Garfield Todd - Later Life

Later Life

After helping to coordinate the isolation and embargo of Rhodesia, and especially after his support for legitimizing terrorist activity by black nationalists, Todd was widely condemned as a traitor by white Rhodesians. When the Smith Government was ultimately forced to give up power and the nation became the independent state of Zimbabwe in 1980, Todd was immediately considered for appointment to the new black government for his collaborating role. Lord Soames, following the recommendation of Prime Minister-elect Robert Mugabe, appointed Todd to the Senate of Zimbabwe on April 8, 1980, where Todd served until his retirement in 1985. After years of supporting Mugabe, Todd became disillusioned with the new regime due to its blatant violence against political opponents. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1986, at the instigation of the New Zealand government.

During retirement, Todd donated 3,000 acres (12 km²) of his ranch to former guerillas who had been maimed in the Rhodesian Bush War. Nonetheless, Todd's criticism of Mugabe intensified and in 2002 he was stripped of Zimbabwean citizenship. He died, aged 94, on 13 October 2002, in Bulawayo.