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The Rhodesia Herald, 13 November 1968

THE Prime Minister of Lesotho, Chief Leabua Jonathan, last night urged Britain to consider “more drastic action against the illegal regime of Ian Smith and to restore legality to Rhodesia”.

In a hard-hitting message to the British Prime Minister, Mr Harold Wilson, broadcast by Radio Lesotho, he said Britain should take immediate steps to haul down the new Rhodesian flag raised yesterday in place of the Union Jack.

Chief Jonathan said the new flag could be interpreted only as defiance “fraught with grave consequences for the future of the Commonwealth”.

“It was with grave dismay and shock that we learned that the illegal regime of Ian Smith has now in the face of negotiations hauled down the Union Jack and in its place raised a new illegal flag of their own,” the message said.

“You will no doubt appreciate the concern of myself and my Government at the recklessness and contempt shown by the illegal regime.”

Chief Jonathan said his Government condemned this latest move in the strongest terms possible.

It called on the British Government “as the authority primarily and solely responsible for the affairs of Rhodesia, not only to condemn the reckless act of a Government which must stand condemned before the face of the whole world for its continued insults to the world community and utter disregard for constitutionality and any form of legality, but also to take immediate steps to remove the illegal flag and restore the Union Jack.

“It is quite clear that Smith and his Government are making a mockery of the United Kingdom’s efforts to negotiate a settlement on the basis of Nibmar,” Chief Jonathan said.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

Following its declaration of UDI, Ian Smith’s Rhodesia hoisted its vertical green-white-green flag for the first time in Jameson Avenue (now Samora Machel Avenue), to the chagrin of the international community.

An African Sergeant Nelson Nhami of the Royal Rhodesian Air Force was given the “honour” of raising the new flag.

Although Lesotho is not mentioned a lot in the Zimbabwean narrative, the truth of the matter is that despite its proximity to apartheid South Africa, it played a major role in the tertiary education of Zimbabweans. Then leader, Chief Jonathan was also very vocal about events in Rhodesia, challenging Britain to bring sanity to the renegade Smith regime.

The Smith regime saw the introduction of the new flag as a  flagrant demonstration that Rhodesia was a free and independent country from Britain. Interestingly, Rhodesians bitterly resisted that Zimbabweans have self-rule, resulting in a lengthy and deadly liberation struggle.

Rhodesia’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence was opposed by the International community and the introduction of the new flag in place of the Union Jack was interpreted as a sign of defiance.