The Rhodesian general election of 31 August 1977 was the last general election in Rhodesia dominated by the white minority. Prime Minister Ian Smith, who was conducting negotiations with moderate African nationalists, was forced into an early election by the defection of twelve MPs from his Rhodesian Front party, which denied him the two-thirds majority of the House of Assembly needed to change the constitution. In the event, the Front overwhelmed the breakaway Rhodesian Action Party and all other forces, once again winning every single seat in the 50 seats elected by those of European descent.
Electoral system
The electorate of Rhodesia returned 66 members of the House of Assembly of Rhodesia, in three different classes of seat:
European roll seats: 50 members were returned from single-member constituencies by voters who were either of European, Asian or mixed descent.
African roll seats: 8 members were returned from single-member constituencies by voters of African descent.
Tribal seats: 8 seats were returned by Tribal electoral colleges made up of the Chiefs of the Tribes.
Both European and African rolls had a range of property qualifications. No change to boundaries or the qualification of voters was made compared to the 1974 election.
Results
Together with the other seats, the state of the parties in the House of Assembly was:
A byelection was held in the Highlands North constituency on 21 July 1978 to replace Fergus Blackie, who had been appointed as a Judge and resigned on 15 May 1978. This byelection occurred after the internal settlement agreement, and the Rhodesian Front candidate was therefore opposed not only by the National Unifying Force but by two right-wing candidates opposed to any deals: the Rhodesian Action Party and the Rhodesian Conservative Alliance.
Gwelo
resigned from the Assembly due to ill health on 30 November 1978, leading to a byelection in Gwelo on 30 January 1979.
Mazoe
resigned on 27 December 1978, claiming that the power-sharing government could easily fall under the control of a terrorist group. He then resigned from the Assembly to seek re-election. This byelection, held on 6 February 1979, was the last election conducted before the advent of the new constitution.
Vacancy at dissolution
died on 12 February 1979. The seat was not filled before Parliament was dissolved.
