Andre Sothern Holland

Andre Sothern Holland, born to Douglas and Eva Holland,^[1] was a Farmer and Politician in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe from 1979) in the 1970s and 1980s.^[2][3]

Andre Sothern Holland
Born	30 January 1931 Rhodesia
Died	8th August 2014 (aged 83) Zimbabwe
Occupation(s)	Farmer, Politician, Husband and Father

Personal life

Holland had three children in Rhodesia with his wife Susan Jessica (Browning) Holland: Michael, Jane and Anne.^[4]

His South African grandfather, Arthur Herbert was personal secretary to Cecil Rhodes^[5]

His South African grandmother, Madeleine Holland, was a Poet and Academic who studied the Bantu of modern-day of central and Southern Africa.^[5]

Career

As well as farming, a skill passed on to his son, Holland was also a passionate politician.

Described as a "prominent member of Parliament" in April, 1981,^[6] Andre started his political career as an MP under Ian Smith's Government in 1970. He was known to believe in closing the wealth and land ownership gap between the white and black populations of Rhodesia.^[7]

Following the change of geographic political boundaries (in which Southern Rhodesia became Zimbabwe) in 1979, Andre split from Ian Smith's party, the Rhodesian Front, to form an alternative. On April 21, 1981, The New York Times described this new party to be one more suited for the "liberal whites" of Zimbabwe.^[2]

Following his resignation from the Rhodesian Front due to differing values, Holland noticed much support form his constituents, leading to the formation of the new party, the Democratic Party. He announced he planned to challenge the Rhodesian Front in upcoming elections.^[6] However, after a year of campaigning and three lost elections, the Democratic Party was disbanded.^[8]

References

1. "Person Page". www.thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
2. Ap (1981-04-21). "Around the World; Three Are Named to Posts In New Zimbabwe Party". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
3. "More Whites Quit Rhodesia". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
4. "Person Page". www.thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
5. "Oxford Diploma Students 1907-1920". web.prm.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
6. "White quits party to form new Zimbabwe grouping". Christian Science Monitor. 1981-04-13. ISSN 0882-7729. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
7. "File:Andre Holland ALL RACES.jpeg", Wikipedia, 2021-08-01, retrieved 2021-08-01
8. Reuters (1982-05-01). "Whites in Zimbabwe Disband A Breakaway Political Party". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-08-01. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)