The Great Betrayal is an autobiography written by Ian Smith covering his time as Premier of the British Crown Colony of Southern Rhodesia and Prime Minister of Rhodesia (April 13, 1964 - June 1, 1979). The country is now called Zimbabwe, after Great Zimbabwe - remains of a Southern African ancient city.

Over this period, Smith oversaw a predominantly white government which made few concessions to the majority African population. Smith's government alienated the native population further in 1965 with the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (Rhodesia), eliminating ties with the United Kingdom. In response to this move, the United Nations applied sanctions against Rhodesia, and guerrilla warfare began across the country. In 1979, the a multi-racial election was held, electing Zimbabwe African National Union, with Bishop Abel Muzorewa as the country's first black Prime Minister, with Methodist support from Ndabaningi Sithole and Canaan Banana, ushering in the short-lived Zimbabwe Rhodesia. Representation was questioned, and the result of the Lancaster House Agreement was that fresh elections were held, won by Robert Mugabe of Zanu-PF, over Joshua Nkomo and Zimbabwe African People's Union and Ian Smith's white minority and Abel Muzorewa.

The autobiography gives Smith's explanations for his decisions over this period, claiming that he was betrayed by his friends in government who had offered to help him and Rhodesia, but ultimately did not.

ISBN: 1857821769