Telegram relaying preliminary results and observations of the Rhodesian elections, highlighting a 63.9% voter turnout with some districts reporting turnouts exceeding estimated eligible voters. Rustin, as a U.S. observer, affirmed the elections were free and fair and emphasized the historic significance of electing a Black prime minister. He also questioned the inconsistent sanctions policies of the U.S. toward Rhodesia and South Africa.
The elections marked a pivotal moment in Rhodesia’s transition from white-minority rule to majority governance, amidst ongoing guerrilla warfare and contested legitimacy. Rustin’s detailed observations underscored his commitment to supporting democratic processes in Southern Africa and criticizing inconsistent U.S. policies that risked undermining African liberation movements. The report reflects the broader dynamics of international diplomacy and civil rights activism in 1979.
U.S. Department of State, “Telegram: Bayard Rustin’s Report on Rhodesian Elections and U.S. Observers’ Assessment,” April 23, 1979, National Archives, accessed September 26, 2025, https://aad.archives.gov/aad/createpdf?rid=150947&dt=2776&dl=2169.
