wfn.org | Stone-Campbell family missionary, public figure,

["Communication Ministries" <wshuffit@cm.disciples.org>]

stripped of citizenship in Zimbabwe
Date: February 21, 2002
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Curt Miller
E-mail: cmiller@cm.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

02a-15

	INDIANAPOLIS (DNS)  A New Zealand Churches of Christ
missionary who became prime minister of Southern Rhodesia,
now Zimbabwe, has been stripped of his citizenship by the
government of President Robert Mugabe.  Sir Garfield Todd,
93, also a former Zimbabwean senator, vows that despite his
disfranchisement, he will attempt to vote in a March
election in which Mugabe's presidency is at stake. 

	In the 1960s and 1970s, Todd, a lifelong white supporter
of black African rights, opposed the white regime of Ian
Smith and supported African rebels, including Robert
Mugabe.  Todd participated in talks in London in 1979 that
led to the end of civil war in Rhodesia. In the talks, Todd
supported the African organization ZANU(PF), led by Mugabe.
When Zimbabwe won its independence in 1980, Mugabe, then
prime minister, appointed Todd among his first senators. 

	In later years, Todd became an outspoken critic of
Mugabe's government and its moves seen as attempts to
overturn the civil rights of white and black citizens. 

	Last year, Mugabe's government required that Zimbabweans
born elsewhere and carrying dual citizenship renounce one
of the citizenship claims. Todd did not do so, and the
Harare government decided the matter and cancelled Todd's
Zimbabwean citizenship. 

	Todd believes the disfranchisement of thousands of
Zimbabweans is an organized attempt by the Mugabe
government to eliminate voter opposition in next month's
presidential election. "I have been a citizen of this
country for 67 years.  I totally reject the theft of our
citizenship," said Todd. "Just as we stood with courage
against the racism of the past, so today we must stand with
courage against the terror of the present. Come what may, I
will, next March, be going to the polling station to claim
my right as a very senior citizen of Zimbabwe to cast my
ballot for good against evil," he said. 

	Todd came to Southern Rhodesia as a missionary in 1934. He
served as that country's prime minister from 1953 to 1958
and served in Zimbabwe's senate from 1980 to 1985. He has
received honorary doctoral degrees from Eureka (Ill.)
College, a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)-related
institution,  and Milligan College (Tenn.), associated with
Churches of Christ/Christian Churches. 

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