from New Zealand in 1934 as a Protestant missionary and ran the Dadaya New Zealand Churches of Christ Mission school. One of the primary school teachers in his charge was Robert Mugabe. Though he had no formal medical training, Todd and his wife, Grace, set up a clinic where he delivered hundreds of babies and treated minor injuries.
[edit] Political involvement
In 1948 he was elected to the colonial parliament. He succeeded Sir Godfrey Martin Huggins as leader of the United Rhodesia Party and prime minister of Southern Rhodesia in 1953 when Huggins became prime minister of the newly created Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland at its creation in 1953. At the same time the United Rhodesia Party became the United Federal Party.
From 1955 to 1960 Todd served as first vice president of the World Convention of Churches of Christ.
[edit] Government
Todd introduced modest reforms aimed at improving the education of the Black majority. He introduced the appellation "Mr" for Africans instead of "AM" (African Male) and permitted Blacks to drink European beer and wine, though not spirits. 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 passed a bill that allowed for multiracial trade unions.
His government tried to legalise sexual relations between white men and black women and to increase the number of Blacks eligible to vote from 2 % to 16 % of the electorate, but this was soundly rejected.
These reforms were seen as radical and dangerously liberal by most whites who felt that their grip on power was threatened. Todd's party forced him out of power when his ministers resigned en bloc and three months later he was replaced as party leader and prime minister by Edgar Whitehead.
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."
[edit] Subsequent political career
Todd formed the new 'Central Africa Party' which failed to win any seats in the election.
Out of power, Todd became increasingly critical of white minority rule and was an outspoken opponent of Ian Smith's 1965 Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom.
Todd applied for an exit visa to lead a teach-in at Edinburgh University to educate British public opinion on the inequities of white rule. The Rhodesian government banned him from leaving the country and placed him under house arrest.
In 1972 Todd and his daughter, Judith, were imprisoned for a second time. Judith Todd was ultimately forced into exile and became an "unperson" in Rhodesia when the media was banned from even mentioning her name[1]. Todd himself was confined to his ranch near Bulawayo where he covertly assisted Black, communist guerrillas fighting to overthrow the government.
[edit] In Zimbabwe
The Smith regime was ultimately forced to give up power and the colony became the independent state of Zimbabwe in 1980. Lord Soames, following the recommendation of Prime Minister-elect Robert Mugabe, appointed Todd to the Senate of Zimbabwe on April 8, 1980, where Todd served until his retirement in 1985. However, Todd became disillusioned with the Mugabe regime due to its violence against political opponents.
In retirement, Todd donated 3,000 acres (12 km²) of his ranch to guerrillas who had been disabled in the war of independence. Todd's criticism of Mugabe intensified and in 2002 he was stripped of Zimbabwean citizenship. He was knighted in 1986. In 1973 he had received a medal for his efforts in peace and justice from the Pope.
[edit] Notes
- ^ A detailed account of the Todds' time in prison may be found in Todd, Judith (1972). The Right To Say No. London: Sidgwick & Jackson. ISBN 0-283-97917-8.
[edit] External links
- Sir Garfield Todd: Liberal Rhodesian premier brought down over black reforms - Obituary in The Guardian
- Interview with Judith Todd (Discusses her political activities in Zimbabwe and her father), The Sunday Times. September 23, 2007.
| Preceded by Sir Godfrey Huggins |
Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia 1953-1958 |
Succeeded by Sir Edgar Whitehead |
