ian smith interviewed by the bbc

Ian Smith
Interviewed by the BBC

The BBC's Tim Sebastian met the former Prime Minister of Rhodesia

8^th May 2002

The former Prime Minister of Rhodesia, Ian Smith, believes that his successor, Robert Mugabe's days as leader are "numbered". Mr Smith told BBC Television's HARDtalk programme: "His own people have turned against him."

"His country has really hit the bottom. The people are suffering, the poor people are getting poorer every day. We think his days are numbered."

Mr Smith was prime minister of the country for 15 years before it gained official independence from Britain and became Zimbabwe.

He said that support for Mr Mugabe, who came to power with his pro-independence Zanu-PF party in 1980, was weakening from within his own ranks.

He explained: "The executive of the present political party have said they want the top man out.

"He's pulling them down, he's brought a lot of discredit to the party and they would like him to move out." "If the pressures build up he might accept that the best thing he can do is get out."

In April 2002 Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonwealth for 12 months over alleged discrepancies during presidential elections.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change - MDC - and their leader Morgan Tsvangirai rejected the result. They claimed that the vote which returned President Mugabe to power had been rigged.

Mr Smith believes that the MDC should be in power, adding: "The majority of the black people today are on the side of the MDC... I like them and support them."

Mr Smith, who was the prime minister of Rhodesia from 1964 until 1979, has often accused the British Government of betrayal for the way they handled the country's transition to full independence - which ultimately led to his own downfall.

He regretted trusting the British Government when negotiating over the distribution of land rights.

"I certainly wouldn't do that again through experience. We were dealing with some British politicians who, I regret to have to say, who were absolutely devious."

Mr Smith said: "We built a fantastic country, one of the best countries in the world."

And he said he would be prepared to appear before any truth and reconciliation commission, similar to the one set up in South Africa.

He added: "Fortunately my conscience is clear - I've got nothing to hide and that applied to Rhodesia, and our whole history indicates what I'm saying is correct."