Rhodesia general election, 1977
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All 66 seats to the House of Assembly of Rhodesia 34 seats were needed for a majority |
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8.4%The Rhodesia general election of 1977, the last general election dominated by the white minority, took place on 31 August 1977. Rhodesian 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.
Together with the other seats, the state of the parties in the House of Assembly was:
Electorate: 85,551 (83,825 in contested seats) Turnout: 80.2%
Fani Mlingo died on 15 February 1978. On 31 March 1978, Joseph Jumo Bheka was returned unopposed to replace him. Bheka was a supporter of Bishop Abel Muzorewa.
Simeon Chengeta died on 19 March 1978. On 19 July 1978, a byelection was held in Lowveld. John Adonia Hungwe defeated Simon Dzichaperanhamo Bhene.
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 (pressing for a full settlement with African nationalists) but by two right-wing candidates opposed to any deals: the Rhodesian Action Party and the Rhodesian Conservative Alliance.
Roger Hawkins resigned from the Assembly due to ill health on 30 November 1978, leading to a byelection in Gwelo on 30 January 1979.
George Rollo Hayman 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.
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