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.
Bayard Rustin Observes Rhodesian Elections
Telegram sent by Bayard Rustin reporting on the 1979 Rhodesian elections, where he commented on evolving Black-White relations under the new constitution. Rustin’s notes reflect on the challenges of transitioning from minority rule to majority governance and assess early signs of reconciliation and persistent tensions in post-colonial Rhodesia (Zimbabwe).
