Rhodesian Action Party
Encyclopedia
The Rhodesian Action Party was a political party
in Rhodesia
formed in 1977 by a group of Rhodesian Front
MPs who were dissatisfied by the leadership of Ian Smith
and his attempts to negotiate an 'internal settlement' with African nationalists. Twelve members of the Rhodesia House of Assembly joined the party when it was launched on July 4, 1977.
The defections did not end the Rhodesian Front majority in the Assembly but did deprive it of the two-thirds majority which was needed to amend the constitution and Smith therefore decided to dissolve the Assembly and hold an early general election in order to try and regain the initiative. The party contested 46 out of the 50 white seats at the 1977 general election
, and performed disastrously: it failed to win any seat, and all of the sitting members won less than 22.3% of the vote in their constituency. The party's overall total was 9.3%.
The party remained in existence and fought the Highlands North byelection in 1978 after the internal settlement agreement but did not improve its numbers significantly.
President of the Party was Ina Antoinette Bursey (previously Rhodesian Front MP for Sinoia-Umvukwes in the 1965 general election) (D.O.B. unknown). She resigned before the 1970 election and stood as an independent in the 1970 election, for the same seat but failed after garnering 4.9% of the vote. The national chairman of the Rhodesian Action Party was ex RF member Mr Guy Ferdinand Larché (b 8/4/23 in Paris, France - still alive as at 21/3/2007). He was a member of the RF Greendale branch but opposed the existing MP, Mark Partrige. When the 12 Rhodesian Front MP's crossed the floor to form the RAP in 1977, Guy Larche was one of the founding organisers. Larché grew up in Port Louis
, Mauritius
. He attained the rank of Sergeant in the French (later British) forces during World War II, serving as an instructor. Larché lived in South Africa after 1945, moving to Southern Rhodesia
in 1959. Thereafter, he worked in Kitwe on the Northern Rhodesian Copperbelt as an engineer in the Kitwe Power Station before returning to Rhodesia in 1972, where he ventured into politics. Time Magazine interviewed Larché as leader of the RAP in 1976, describing him as "a pencil thin man sitting in the RAP offices overlooking Cecil Square". As National Chairman of the party, Larché wrote RAP speeches, conducted letter writing campaigns and press releases opposing the Rhodesian Front's negotiations with the UANC of Bishop Abel Muzorewa
, which ultimately led to the formation of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia in 1978. Larché moved to South Africa with his wife, Eileen, and her children in 1980. Interestingly, in 1995, despite his right-wing political opinions, Larché became a card carrying member of the ANC
(South Africa's majority political party, under Nelson Mandela
). He currently lives in Johannesburg. He was attacked in a robbery on his Johannesburg business in 1996 but survived seven stab wounds to his head and upper body, despite the perforation of both lungs. He retired completely shortly thereafter.
In 1975 Guy Larché married Eileen Theresa Gilmore (née Forrester), (b 9/9/34 in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
) in Salisbury. Eileen Larché was also an office bearer in the Rhodesian Action Party, and a local Salisbury business owner (Gentleman Jim, Shaggy Dog Ties and Gilmont Enterprises). Eileen Larché was the ex-wife of a somewhat well known Rhodesian photographer and musician, Bob Gilmore. She was interviewed in the Radio Rhodesia English service actuality programme "Off the Cuff" in the mid 70's about her successful businesses and involvement in RAP.
Footnote on Bob Gilmore: Robert (Bob) Vance Gilmore (b 18/1/30 in Belfast N.Ireland 13/5/98 Newbury, England) was well known in musical circles for his band, The Bobcats, a 'Trad' Jazz band that was the supporting act for performers such as Louis Armstrong when he performed in Salisbury, Rhodesia, in the 60's as part of Louis Armstrong's tour of Southern Africa. Bob Gilmore was part of two Rhodesian Broadcasting Corporation (RBC) television shows in the 70's; "Walk Right In" and "Kennedy at Large"; in which the Bobcats Jazz Band provided musical entertainment. Bob Gilmore's political views were the opposite of the conservative Eileen Larche and Guy Larche, being a member of the National Unifying Force (NUF), a liberal party that supported black majority rule in Rhodesia.
Other RAP office bearers included Marie Joseph Claude de Chasteigner Dumée-Duval (also Mauritian) who contested the Highlands North seat in the 1977 General Election. The last byelection held in Salisbury before the full onset of black majority rule, was held in the Highlands North constituency on July 21, 1978 to replace Fergus Blackie, who had been appointed as a Judge and resigned on May 15, 1978. This byelection occurred after the internal settlement agreement, and the Rhodesian Front candidate was therefore opposed not only by the National Unifying Force (pressing for a full settlement with African nationalists) but by two right-wing candidates opposed to any deals: the Rhodesian Action Party, (represented by Claude Dumée-Duval) and the Rhodesian Conservative Alliance. This was the last election effort actively presided over by RAP Chairman Guy Larché, Rhodesia's last official opposition, although a few further rural byelections were held, notably in Mazoe and Gwelo, later the same year. Both were opposed by the RAP and won by the RF.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
formed in 1977 by a group of Rhodesian Front
Rhodesian Front
The Rhodesian Front was a political party in Southern Rhodesia when the country was under white minority rule. Led first by Winston Field, and, from 1964, by Ian Smith, the Rhodesian Front was the successor to the Dominion Party, which was the main opposition party in Southern Rhodesia during the...
MPs who were dissatisfied by the leadership of Ian Smith
Ian Smith
Ian Douglas Smith GCLM ID was a politician active in the government of Southern Rhodesia, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Rhodesia, Zimbabwe Rhodesia and Zimbabwe from 1948 to 1987, most notably serving as Prime Minister of Rhodesia from 13 April 1964 to 1 June 1979...
and his attempts to negotiate an 'internal settlement' with African nationalists. Twelve members of the Rhodesia House of Assembly joined the party when it was launched on July 4, 1977.
The defections did not end the Rhodesian Front majority in the Assembly but did deprive it of the two-thirds majority which was needed to amend the constitution and Smith therefore decided to dissolve the Assembly and hold an early general election in order to try and regain the initiative. The party contested 46 out of the 50 white seats at the 1977 general election
Rhodesia general election, 1977
The Rhodesia general election of 1977, the last general election dominated by the white minority, took place on August 31, 1977. Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith, who was conducting negotiations with moderate African nationalists, was forced into an early election by the defection of twelve MPs...
, and performed disastrously: it failed to win any seat, and all of the sitting members won less than 22.3% of the vote in their constituency. The party's overall total was 9.3%.
The party remained in existence and fought the Highlands North byelection in 1978 after the internal settlement agreement but did not improve its numbers significantly.
President of the Party was Ina Antoinette Bursey (previously Rhodesian Front MP for Sinoia-Umvukwes in the 1965 general election) (D.O.B. unknown). She resigned before the 1970 election and stood as an independent in the 1970 election, for the same seat but failed after garnering 4.9% of the vote. The national chairman of the Rhodesian Action Party was ex RF member Mr Guy Ferdinand Larché (b 8/4/23 in Paris, France - still alive as at 21/3/2007). He was a member of the RF Greendale branch but opposed the existing MP, Mark Partrige. When the 12 Rhodesian Front MP's crossed the floor to form the RAP in 1977, Guy Larche was one of the founding organisers. Larché grew up in Port Louis
Port Louis
-Economy:The economy is dominated by its port, which handles Mauritius' international trade. The port was founded by the French who preferred Port Louis as the City is shielded by the Port Louis/Moka mountain range. It is the largest container handling facility in the Indian Ocean and can...
, Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
. He attained the rank of Sergeant in the French (later British) forces during World War II, serving as an instructor. Larché lived in South Africa after 1945, moving to Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
in 1959. Thereafter, he worked in Kitwe on the Northern Rhodesian Copperbelt as an engineer in the Kitwe Power Station before returning to Rhodesia in 1972, where he ventured into politics. Time Magazine interviewed Larché as leader of the RAP in 1976, describing him as "a pencil thin man sitting in the RAP offices overlooking Cecil Square". As National Chairman of the party, Larché wrote RAP speeches, conducted letter writing campaigns and press releases opposing the Rhodesian Front's negotiations with the UANC of Bishop Abel Muzorewa
Abel Muzorewa
Bishop Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa served as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia from the Internal Settlement to the Lancaster House Agreement in 1979...
, which ultimately led to the formation of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia in 1978. Larché moved to South Africa with his wife, Eileen, and her children in 1980. Interestingly, in 1995, despite his right-wing political opinions, Larché became a card carrying member of the ANC
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
(South Africa's majority political party, under Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
). He currently lives in Johannesburg. He was attacked in a robbery on his Johannesburg business in 1996 but survived seven stab wounds to his head and upper body, despite the perforation of both lungs. He retired completely shortly thereafter.
In 1975 Guy Larché married Eileen Theresa Gilmore (née Forrester), (b 9/9/34 in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
) in Salisbury. Eileen Larché was also an office bearer in the Rhodesian Action Party, and a local Salisbury business owner (Gentleman Jim, Shaggy Dog Ties and Gilmont Enterprises). Eileen Larché was the ex-wife of a somewhat well known Rhodesian photographer and musician, Bob Gilmore. She was interviewed in the Radio Rhodesia English service actuality programme "Off the Cuff" in the mid 70's about her successful businesses and involvement in RAP.
Footnote on Bob Gilmore: Robert (Bob) Vance Gilmore (b 18/1/30 in Belfast N.Ireland 13/5/98 Newbury, England) was well known in musical circles for his band, The Bobcats, a 'Trad' Jazz band that was the supporting act for performers such as Louis Armstrong when he performed in Salisbury, Rhodesia, in the 60's as part of Louis Armstrong's tour of Southern Africa. Bob Gilmore was part of two Rhodesian Broadcasting Corporation (RBC) television shows in the 70's; "Walk Right In" and "Kennedy at Large"; in which the Bobcats Jazz Band provided musical entertainment. Bob Gilmore's political views were the opposite of the conservative Eileen Larche and Guy Larche, being a member of the National Unifying Force (NUF), a liberal party that supported black majority rule in Rhodesia.
Other RAP office bearers included Marie Joseph Claude de Chasteigner Dumée-Duval (also Mauritian) who contested the Highlands North seat in the 1977 General Election. The last byelection held in Salisbury before the full onset of black majority rule, was held in the Highlands North constituency on July 21, 1978 to replace Fergus Blackie, who had been appointed as a Judge and resigned on May 15, 1978. This byelection occurred after the internal settlement agreement, and the Rhodesian Front candidate was therefore opposed not only by the National Unifying Force (pressing for a full settlement with African nationalists) but by two right-wing candidates opposed to any deals: the Rhodesian Action Party, (represented by Claude Dumée-Duval) and the Rhodesian Conservative Alliance. This was the last election effort actively presided over by RAP Chairman Guy Larché, Rhodesia's last official opposition, although a few further rural byelections were held, notably in Mazoe and Gwelo, later the same year. Both were opposed by the RAP and won by the RF.