THE END OF AN EPOTCH [sic]

Having been born in Rhodesia in the 70s (our family left in 1977) I should really know a little more about the man people loved or hated than I do.

Ian Smith, who ruled Rhodesia for 15 years from 1964 to 1979, is best known for his Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) of Rhodesia from Britain on the 11th November 1965, and for his begrudging hand-over of power to Mugabe in 1979, ending an eltist white rule, resulting in the creation of the nation of Zimbabwe (and arguably, the installation of elitist black rule).

Ian Smith remained a key player in Zimbabwean politics until seats reserved for whites were abolished in 1987. Supporting his nation to the last.

His passing on Monday means that the press is now inundated with widely differing political points of view & emotional memories for many.

Describing the (rather rose-tinted view of the) old-fashioned, civil-minded nature of Rhodesia in the 70s, the Guardian published the following quote after interviewing Ian Smith in 2000 "It was as though the world was defied for a decade by some gigantic local bowls club."

Whatever the general consensus about Smith, words like "crisis" "despair" "suffering" and "dictatorship" are now readily used of Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe.

Not a mention of a "jolly hocky sticks" bowls club in sight.

Dit is nie simple nie.