11 Facts About Garfield Todd

Sir Reginald Stephen Garfield Todd was a liberal Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia from 1953 to 1958 and later became an opponent of white minority rule in Rhodesia.

Garfield Todd succeeded Sir Godfrey Martin Huggins as leader of the United Rhodesia Party and Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia in 1953 when Huggins became the inaugural Prime Minister of the newly established Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in 1953.

From 1955 to 1960 Garfield Todd served as first vice-president of the World Convention of Churches of Christ.

Garfield Todd introduced modest reforms aimed at improving the education of the black majority by taking tax-money paid by Rhodesian property owners and appropriations from the British colonial authorities, and directing it toward black schools.

Garfield Todd's government introduced a plan to give elementary education to every African of school age.

Garfield Todd doubled the number of primary schools and gave grants to missionary-run schools to introduce secondary school and pre-university courses for blacks.

Garfield Todd introduced the appellation "Mr" for blacks instead of "AM" and ended the prohibition on the sale of alcohol to black residents of the reserves, who were allowed to drink European beer and wine, though not spirits.

Garfield Todd pushed a bill through the Legislative Assembly, allowing for multiracial trade unions, thereby undercutting the growing white nationalist influence in the unions.

Garfield Todd was granted retention of the title The Honourable in October 1958, for having served more than three years on the executive council.

Garfield Todd was appointed a Knight Bachelor, for services to Africa and New Zealand, by Queen Elizabeth II in the 1986 New Year Honours, at the instigation of the New Zealand government.

Garfield Todd died, aged 94, on 13 October 2002, in Bulawayo.