Zimbabwe Rhodesia general election, 1979
Encyclopedia
The Zimbabwe Rhodesia
Zimbabwe Rhodesia
Zimbabwe Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia, was an unrecognized state that existed from 1 June 1979 to 12 December 1979...

 general election
of April 1979 was held under the internal settlement negotiated by the 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...

 government 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...

 intended to provide a peaceful transition to majority rule on terms not harmful to Rhodesians of European descent
Whites in Zimbabwe
White Zimbabweans are people from the southern African country Zimbabwe who identify themselves as white...

. The internal settlement was not approved internationally but the incoming government under 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...

 did decide to participate in the Lancaster House
Lancaster House Agreement
The negotiations which led to the Lancaster House Agreement brought independence to Rhodesia following Ian Smith’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965. The Agreement covered the Independence Constitution, pre-independence arrangements, and a ceasefire...

 talks which led to the end of the dispute and the creation of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...

.

Electoral procedure

Under the agreement of 1978, the new Zimbabwe Rhodesia House of Assembly was to consist of 100 members. 20 were to be elected on the "White Roll" which was previously used to elect the majority of the Rhodesia House of Assembly. 72 seats were elected by the "Common Roll" which every adult in the country had a vote. Owing to the lack of an electoral roll, voters were instead marked with ink on their fingers in order to stop multiple voting. Once the 92 members had been elected, they assembled to vote for eight White non-constituency members. All the candidates for these posts were members of the Rhodesian Front.

The 20 White Roll members were elected from new constituencies made up of combinations of the previous constituencies. The Common Roll members were elected by province using a closed list system. It was intended to set up a full electoral register and institute single-member constituencies for future elections.

Election campaign

The main question in the election campaign was how many Africans would vote in the common roll election. The Patriotic Front parties, ZANU-PF
Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front
The Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front has been the ruling party in Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, led by Robert Mugabe, first as Prime Minister with the party simply known as ZANU, and then as President from 1988 after taking over ZAPU and retaining the name ZANU-PF...

 and ZAPU
Zimbabwe African People's Union
The Zimbabwe African People's Union was a militant organization and political party that fought for the national liberation of Zimbabwe from its founding in 1961 until it merged with the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front in December 1987....

, pledged to disrupt the election and called for a boycott. By 1979, all of Rhodesia apart from the central area between Salisbury
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...

 and Bulawayo
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...

 was under a form of martial law due to attacks by the Patriotic Front's armies, ZANLA and ZIPRA.

In the event the turnout was quite respectable in Mashonaland, although somewhat depressed in Manicaland and Victoria. In Matabeleland South, where ZIPRA was strongest, the turnout was lowest.

Results

The final state of the parties was:
Party Seats
United African National Congress 51
Rhodesian Front 28
Zimbabwe African National Union 12
United People's National Federation Party 9

  • Ind - Independent
    Independent (politician)
    In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...

  • NDU - National Democratic Union (Leader Henry Chihota)
  • RF - 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...

     (Leader 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...

    )
  • UANC - United African National Council
    United African National Council
    The United African National Council is a political party in Zimbabwe.In 1979, led by Bishop Abel Muzorewa, the UANC Party held formal power in Zimbabwe during the short-lived period of the Internal Settlement...

     (Leader 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...

    )
  • UNFP - United National Federal Party
    United National Federal Party
    United National Federal Party was a political party in Zimbabwe, formed in November 1978 by Chief Kayisa Ndiweni, who had been a leading figure in the Zimbabwe United People's Organisation. UNFP contested the 1979 election and won 9 seats, mostly in the Matabeleland provinces. It failed to win any...

     (Leader Chief Kayisa Ndiweni
    Kayisa Ndiweni
    Kayisa Ndiweni was chief in Zimbabwe. He was hugely respected in Matabeleland, and a revered figure among his people in Ntabazinduna....

    )
  • ZANU - Zimbabwe African National Union
    Zimbabwe African National Union
    The Zimbabwe African National Union was a militant organization that fought against the standing government in Rhodesia, formed as a split from the Zimbabwe African People's Union...

     (Leader Ndabaningi Sithole
    Ndabaningi Sithole
    Ndabaningi Sithole founded the Zimbabwe African National Union, a militant organization that opposed the government of Rhodesia, in July 1963. A member of the Ndau ethnic group, he also worked as a Methodist minister. He spent 10 years in prison after the government banned ZANU...

    )
  • ZUPO - Zimbabwe United People's Organisation
    Zimbabwe United People's Organisation
    Zimbabwe United People's Organisation was a political party in Zimbabwe, formed in December 1976 by Chief Jeremiah Chirau, an ex-minister in the Rhodesian Front government. ZUPO contested the 1979 election but failed to win a seat. It was disbanded before the 1980 election.The organisation's only...

     (Leader Jeremiah Chirau
    Jeremiah Chirau
    Jeremiah Chirau was a notable figure among Rhodesia's chiefs, and during the UDI he became the only leader of the Zimbabwe United People's Organisation , a party largely comprising chiefs....

    )

White Roll

Polling day was April 10, 1979.
Constituency Candidate Party Votes
AVONDALE John Alfred Landau RF unopposed
BORROWDALE Hilary Gwyn Squires
Hilary Squires
Hilary Gwyn Squires is a retired South African judge and barrister, who was brought in to preside over the Schabir Shaik fraud and corruption trial in Durban, South Africa, so as not to tie up legal proceedings elsewhere while the trial proceeded....

RF unopposed
BULAWAYO CENTRAL Patrick Francis Shields RF unopposed
BULAWAYO NORTH Wilfred Denis Walker
Denis Walker
Wilfrid Denis Walker is a former Rhodesian cabinet minister resident in the United Kingdom. He is known for his monarchist activities and anti-communism and is also the Company Secretary, Director and Treasurer of the International Monarchist League and its UK subsidiary, the Constitutional...

RF unopposed
BULAWAYO SOUTH Wallace Evelyn Stuttaford RF 4,140
Francis Robert Bertrand Ind 500
Jan (John) Francis Betch Ind 57
CENTRAL Rowan Cronjé RF unopposed
EASTERN Desmond Butler RF 2,538
John Constantinos Kircos Ind 485
GATOOMA/HARTLEY Pieter Kenyon Fleming-Voltelyn van der Byl
P. K. van der Byl
Pieter Kenyon Fleming-Voltelyn van der Byl, ID was a South African-born Rhodesian politician who served as the country's Foreign Minister from 1974 to 1979 as a member of the Rhodesian Front...

RF unopposed
HATFIELD Richard Cartwright RF 2,672
Charles James Britton Ind 334
Neville Ronald Arthur Skeates Ind 314
HIGHLANDS Mark Henry Heathcote Partridge RF unopposed
KOPJE Dennis Divaris RF 2,263
Mrs. Esther Rawson Ind 834
Leslie Thomas Hayes Ind 28
LUNDI Theunis Christian de Klerk RF unopposed
MAKONI Jacobus Phillipus du Plessis RF unopposed
MARLBOROUGH William Michie Irvine RF unopposed
MAZOE/MTOKO Cecil Millar RF unopposed
MIDLANDS Henry Swan Elsworth RF unopposed
MOUNT PLEASANT Jonas Christian Andersen RF unopposed
NORTHERN Esmond Meryl Micklem RF unopposed
SOUTHERN Ian Douglas 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...

RF unopposed
WESTERN Alexander Moseley RF unopposed

Common Roll members

Polling day was April 21, 1979.
Province Est. electorate NDU UANC UNFP ZANU ZUPO
Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats
Manicaland (10) 402,700 - - - 97,994 53.7 6 8,398 4.6 - 69,136 37.9 4 7,115 3.9 -
Mashonaland Central (5) 187,800 - - - 138,360 80.7 5 9,593 5.6 - 16,968 9.9 - 6,582 3.8 -
Mashonaland East (15) 588,300 18,175 3.3 - 428,599 78.2 15 20,292 3.7 - 39,461 7.2 - 41,767 7.6 -
Mashonaland West (6) 264,300 - - - 245,737 83.4 6 12,941 4.4 - 24,682 8.4 - 11,228 3.8 -
Matabeleland North (10) 383,400 - - - 79,108 40.8 5 75,350 38.9 4 22,242 11.5 1 16,985 8.8 -
Matabeleland South (5) 191,200 - - - 10,318 20.0 1 30,318 58.9 3 7,365 14.3 1 3,502 6.8 -
Midlands (11) 419,600 - - - 137,120 60.6 7 24,006 10.6 1 47,525 21.0 3 17,551 7.8 -
Victoria (10) 388,900 - - - 75,403 56.1 6 13,543 10.1 1 35,549 26.5 3 9,840 7.3 -

Candidates and elected members

NDU UANC UNFP ZANU ZUPO
MANICALAND PROVINCE
  1. Edward Stewart Mazaiwana 1. A. Siwellah 1. Rev Ndabaningi Sithole
Ndabaningi Sithole
Ndabaningi Sithole founded the Zimbabwe African National Union, a militant organization that opposed the government of Rhodesia, in July 1963. A member of the Ndau ethnic group, he also worked as a Methodist minister. He spent 10 years in prison after the government banned ZANU...

1. P. Ndoro
  2. David Charles Zvinaiye Mukome 2. C. Jenah 2. Noel Mukono 2. P. Mubekati
  3. Simpson Victor Mtambenengwe 3. G. Gwenzi 3. David Zamchiya 3. T. Makunde
  4. Elijah Smile Magavan Nyandoro 4. L. Chiyangwa 4. Arnold Sawanha 4. N. Chingomo
  5. John Moses Chirimbani 5. E. Matsika 5. D. Charangwa 5. L. Mufararipwa
  6. Maxwell Pfereyegota Chambara 6. K. Dhlamini 6. [C. Chiremba (deceased)] 6. J. Tandi
  7. John Zwenhamo Ruredzo 7. J. Manjengwa 7. Miss Vesta Saungweme 7. A. Katso
  8. P. Chakaza 8. A. Moyo 8. R. Chikosi 8. R. Hlatiwayo
  9. M. Chingwara 9. T. Meda 9. W. Chadokwa 9. D. Jamela
  10. Kagoro Felix Kadzombe 10. J. Dhliwayo 10. Mrs S. Nduku 10. Mrs P. Nyahe
MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE
  1. Mucheki Kachidzwa 1. R. Madanire 1. Dr N. Munyoro 1. N. Mutuma
  2. Reki Mashayamombe 2. D. Panashe 2. E. Charirye 2. S. Chimanikire
  3. Micheck Nyika Chagadama 3. A. Nyandoro 3. L. Masawi 3. K. Chitsike
  4. Actor Mupinyuri 4. R. Chiwaridza 4. C. Katsande 4. S. Chipiro
  5. Terrence Mashambanhaka 5. B. Chasi 5. B. Gambanga 5. S. Moyo
MASHONALAND EAST PROVINCE
1. Henry Chihota 1. Abel Tendekai 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...

1. Kingdom Sithole 1. Joel Mandaza 1. Leonard Mapuranga
2. James Clever Mavunga Shereni 2. Silas Mundawarara 2. Ben Chanetsa 2. Dr Joseph Gopo 2. Alice Chinamora
3. Rosten Gore 3. Simon Chivaware Paraffin* 3. Cyril Kachidza 3. Abel Rumano 3. Patrick Bwanya
4. X. Mutendere 4. Claudius Nhongonhema 4. Robert Kachindamoto 4. Dr Willie Nduka 4. Walter Gawe
5. W. Chitongo 5. George Bodzo Nyandoro 5. Fibion Munyuki 5. Absolom Ndoro 5. Mrs Stella Musarira
6. D. Madamombe 6. Ben Kuda Taputsa Mutasa 6. Dominic Machaka 6. Benjamini Muvuti 6. Rogers Rutsito
7. K. Muswe 7. Enoch Dumbutshena* 7. Marshall Mukono 7. Mrs Evelyn Sithole 7. Kenneth Dhluni
8. L. Marufu 8. Dr Dennis Nyamuswa 8. Patrick Zemura** 8. Mrs Siphikelelo Chizengeni 8. Samuel Goredema
9. J. Munda 9. Beatrice Manyara Mutasa 9. Mrs Sheila Tamuka 9. Kesiwe Malindi 9. Lewis Msengezi
10. P. Mavunga 10. Rev Farai David Muzorewa 10. Nimrod Ndhlela 10. Davison Sambo 10. Canaan Gomwe
11. Mrs. H. Shereni 11. Essiah Zhuwarara* 11. M. Chingate 11. Tennyson Magura 11. Joseph Chipiro
12. Mrs L. Mzinyani 12. Lazarus Mtungwazi 12. Dexter Sibanda 12. Stephen Marara 12. Phillip Munzwa
13. Aaron Rusike 13. Raymond Chikarara Nyaude Madzima 13. Dickson Moyo 13. Douglas Mudzi 13. Sidney Musoni
14. Miss P. Matanda 14. Evelyn Joyce Shava* 14. Gilbert Moyo 14. Moses Zhanje 14. Stephen Gumbe
15. D. Chitunda 15. Avis Chikwana 15. Stephen Kazingizi** 15. Nassan Nengere 15. Samuel Mavani
MASHONALAND WEST PROVINCE
  1. Titus Garikayi Mukarati 1. S. Mazibananga 1. P. Mhlanga 1. G. Magaramombe
  2. Ronald Takawira Sadomba 2. T. Kasvinga 2. Mrs I. Chitate 2. S. Nyamweda
  3. Josiah Zinanga Mudzengi 3. D. Ngondo 3. N. Bangajena 3. B. Nyandoro
  4. Prof Stanlake John Samkange
Stanlake J. W. T. Samkange
Stanlake John William Thompson Samkange was a Zimbabwean historiographer, educationist, journalist, author, and African nationalist...

*
4. Patrick Tozivepi** 4. N. Mutandiwa 4. A. Mudenda
  5. Boniface Mhariwa Gumbo* 5. F. Musiwa 5. S. Mariga 5. S. Chirenda
  6. James Robert Dambaza Chikerema
James Chikerema
James Robert Dambaza Chikerema served as the President of the Front for the Liberation of Zimbabwe. He changed his views on militant struggle in the late 1970s and supported the 'internal settlement', serving in the attempted power-sharing governments.-Early life:Chikerema was born at Kutama...

*
6. Charles Zviyambwa** 6. Mrs R. Mombeshore 6. S. Mangwiro
MATABELELAND NORTH PROVINCE
  1. Ernest Leonard Bulle 1. Lwazi Joel Mahlangu 1. Phineas Sithole 1. A. Mgutshini
  2. Walter Nqabeni Mthimkhulu 2. Peter Nkomo 2. Zachariah Tongai Chigumira 2. T. Madhana
  3. David Murambiwa Mutasa 3. M. Nyathi 3. R. Zemura 3. E. Chiwunye
  4. Morgan Kugaraunzwana Machiya 4. Brown Luza 4. J. Ngaliwe 4. R. Gunyela
  5. Gerald Mthimkhulu 5. Geshom Maplanka 5. J. Ndebele 5. T. Thebe
  6. Abel Chimombe 6. T. Ncube 6. Mrs H. Zwambila 6. W. Mapukanka
  7. M. Tshuma 7. Lot Enoch Dewa 7. E. Ncube 7. D. Mangena
  8. Mrs Gladys Tiriboyi 8. A. Mpofu 8. G. Ncube 8. A. Khumalo
  9. P. Zumbika 9. E. Mkandla 9. L. Dlodlo 9. L. Moyo
  10. A. Mutasa 10. A.M. Mpofu 10. S. Dube 10. S. Jubane
MATABELELAND SOUTH PROVINCE
  1. Joel Madewe Sigola 1. Zephania Bafana 1. Abraham Mazwi Khumalo 1. G. Dewa
  2. J. Tarugarira 2. Robert Siyoka 2. T. Mbuya 2. E. Maposa
  3. K. Nyabadzu 3. Timoth Ndlovu 3. P. Mpofu 3. H. Dube
  4. I. Ngulube 4. S. Noko 4. C. Malikongwa 4. J. Bango
  5. P. Maphosa 5. E. Velile 5. R. Simbi 5. G. Ncube
MIDLANDS PROVINCE
  1. Misheck Hove 1. Elijah Mukuchambano 1. James Dzvova 1. M. Malumisa
  2. Lovemore Christopher Mbanga 2. A. Gwemende 2. Dr Edward Chitate 2. Philip Elijah Chigogo
  3. Joseph Jumo Bheka 3. J. Dondo 3. William Kambasha 3. P. Chirinda
  4. Lewis Bonda Gumbo 4. S. Shama 4. C. Mutambisi 4. J. Maziwisa
  5. John Kingston Nyahwata 5. G. Tshuma 5. J. Nyaguse 5. L. Nhamo
  6. Edmund Macheka 6. K. Dube 6. B. Magaisa 6. A. Tafirenyika
  7. John Karimanzira Kokera 7. F. Ngulube 7. U. Gokwe 7. S. Hove
  8. Abraham Chirwa 8. N. Dhlamini 8. V. Mashita 8. S. Sibanda
  9. F. Mutiti 9. N. Ndhlovu 9. Mrs O. Chidzongwa 9. Chingona
  10. W. Mugabiri 10. M. Moyo 10. J. Sithole 10. M. Chibvute
  11. S. Makura 11. S. Mbambo 11. L. Mambo  
VICTORIA PROVINCE
  1. Francis John Zindoga 1. Peter Munyaradzi Mandaza 1. Leonard Nyemba 1. E. Badza
  2. Smollie Poshi Mugudubi 2. J. Chikukwa 2. Edward Watungwa 2. D. Gurajena
  3. Christopher Donald Sakala 3. P. Makoni 3. Julius Chimedza 3. John Hungwe
  4. Herbert Office Benjamin Zimuto 4. C. Marezva 4. S. Mangwengwe 4. B. Mazungunye
  5. David Munandi 5. G. Dziwa 5. V. Chikukutu 5. H. Makoni
  6. John Lewis Mashakada 6. E. Maphosa 6. J. Hlalsi 6. W. Mukaganwi
  7. J. Maswoswe 7. D. Mandishora 7. L. Shinya 7. J. Tagwireyi
  8. G. Sadomba 8. L. Sithole 8. A. Mashiri 8. T. Sithole
  9. J. Muchineripi 9. Mrs J. Sibanda 9. Mrs E. Masangu 9. R. Mhungu
  10. B. Basera 10. D. Makotere 10. C. Marozva 10. J. Masvinga


* - Subsequently formed the Zimbabwe Democratic Party (see below)

** - These candidates had resigned from the United National Federal Party and joined the Zimbabwe United Peoples' Organisation after nominations had closed. It was ruled that their candidatures stood.

White non-constituency members

Polling day was May 7, 1979. Eight seats were up for election.
Rank Party Seats
1 Trevor Duncan Dollar 71
2 Derek Foxon Gawler 63
3 Wing-Commander Frederick Roy Simmonds 62
4 André Sothern Holland 60
5 Denys Sinclair Parkin 58
6 Bertram Ankers 53
7 Charles McKenzie Scott 52
8 Stanley Norman Eastwood 46
9= Arthur Denis Crook 20
9= Wing-Commander Robert James Gaunt 20
11 Donald Galbraith Goddard 17
12 Reginald Reed Beaver 15
13 John Cornelius Gleig 12
14 Air Marshall Archibald Oliver Garfield Wilson 11
15 Bernard Horace Mussett 10
16 Albertus Herman du Toit 9

Changes during the Assembly

John Moses Chirimbani (UANC, Manicaland) was elected as the Speaker of the House of Assembly on May 8, 1979, and therefore an ex officio member. On May 25, John Zwenhamo Ruredzo was appointed to replace him.

Robert Siyoka (UNFP, Matabeleland South) resigned, and was replaced by Sami Thomani Siyoka on June 28, 1979.

On June 25, 1979 James Chikerema led a group of eight elected UANC members in resigning from the party, and on June 29 seven of the eight formed the Zimbabwe Democratic Party. Actor Mupinyuri (UANC, Mashonaland Central) rejoined the UANC shortly after resigning from it. The seven who joined are denoted by asterisks in the lists above. A questionable wording in the electoral law led to the UANC taking legal action to disqualify the seven on the grounds that they had to keep their membership of the party in order to remain members of the Assembly, but Chikerema was successful in defending the right to break away.

Hilary Gwyn Squires
Hilary Squires
Hilary Gwyn Squires is a retired South African judge and barrister, who was brought in to preside over the Schabir Shaik fraud and corruption trial in Durban, South Africa, so as not to tie up legal proceedings elsewhere while the trial proceeded....

 resigned in June 1979, moving to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

 to take up a legal career. David Colville Smith was returned unopposed as Rhodesian Front candidate for Borrowdale constituency on July 24, 1979.

Terrence Mashambanhaka (UANC, Mashonaland Central) was murdered on September 16, 1979 after being lured to an ambush at 'peace talks' with ZANLA forces. Abel Muringazuwa Madombwe was appointed to the Assembly to replace him on November 27, 1979.

Theunis Christian de Klerk (RF, Lundi) was killed in a rocket attack on his home on September 20, 1979. Donald Galbraith Goddard was returned unopposed to follow him on November 30, 1979.

United Nations reaction

The United Nations Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...

 passed several resolutions against the "illegal" election, including Resolution 445
United Nations Security Council Resolution 445
United Nations Security Council Resolution 445, adopted on March 8, 1979, after recalling resolutions 253 , 403 , 411 , 423 , 424 and 437 , and hearing representations from various countries, the Council expressed its concern about the military operations undertaken by the "illegal regime" against...

 and Resolution 448
United Nations Security Council Resolution 448
United Nations Security Council Resolution 448, adopted on April 30, 1979, after recalling resolutions 253 , 403 , 411 , 423 , 424 , 437 and 445 , the Council declared that the recent "sham" elections held in Southern Rhodesia by the "illegal racist regime" were illegal and the results thereof...

, both of which argued that the election was not representative of the Zimbabwean people and was designed to entrench white minority rule. In these resolutions, the UN declared the results of the election null and void.
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