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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:
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)