The Great Betrayal: The Memoirs of Africa’s Most Controversial Leader

The Great Betrayal: The Memoirs of Africa’s Most Controversial Leader by Ian Douglas Smith offers a first-hand account of the political events that shaped Rhodesia and its transition to Zimbabwe. Published by Blake Publishing in 1997, this memoir presents Smith’s perspective on his leadership, the Rhodesian Bush War and the end of white-minority rule in the former British colony.

Ian Smith served as Rhodesia’s prime minister from 1964 until 1979. His government’s unilateral declaration of independence from Britain in 1965 brought international condemnation, economic sanctions and a prolonged constitutional crisis. Smith remained a central figure in the struggle over Rhodesia’s political future, opposing majority rule for much of his time in office. His memoir provides insight into how he understood these events and defended his decisions.

In The Great Betrayal, Smith revisits the negotiations, political conflicts and international pressures that contributed to Rhodesia’s eventual transition to Zimbabwe in 1980. The book’s title reflects his interpretation of the settlement that brought his administration to an end, making it a revealing expression of his political convictions and his assessment of the people and governments involved.

A substantial political autobiography, The Great Betrayal is particularly valuable to readers researching the history of Rhodesia, British colonial policy and the emergence of independent Zimbabwe. Smith’s account is strongly shaped by his own political outlook, so it is best read as a primary source that can be considered alongside other historical accounts of the period.