I've been on a bit of a postcolonial Africa tangent lately and I was thinking about how a few changes could've changed the situation in what is now one of Africa's most destitute nations, Zimbabwe. I have no illusions of Rhodesia being able to hang onto White Minority Rule forever but perhaps a more peaceful conclusion (like South Africa in 1994 to an extent) could be reached. I might try my hand at a TL on this (even though my past two attempts with one have run into ASB walls or just run out of steam) if I get some feedback.
Possible POD considerations:
Possible POD considerations:
- The UK either doesn't contest Smith's UDI or doesn't go to the UN for sanctions (borderline ASB unless some more pressing crisis can be manufactured back home)
- ZIPRA knocking down two Air Rhodesia planes and killing the survivors execution style proves to be the act of brutality that turns the locals off to the Chimurenga and ZANU/ZAPU/ZIPRA collapse for want of support (possibly but maybe a bit too late to make a difference by that point)
- A better military situation for the Rhodesians in 1980 gives them a more favorable Lancaster House Agreement that lets them keep more power or keep their 10% guarantee for longer. By the time the Africans take full control the revolutionary clique of Mugabe et. al. has been displaced.
- Covert support from a major power (the U.S. under the CIA "kill commies at all costs" strategy) gives Rhodesia's military more/better equipment and maybe some advisers.
- Smith or someone else (if he's replaced) reforms the biased voting rolls to make them more equal (likely ASB given the white mentality of the day)
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