Lance Smith

Lancelot Bales Smith (17 January 19104 May 2000), was an English-born Rhodesian farmer and politician. Elected to Parliament in the 1950s, he was a founding member of the Rhodesian Front in 1962. He was minister without portfolio in the cabinet of Prime Minister Ian Smith (no relation) at the time of Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965. In 1968, after serving as Deputy Minister of Agriculture, he was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs, a position he held until 1974, when he exited politics.

Early life and education Smith was born on 17 January 1910, in Felixstowe, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom, the son of a tailor.

Career

Early career Smith emigrated to Rhodesia at age 25, intending to join the police force. Instead, he became a successful farmer, and was later elected chairman of the Rhodesian Farmers' Association. Smith was elected to the Southern Rhodesian Legislative Assembly in the 1950s as a member of the United Federal Party, and was known as a moderate MP. He opposed the 1961 Constitution and its creation of separate voting rolls for blacks and whites. On 14 April 1964, he was appointed Minister without portfolio by the new Prime Minister, Ian Smith. Following the May 1965 elections, Smith was reelected to Parliament and was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Rhodesian Minister of Agriculture, and also became Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly and Chairman of Committees. On 11 November 1965, Smith was present at (but did not sign) Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI).

In 1967, Smith was elevated to Deputy Minister of Agriculture, serving under Minister Jack Howman. In that office, he traveled around Rhodesia, speaking with farmers who were struggling under foreign sanctions imposed as a result of the UDI. In 1970, he became acting Minister of Lands. On 3 September 1970, he spoke before the Parliament, urging them to pass the Land Tenure Amendment Bill, so that churches could continue their interracial worship and other activities. Smith, who was considered to be a moderate politician, grew in popularity in Rhodesian Front during the early 1970s, as reflected by his election as vice president of the party at the annual congress on 23 September 1972. In October 1972, he was entrusted with the opening of dialogue with Zimbabwe African National Union leader Abel Muzorewa. In 1974, Smith was awarded Grand Officer of the Legion of Merit.

Personal life Smith was married. He shared no family relation to Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith.

Electoral history Southern Rhodesian Legislative Assembly, Lomagundi constituency, 1962 Lance Smith (RF) - 1,003 (61.7%) Robert Gordon Hoskins-Davies (UFP) – 622 (38.3%) Rhodesian Legislative Assembly, Karoi constituency, 1965 Lance Smith (RF) Opponent missing Rhodesian House of Assembly, Hatfield constituency, 1970 Lance Smith (RF) – 927 (62.6%) Peter Chalmers Chalker (Ind RF) – 555 (37.4%)

Awards