The noon forum at DACOR (Diplomatic and Consular Officers Retired) on
this Friday, December 7, from noon to 2 p.m. will feature a book
presentation by Judith Todd about her memoir entitled "Through the
Darkness: A Life in Zimbabwe." It includes a reception, lunch ($15 per
person), talk about the book by the author, and sale and signing of
copies for those interested. You don't have to be a member to attend,
but please make a reservation at 202-682-0500, extension 15. Dacor Bacon
House is at 1801 F Street N.W.
Ms. Todd's parents, Garfield and Grace Todd, were missionaries from
New Zealand who started a mission school in Southern Rhodesia before
World War II, branched out into ranching, entered elective politics, and
Garfield became Prime Minister and an advocate of democratic rule
prior to the era dominated by the late Ian Smith and apartheid-style
unilateral independence. Judith and her father were both imprisoned by
that regime. Judith went into exile in Britain for eight years, but
returned in February 1980 as a new constitution and elections in April
brought legitimate independence. She ran the Zimbabwe Project Trust to
assist veterans of the civil war, and helped found the independent Daily
News, which was eventually banned. Her earlier books about Rhodesia were
banned. She was harassed by the Mugabe regime and in 2003 had her
citizenship and passport cancelled. She now lives in Cape Town, South
Africa.
Given the scant coverage of the current situation in Zimbabwe by our
media, Ms. Todd's talk will be informative and no doubt provocative.