Leaflet produced for the AAM’s campaign to pressure the Labour government to impose stronger measures against the illegal Smith regime immediately after UDI. It showed how South Africa and Portugal were helping Rhodesia hold out against sanctions. The leaflet argued that the alliance of the three white minority regimes would lead to race war in Southern Africa.

Manifesto calling on the Labour government to break off the talks with Ian Smith opened in May 1966 and ask the UN to impose mandatory sanctions against Rhodesia. It was circulated to local Labour parties, but received a poor response.

On 26 June 1966 a crowd estimated at between 3,000 and 5,000 people joined a rally in Trafalgar Square to hear speakers, including British Council of Churches representative Rev. Bill Sargent, speaking on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Judy Todd, call for majority rule in Rhodesia. At a press conference before the march the AAM released a Declaration on Rhodesia signed by 41 ‘eminent people’, including writers Brigid Brophy and Iris Murdoch, pianist Fou T’Song, naturalist Peter Scott, and academics and trade unionists.

On 26 June 1966 a crowd estimated at between 3,000 and 5,000 people attended a rally in Trafalgar Square calling for majority rule in Rhodesia. This leaflet urged students to join the demonstration. At a press conference before the march the AAM released a Declaration on Rhodesia signed by 41 ‘eminent people’, including writers Brigid Brophy and Iris Murdoch, pianist Fou T’Song, naturalist Peter Scott and academics and trade unionists.

Letter from the Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, supporting the AAM demonstration calling for majority rule in Rhodesia held in June 1966. The AAM worked closely with the governments of countries in the non-aligned movement, such as India.

In June 1966, Thames Valley AA Group organised a motorcade from Slough to Reading to publicise the AAM’s campaign for no independence before majority rule in Rhodesia. The AAM asked the Labour government to support UN mandatory sanctions against Rhodesia and South Africa. The ‘Rhodesia Month’ culminated in a march through central London and rally in Trafalgar Square on 26 June.

Postcard circulated to local anti-apartheid committees and student groups in November 1966 and August 1967. Local groups collected signatures to the postcard on high streets and in student unions and thousands were sent to the House of Commons.

In 1967–68 the AAM campaigned against the ‘unholy alliance’ of South Africa, Portugal and Rhodesia. It supported the attempt by groups of ANC guerrillas to infiltrate South Africa via Rhodesia in alliance with the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), and the guerrilla struggle of FRELIMO in Mozambique. It called for an end to British military support and investment in the white minority regimes.

Nottingham students occupied the Nottingham University’s Portland building in 1968 in protest against the university’s links with the Smith regime in Rhodesia.

Leaflet advertising a march organised by the Zimbabwe Solidarity Action Committee on 12 January 1969. Demonstrators, mostly students and young people, tried to occupy Rhodesia House but were driven back by mounted police. Marchers then moved on to South Africa House, where only one policeman was stationed at the side entrance, and smashed the windows looking onto Trafalgar Square. Before the march, a group of writers had already infiltrated Rhodesia House and two climbers had scaled its flagpole to replace the flag of the illegal regime with the Union Jack.

In October 1968 British Prime Minister Harold Wilson met Ian Smith on board HMS Fearless to put new proposals for a settlement in Rhodesia which fell far short of ‘no independence before majority rule’ (NIBMAR). The negotiations broke down but the British government did not withdraw the Fearless plan.  At the Commonwealth conference in London in January 1969 the AAM held a vigil calling for NIBMAR.

Vigil calling for ‘no independence before majority rule’ (NIBMAR) in Zimbabwe in January 1969. The vigil took place during the 1969 Commonwealth conference. In October 1968 British Prime Minister Harold Wilson met Ian Smith on board HMS Fearless to put new proposals for a settlement in Rhodesia which fell far short of NIBMAR. The negotiations broke down but the British government did not withdraw the Fearless plan. In the photo is Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe MP.

Poster publicising an AAM conference held on 4 July 1971. The main issues discussed at the conference were the proposed settlement on Rhodesia and action against British firms with investments in South Africa. One of the speakers was Caroline Hunter from the US Polaroid Revolutionary Workers Movement. Polaroid supplied photographic equipment used to produce passbooks for black South Africans. After a long campaign by its largely black US workforce, Polaroid pulled out of South Africa in 1977.

This petition calling for no independence for Rhodesia before majority rule was launched at an AAM meeting addressed by Judy Todd at the Labour Party conference in October 1971. It was part of the AAM’s campaign for the rejection of the Conservative government’s 1971 proposals for a settlement with the illegal Smith regime. The petition was widely circulated and reprinted in the Guardian newspaper. It was signed by 80,000 people and presented to the British Prime Minister on 21 March.

In November 1971 Conservative Foreign Secretary Lord Home published proposals for a settlement agreed with Ian Smith. The proposals fell far short of majority rule, but included a provision that they must be acceptable to the African majority. The British government sent a commission headed by Lord Pearce to test African opinion, which overwhelmingly rejected the settlement. This poster was produced for the AAM’s campaign against the sell-out.

Leaflet produced by the Rhodesia Emergency Campaign Committee (RECC) analysing the settlement proposals agreed by Conservative Foreign Secretary Alec Douglas-Home and Ian Smith and published as a White Paper on 25 November 1971. RECC was a broad coalition of 45 organisations, set up at a meeting convened by the AAM in December 1971 and chaired by Methodist minister Colin Morris and New Left academic Stuart Hall. The AAM estimated that over half a million campaign leaflets, stickers, posters and badges were distributed over the next few months. 

In November 1971 Conservative Foreign Secretary Alec Douglas-Home agreed proposals for a settlement in Rhodesia with the Smith regime that fell far short of majority rule. This leaflet asked AAM supporters to write to him telling him there was no basis for an agreement and that sanctions against the illegal Rhodesian regime should be tightened.

Poster publicising an AAM demonstration on 13 February 1972 against the Conservative government’s proposals for a settlement on Rhodesia. The proposals fell far short of majority rule, but included a provision that they must be acceptable to the African majority. The British government sent a commission to test African opinion, which overwhelmingly rejected the settlement. The main speaker at the demonstration was Bishop Abel Muzorewa, President of the African National Council, which led the opposition to the proposals inside Zimbabwe. The Rhodesia Emergency Campaign Committee was a coalition of groups, set up by the AAM.

Leaflet publicising a demonstration on 13 February 1972 against the Conservative government’s proposals for a settlement with Ian Smith. The demonstration was organised by the Rhodesia Emergency Campaign Committee (RECC), an umbrella group set up to mobilise opposition to the proposals in Britain. The AAM estimated that over half a million campaign leaflets, stickers, posters and badges were distributed over the next few months.

Rally in Trafalgar Square calling for No Independence Before Majority Rule (NIBMAR) in Zimbabwe on 13 February 1972. Around 15,000 people marched from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square to protest against the British government’s agreement with the Smith regime. Bishop Abel Muzorewa said the settlement was not acceptable to the majority in Rhodesia. Other speakers at the rally were the leader of the Clyde shipbuilders work-in Jimmy Reid, black activist Althea Jones and Labour MP Michael Foot.

Rally in Trafalgar Square calling for No Independence Before Majority Rule (NIBMAR) in Zimbabwe on 13 February 1972. Around 15,000 people marched from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square to protest against the British government’s agreement with the Smith regime. Bishop Abel Muzorewa said the settlement was not acceptable to the majority in Rhodesia. Other speakers at the rally were the leader of the Clyde shipbuilders work-in Jimmy Reid, black activist Althea Jones and Labour MP Michael Foot.

A protester is dragged away during scuffles with police after a rally in Trafalgar Square demanding No Independence Before Majority Rule in Zimbabwe on 13 February 1972. At the end of the rally demonstrators marched to Rhodesia House in the Strand, where the police brought up reinforcements, including police horses. The police then charged into the crowd and police snatch squads made arbitrary arrests. Altogether 43 people were arrested.

A petition calling for no independence for Rhodesia before majority rule was delivered to 10 Downing Street on 21 March 1972. It was part of the AAM’s campaign for the rejection of the Conservative government’s 1971 proposals for a settlement with the illegal Smith regime. The petition was widely circulated and reprinted in the Guardian newspaper. It was signed by 80,000 people. On the left in the photograph are Labour MPs Joan Lestor and Alex Lyon and on the right trade union leader Jack Jones.

The Pearce Commission was set up to determine whether the proposals agreed by the Conservative government and the Smith regime in November 1971 were acceptable to the majority of the Zimbabwean people. The AAM organised daily pickets outside the Commission’s London hearings in March 1972 calling for no independence before majority rule. The Commission found that the majority of Zimbabweans rejected the proposals, in spite of widespread intimidation within the country.

This leaflet drew attention to the widespread repression within Zimbabwe while the Pearce Commission was conducting its test of African opinion on the settlement proposals agreed by British Foreign Secretary Alec Douglas-Home and Ian Smith in 1971. It set out ways in which AAM supporters could alert British public opinion to the failure of the proposals to ensure African majority rule.

In May 1972 the Pearce Commission found that the Smith-Home proposals for a settlement in Zimbabwe were unacceptable to the majority of Zimbabweans. The following year on 24 February 1973, the AAM organised a conference that looked at the significance of the new situation in Zimbabwe for developments in the rest of Southern Africa. It showed how South Africa was violating sanctions against the Smith regime and giving it military support. Left to right: Abdul Minty, John Sprack, Didymus Mutasa, chair of the multi-racial Cold Comfort Farm Society, and Guy Clutton-Brock.

In May 1972 the Pearce Commission found that the Smith-Home proposals for a settlement in Zimbabwe were unacceptable to the majority of Zimbabweans. This leaflet advertised an AAM conference looking at the significance of the new situation in Zimbabwe for developments in the rest of Southern Africa.

From 1973, as guerrilla warfare escalated within Zimbabwe, the Smith regime carried out secret hangings of its opponents and charged thousands of people with political offences. This leaflet highlighted the repression and stressed the continued responsibility of the British Labour government as the legal authority in Zimbabwe.

From December 1972 Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) guerrilla fighters infiltrated eastern Zimbabwe and launched their first major attack on a farm in Centenary District. The AAM worked closely with the Justice for Rhodesia Campaign, which produced this poster.

This memorandum showed how the Labour government elected in 1974 was failing to honour its election pledge to end military links with South Africa. It asked trade unionists and Labour Party members to press the government to end military co-operation and to take action on Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Leaflet advertising an AAM conference held in October 1975 to mark the tenth anniversary of UDI. The conference discussed the role of South Africa and Britain’s responsibility for Zimbabwe, and provided updates on the economic situation inside the country.

Leaflet advertising a march and rally in central London held on 9 November 1975 to mark the tenth anniversary of UDI. Demonstrators called for an end to hangings by the Smith regime. Zimbabwean protesters held a vigil outside Rhodesia House to commemorate 32 freedom fighters known to have been hanged.

Part of the crowd at a rally in Trafalgar Square to mark the tenth anniversary of UDI, held on 9 November 1975. Demonstrators called for an end to the execution of freedom fighters by the Smith regime. Speakers included Methodist minister David Haslam, Roger Lyons of the white collar union ASTMS and Peter Hain, speaking for the National League of Young Liberals.

Exiled Zimbabweans held a vigil to protest against the execution of guerrilla fighters in Zimbabwe on 9 November 1975. They held placards commemorating the 32 freedom fighters known to have been hanged by the illegal Smith regime. The vigil took place outside Rhodesia House after the Trafalgar Square rally organised by the AAM to mark the tenth anniversary of the white minority unilateral declaration of independence (UDI).

The crowd at a rally in Trafalgar Square to mark the tenth anniversary of UDI, held on 9 November 1975. Demonstrators called for an end to the execution of freedom fighters by the Smith regime. Speakers included Methodist minister David Haslam, Roger Lyons of the white collar union ASTMS and Peter Hain, speaking for the National League of Young Liberals.

Leaflet publicising an AAM meeting on 12 May 1976 asking the British government to state that the execution of guerrilla fighters by the illegal Smith regime was murder. The meeting was disrupted by the far-right National Front.

In October 1976 a conference opened in Geneva to discuss new proposals for a settlement in Zimbabwe. This leaflet argued that the talks were designed to protect British and American interests in Southern Africa, rather than achieve majority rule. It called for tougher sanctions and support for the liberation movements.

In 1977 the British government set up the Bingham Inquiry into allegations that Shell and BP had supplied oil to Rhodesia in contravention of UN sanctions. This submission exposed Shell and BP’s sanctions busting operations. It asked the British government to press South Africa to allow international scrutiny of British-owned oil companies in South Africa. 

Leaflet advertising a public meeting during the AAM Week of Action on Zimbabwe, 9–14 May 1977. The meeting was preceded by a picket of the Foreign Office to protest against the British government’s refusal to condemn the hanging of freedom fighters by the Smith regime.

The AAM organised a Week of Action on Zimbabwe, 9–14 May 1977, to demand that the British government stop talking to the Smith regime and support the struggle of the liberation movements. Public meetings were organised in major centres and Shell and BP service stations were picketed to expose the way in which the companies were busting oil sanctions. This leaflet was produced by the Zimbabwe Ad Hoc Campaign, a coalition of groups campaigning on Zimbabwe.

Poster produced for a Week of Action on Zimbabwe, 9–14 May 1977. The illegal Smith regime held regular executions of captured Zimbabwe freedom fighters. Public meetings and film shows took place in major centres throughout Britain during the week.

Leaflet highlighting the atrocities committed against Zimbabwe’s civilian population by the security forces and the secret hangings carried out by the Smith regime.

In 1977 the British government put forward new proposals for a settlement in Rhodesia. This AAM Briefing presented a comprehensive description of the white minority government’s armed forces. It argued that the control and composition of the security forces in a transition to majority rule was of crucial importance.

In March 1978 the Smith regime agreed an ‘internal settlement’ with three African leaders, which opened negotiations for a new constitution. The constitution conceded one person one vote, but kept the security forces and civil administration in the control of the white minority. This leaflet argued that there could be no progress towards democracy in Zimbabwe without the involvement of the liberation movements.

The Bingham Inquiry found that British oil companies Shell and BP had supplied oil to Rhodesia in contravention of UN sanctions. This memorandum asked the British government to ensure that the companies restricted oil supplies to South Africa to pre-UDI levels to prevent the re-export of oil to the illegal Smith regime. It called for the extension of sanctions to South Africa unless it gave assurances that it would implement UN sanctions against Rhodesia.

Thousands marched through central London on 21 October 1978 to mark  International Anti-Apartheid Year. They protested against the massacre of Zimbabwean refugees in Zambia by white Rhodesian security forces and called for international sanctions against the Rhodesian and South African regimes. At a rally in Trafalgar Square, Angolan ambassador, Luis de Almeida, pledged solidarity with freedom fighters in Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The Katumba Brothers, 16-year-old Benchard and 19-year-old Leavit, were sentenced to death in 1979 by the illegal government headed by Bishop Abel Muzorewa. They were convicted of ‘carrying arms of war’. This poster was produced by the Zimbabwe Emergency Campaign Committee, set up by the AAM, to ask the British government to intervene to stop the hangings.

Badge produced in the run-up to the Lancaster House talks on the future of Zimbabwe in the summer of 1979. The AAM campaigned to stop the Conservative government elected in May 1979 from recognising the Muzorewa government in Zimbabwe and against any agreement that would not lead to majority rule. In June 1979 it joined with other groups to set up the Zimbabwe Emergency Campaign Committee.

In June 1979 it seemed likely that the newly elected Conservative government would recognise the ‘internal settlement’ in Zimbabwe. This leaflet publicised a demonstration opposing recognition and calling for support for the liberation movement. The main speaker was Patriotic Front (ZAPU) Vice-President Josiah Chinamano.

In the summer of 1979 the AAM campaigned to stop the Conservative government elected in May 1979 from recognising the Muzorewa government in Zimbabwe. This poster was produced for the AAM rally and march through central London on 30 June calling for genuine independence in Zimbabwe under the leadership of the Zimbabwean Patriotic Front.

Police horses outside Rhodesia House in the Strand during the AAM’s march and rally in central London on 30 June 1979. The AAM urged the  newly elected Conservative government not to recognise the Muzorewa government in Zimbabwe.

The platform in Trafalgar Square at a rally organised by the AAM on 30 June 1979 held to urge the newly elected Conservative government not to recognise the Muzorewa government in Zimbabwe.

Demonstrators marched from Lancaster House to Central Hall, Westminster, on 10 September 1979, the opening day of talks about a settlement on Zimbabwe. They were supporting the settlement proposals put forward by the Zimbabwe Patriotic Front for democratic elections and the release of all political prisoners. After lengthy negotiations, elections were held in February 1980. They were won by the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front under the leadership of Robert Mugabe.

Labour MP Joan Lestor with the AAM’s Chair Bob Hughes MP and Hon. Secretary Abdul Minty at the Commonwealth Conference in Lusaka, September 1979. They presented a Declaration signed by British organisations representing over 7 million people appealing to the Commonwealth to reaffirm its commitment to genuine independence for the people of Zimbabwe.

Leafleting publicising a teach-in on the conditions that must be met for the Lancaster House talks to reach an acceptable settlement.

Talks on a settlement in Zimbabwe opened at Lancaster House in London in September 1979. This leaflet argued that only a genuine transfer of power could bring peace and an end to the guerrilla war. It called for the maintenance of sanctions and for no recognition of the ‘internal settlement’ agreed in March 1978.

Leaflet publicising a demonstration on 11 November 1979 during the Lancaster House talks on Zimbabwe, organised by the Zimbabwe Emergency Coordinating Committee (ZECC). ZECC warned that the British government was siding with the Muzorewa government set up by the internal agreement in Zimbabwe. It called for support for the Patriotic Front, an alliance of ZANU and ZAPU. ZECC was a broad coalition of British organisations brought together by the AAM.

Thousands of people marched through central London on 11 November 1979 to demand that Britain should not agree to any settlement on Zimbabwe that fell short of genuine majority rule. After lengthy negotiations, elections were held in February 1980. They were won by the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front under the leadership of Robert Mugabe.

Thousands of people marched through central London on 11 November 1979 to demand that Britain should not agree to any settlement on Zimbabwe that fell short of genuine majority rule. After lengthy negotiations, elections were held in February 1980. They were won by the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front under the leadership of Robert Mugabe.

At the head of a march through central London on 11 November 1979 to demand there should be no agreement on Zimbabwe that fell short of genuine majority rule. In the photograph are Labour MPs Clare Short, Alex Lyon and AAM Chair Bob Hughes with Edson Zvobgo, Publicity Secretary of Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front. After lengthy negotiations, elections were held in February 1980. They were won by the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front under the leadership of Robert Mugabe.

This report was published at the start of the Lancaster House conference that led to the independence of Zimbabwe in 1980. It made a detailed analysis of the illegal Smith regime’s military capacity and argued that it was impossible to achieve peace in Zimbabwe without disbanding the security forces.

In the run-up to the elections in Zimbabwe in 1980 there were fears that there would be intimidation and vote-rigging in favour of Bishop Muzorewa’s United African National Council. The Zimbabwe Emergency Campaign Committee asked the British government to ensure that the election was free and fair. This poster publicised the campaign.

Poster advertising a rally on 17 April 1980 to celebrate the conclusion of the Lancaster House talks agreeing the settlement that led to one-person one-vote elections in Zimbabwe.

Chris Child became involved in the campaign to make Barclays Bank withdraw from South Africa when he was a student at Durham University. He was an Anti-Apartheid Movement staff membe from 1976 to 1982, initially as Trade Union Secretary and later as Deputy Executive Secretary. He was responsible for the AAM’s work with trade unions, the disinvestment campaign, Namibia and liaising with local AA groups.

In this clip Chris Child describes how the AAM applied to have Bishop Muzorewa tried for treason for signing death warrants in Zimbabwe, during Muzorewa’s visit to the UK.

Mike Gerrard joined the Anti-Apartheid Movement in the early 1960s and was a member of its Executive Committee.

This is a complete transcript of an interview carried out by Christabel Gurney in 2000.