Independence Supplement: Reliving 1980 . . .

FLASHBACK

Zimbabwe was born at midnight last night at a historic and dramatic ceremony at Salisbury’s Rufaro Stadium.

After the green, gold, red, black and white flag of the new nation was hoisted, a 21-gun salute boomed out and smoke billowed across the packed stadium.

The cracks of the field guns were greeted by roars of approval from the crowd of almost 40 000 specially invited guests. The flag, however, hung limply at the head of the mast on a perfectly still night.

Only moments after midnight the new President, the Rev Canaan Banana, was sworn in by the Chief Justice Mr Hector Mcdonald. Then the President swore in the Prime Minister Cde Robert Mugabe. Both men spoke in strong and confident voices. The heir to the British throne Prince Charles presented the constitutional instruments of independence which are symbolic documents to President Banana. The flame of independence was lit by Cde Mugabe amid continuous applause. The flame was later taken by runners to Salisbury Kopje where it will burn permanently. The flag of Zimbabwe was hoisted slowly with a blue spot light playing on it. On the rostrum, Prince Charles was standing to attention, saluting the flag.

Queen sends her good wishes

In a message to the new nation read out by Prince Charles shortly after midnight, Queen Elizabeth welcomed Zimbabwe as the 43rd member of the Commonwealth which she described as “our unique international fellowship”. Prince Charles was the first of four speakers who formally marked the independence occasion after the raising at midnight of the flag of Zimbabwe.

He was followed by the President, the Rev Canaan Banana, the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Carrington and finally the new Prime Minister and leader of the victorious ZANU PF party in the election, Cde Robert Mugabe. The speeches, including a message from the British Prime Minister Mrs Margaret Thatcher, reflected the solemnity of the historic event. They spoke of the hardships of the past and the promises of the future.

Prince Charles said in his own address, “We have all come together here today at a moment of immense historic significance, a moment when the past and all that was negative about it can really be allowed to become the past.

“And we can go forward to one of those rare occasions in the lives of nations where a new and greater beginning is possible which we must not allow to fail.” — The Herald

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