UPITN 5 3 79 PRIME MINISTER IAN SMITH CLOSES THE LAST SESSION OF WHITE PARLIMENT

(5 Mar 1979) Prime Minister Ian Smith closes final emotion-packed session of white-dominated Salisbury parliament. "Tomorrow, a new era commences". With these words Premier Ian Smith of Rhodesia called his countrymen to face a new future under predominantly black rule. Rhodesia's Parliament, a symbol to many of minority racial supremacy, officially ceased to exist on Wednesday 28th February. Fifty white members and sixteen black members assemble for the final session and, other than a case of national emergency, they will not return until the one man one-vote elections have been held in April. These elections are likely to reverse the content of the house with 72 black members far outnumbering the 28 white members. During the session Ian Smith delivered his final speech to the white-dominated Parliament in Salisbury. Ian Smith led his countrymen to independence in 1965 when he unilaterally declared independence from Britain. He worked with three Rhodesia-based nationalist leaders on a new constitution which accepted universal suffrage and officially puts an end to racial discrimination. Smith told the assembly that under the new constitution Rhodesians are ending a great and proud era, and beginning a new one. He called on them to dedicate themselves to this future. Before the House Smith spent much time attacking what he called the treachery of Britain, which he said had betrayed Rhodesia, giving its colony no option but to seize its independence and henceforth pursue a lonely course in world affairs. But as parliamentarians left to face the electorate at the polls, the war continued against those nationalist groups based outside Rhodesia that have refused to accept the new constitution under which the vote will be held.

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