SOUTHERN RHODESIA
CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE HELD AT
LANCASTER HOUSE, LONDON SEPTEMBER DECEMBER 1979
REPORT
1. Following the Meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government held in Lusaka from 1 to 7 August,
Her Majesty's Government issued invitations to Bishop Muzorewa and the leaders of the Patriotic Front
to participate in a Constitutional Conference at Lancaster House. The purpose of the Conference was to
discuss and reach agreement on the terms of an Independence Constitution, and that elections should be
supervised under British authority to enable Rhodesia to proceed to legal independence and the parties
to settle their differences by political means.
2. The Conference opened on 10 September under the chairmanship of Lord Carrington, Secretary of
State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. The Conference concluded on 15 December, after 47
plenary sessions. A list of the official delegates to the Conference is at Annex A. The text of Lord
Carrington's opening address is at Annex B, together with statements made by Mr Nkomo on behalf of
his and Mr Mugabe's delegation and by Bishop Muzorewa on behalf of his delegation.
3. In the course of its proceedings the Conference reached agreement on the following issues:
— Summary of the Independence Constitution (attached as Annex C to this report)*
—arrangements for the pre-independence period (Annex D)
—a cease-fire agreement signed by the parties (Annex E)
4. In concluding this agreement and signing this report the parties undertake:
(a) to accept the authority of the Governor;
(b) to abide by the Independence Constitution;
(c) to comply with the pre-independence arrangements;