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39 Chapter 3 Moving toward democracy: todd as the limited democratic politician Soon after Todd became prime minister in 1953 he took a taxi from the airport to his home. The African driver and friend in the front seat began to talk about the new prime minister who “seemed determined to bring about improvements in the lives of Africans.” Todd asked them if they knew the prime minister and what he looked like. They replied, “No we really do not know him. But we hear that he was a teacher at a Mission school near Shabani Mine.” Todd replied, “Well, you are driving that man just now, I am the prime minister of Southe m ern Rhodesia.” The astounded men did not want to charge Todd for the ride, but he paid them a lot more than what the meter stated.1 Todd was often a gracious person, especially to those who were marginalized. Solomon Nkiwane, a member of the Movement for Democratic Change, the opposition party to Robert Mugabe and ZANU (PF) wrote, I never tire of marveling at the positive images, and hope, that Todd’s premiership evoked in the African population. For me, at that format m tive stage of my life, the name of Garfield Todd was mysterious. How could a white man, decide to be on the side of Africans in a country where all white people were ONE in ensuring that Africans were always at the BOTTOM of things, in everything? . . . [G]enerations of Africans in Zimbabwe will be forever grateful to him for sowing the seeds of their eventual emancipation.2 His premiership laid the groundwork for his eventual prophetic avocat m tion of complete democracy. His rhetoric is a key to understanding this shift. Rhetoric played a central role in Todd’s political career. His preaching ability prepared him for politics and opened the door to public service. His speaking ability showcased in parliamentary debate and in his election campaigns was one factor that demonstrated his Casey.Rhetoric.indd 53 1/9/07 11:11:07 AM 40 CHAPTER THREE leadership potential and led to his surprising selection as prime mini m ister in 1953. In a number of different means rhetoric was a way of being for Todd.3 He also was ahead of his time in rhetorical practices as he attempted to use the media as an opportunity to be the prime minister of all the people.4 He quickly mastered the use of the media through press conferences, newspaper reports on his speeches, and his international tours. In nine short years he went from an obscure missionary and backbencher to a national political leader who comm m manded international press scrutiny. In their entire colonial history Rhodesians never experienced a prime minister like Todd. Secondly, he constructed a number of different roles though in ways he did not anticipate. He constructed his role as a missionary through his preaching. Then he became the eloquent backbencher. He took his speaking ability and constructed the persona of the prime minister in new and different ways. His rhetoric allowed him to maintain a popular government for his first four years as prime minister, but then his speeches led to his troubles and eventual removal as his liberal policies on Africans alarmed white politicians. His speeches reveal the democratic impulses that eventually led him to radical democracy and full support for African rights. He wanted to construct a multir m racial society where whites gave up on racial prejudice and Africans entered into modern industrial society as fully educated and engaged citizens. His rhetorical trajectory and new use of the media pulled Todd away from limited democracy toward full radical democracy. The trajectory naturally led him away from paternalism as Africans saw him both as a Moses and a Savior who was crucified by whites on a cross of racism. The new prophetic persona and ethos of Todd was born out of his political rhetoric. Early Political Interest as Missionary Even though fellow Church of Christ missionary F. L. Hadfield was a member of the first Southern Rhodesian parliament and had champ m pioned African rights throughout his legislative career, Todd had no political ambitions when he arrived in Southern Rhodesia.5 Todd eventually shifted to politics to bring to fruition his beliefs about Afric m can potential. Todd was forced to pay attention to politics almost as soon as he arrived in Africa. The government set standards for teachers at the Casey...

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