The Great Betrayal: The Memoirs of Ian Douglas Smith

When Smith, who had handed government over to Bishop Abel Muzorewa in mid-1979, reminded Soames to do his duty and disqualify the gangsters from participating in the poll, Soames pathetically replied that Carrington ( foreign secretary in Thatcher's new Tory government) advised that such a course would be unacceptable to the OAU (Organisation of African Unity) and that "the principles and standards on which you and I were brought up to believe in, are no longer part of this world." One could add, probably because certain British 'gentlemen' see no further need to stand up for such values!

When you add the craveness of virtually every senior British politician from MacMillan onwards, plus the duplicity of the South African government under Vorster, and the incompetent Carter Administration in the US, you have a sorry history of the decline of western values, something that has endured for the latter 40 years of the 20th century.

Ian Smith has written superb memoirs and his 1997 warnings in this book ( and also to this reviewer, via the phone in early Jan.1998 ) over Mugabe's politicisation of farm land is now even more apparent as the Zimbabwe gangster engages in his 'ethnic cleansing' against white farmers as a sordid distraction to his his 20 year rule of disaster and destruction.

Of course those western liberals who were so distressed about the political and social life of Rhodesia, under Smith, remain strangely mute over the real atrocities of Mugabe, preferring, like those who preceded the Good Samaritan, to pass by on the other side to another 'politically correct' crusade.

Whatever faults Smith had pales into insignificance besides his detractors and the hoodlums and nitwits running Zimbabwe today.


The tragedy of Africa   June 23, 2002
Alice Stotter (Portugal)
44 out of 50 found this review helpful

Ian Smith was so right about the UDI and he must be so heartbroken to see what is happening now to Zimbabwe. Once the breadbasket of Africa. But looking at the other countries in Africa, it is just a repeat. On the brink of starvation and again the NGO's are pleading for Aid. While, when country was called Rhodesia, these same NGO's were helping the so-called guerillas with aid.

I had the pleasure of meeting Ian Smith 5 times.
I admire him how he never had a bodyguard and mixed with people of all races. How he drove his old 1965 Peugot 404 himself and stopped at stoplights.
Today when President Mugabe moves through town with 20 Mercedes Benzes, motorbikes, sirenes, armed soldiers, ready to shoot anyone who doesn't get off the road and stops, what a difference.

It is still amazing how much the people in the West have been indoctrinated by the Press and have a wrong opinion about him.
Also how the people in the West have hailed Mugabe and now don't want to talk about it anymore.
Neither Ian Smith nor Robert Mugabe have changed.
Mugabe always kept his promise to destroy and rob Zimbabwe for his own benefit.
Smith always had the welfare of all the people at heart only he wanted to bring the African people slowly into political power by evolution not by revolution and to create a middle class.
But Democracy is alien to Africa and many change of governments was caused by coups.

Having lived in the Rhodesia and in Zimbabwe as an immigrant, I have met many great and good people of all races. I despise the Leftwing good-doers, who caused a lot of damage to the country.
The last thing Ian Smith wanted to say is "I told you so".


The Great Betrayal   July 26, 2001
Mark Forrest (Fairvale, NB Canada)
16 out of 16 found this review helpful

The story of how the perfidity and backstabbing on the part of the U.S., Britain, and South Africa destroyed the nation of Rhodiesia and replaced it with the blood soaked regime of Robert Mugabe. "The Great Betrayal" provides an excellent overview of the ideas and events that have created modern Africa.


An surprisingly enlightening read   January 25, 2000
23 out of 25 found this review helpful

I had purchased this book fully expecting to find it full of bigotry and smugness in view of Smith's success in running an economy crippled by sanctions, as opposed to Mugabe's failure to run an economy assisted by foreign cash. In fact Mr Smith was neither biggoted nor smug. His hurt is quite evident when he looks at Zimbabwe, a country which, whilst the name has changed, is still very much his home.

Clearly Mr Smith feels that Rhodesia was betrayed by many parties who put their own self interest before any sense of honour or fair play. This could be attributal to either naiivety or honour in Smith, depending on wether you support his position or condemn it. It clearly shows that there is no longer any honour in politics, and a man such as Smith who held such principles in high esteme is doomed in the world of real politik. A good book which leaves the reader enlightened, and wondering if the Zimbabwe we now see could not have been different if Smith had been listened to a bit more at the time


The truth for the world to hear! ... If they listen   December 14, 2000
Tom Moul (Toronto, Ontario Canada)
18 out of 19 found this review helpful

I was born in Rhodesia in 1960 and did service in the Rhodesian Army during the late 70's in the communist war. 17 years later I emigrated from Africa to Canada and was very surprised to hear about the propaganda that had been brainwashed into people in North America by the media. This situation caused me to research my own history and 'The Great Betrayal' was one of the books I read. I found the book to be extremely valuable to 'fill the cracks' of the information as I knew it first hand. I have refered the book to many of my new friends in North America and those that have read it are now even more shocked at what that great country Rhodesia, has now become under the rule of Mugabe and his comrades.