In the absence of any official ceremony crowds of revellers, mainly black, gathered in the streets of Salisbury and surrounding townships at midnight to mark the change.

But although the name may have changed and there are 12 black faces in the cabinet under a new, black prime minister - Bishop Muzorewa - much will stay the same.

The man in overall command of the military will remain in his post, as will those in charge of the army, air force and police.

The jobs of top civil servants - all white - are protected under the new constitution.

At his final news conference in the top job Mr Smith said the less change there was the better, setting himself at odds with new Prime Minister Muzorewa, who said he hoped changes would be "very fast" in coming.

Mr Smith warned that "pushing people forward simply because of their colour, irrespective of merit, would be most unfortunate and would of course lead to disaster".

He continued: "It would mean that Rhodesia would then develop into a kind of banana republic where the country would in no time be bankrupt."

Mr Smith, who has moved from his official residency to a more humble abode, said he would be asleep during the changeover.

The new government has yet to be officially recognised by Britain and the United States.

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