Century_up_to_Independence Southern_Rhodesia

white settlers in southern rhodesia, 1922

as result of various treaties between bsac , black tribes, acts of parliament delineating bsac , crown lands, overlapping british colonial commission authority of both areas, rights of increasing number of british settlers , descendants given secondary review authorities. resulted in formation of new movements expanding self-government of rhodesian people saw bsac rule impediment further expansion.

the southern rhodesian legislative council election of 1920 returned large majority of candidates of responsible government association , became clear bsac rule no longer practical. opinion in united kingdom , south africa favoured incorporation of southern rhodesia in union of south africa, but, forcing pace of negotiation, southern rhodesians obtained unfavourable terms , electorate backed responsible government in 1922 referendum.

in view of outcome of referendum, territory annexed united kingdom on 12 september 1923. shortly after annexation, on 1 october 1923, first constitution new colony of southern rhodesia came force. under constitution sir charles coghlan became first premier of southern rhodesia , upon death in 1927 succeeded howard unwin moffat.

during world war ii, southern rhodesian military units participated on side of united kingdom. southern rhodesian forces involved on many fronts including east , north african campaigns, italy, madagascar , burma. southern rhodesian forces had highest loss ratio of constituent element, colony, dependency or dominion of british empire forces during world war ii. additionally, rhodesian pilots earned highest number of decorations , ace appellations of group within empire. resulted in royal family paying unusual state visit colony @ end of war thank rhodesian people.

a postage stamp commemorating royal visit of 1947

economically, southern rhodesia developed economy narrowly based on production of few primary products, notably, chrome , tobacco. therefore vulnerable economic cycle. deep recession of 1930s gave way post-war boom. boom prompted immigration of 200,000 white settlers between 1945 , 1970, taking white population 307,000. large number of these immigrants of british working-class origin. more settlers belgian congo, kenya, tanzania, , later angola , mozambique increased birth rate, raised rhodesian white population 600,000 1976. black population 6 million.

in 1940s, founding of university serve central african countries proposed. such university established in salisbury, funding provided british , southern rhodesian governments , private sources. 1 condition of british funding student admission should based on academic achievement , character no racial distinction. university college of rhodesia (ucr) received first intake of students in 1952. until 1971 awarded degrees of universities of london , birmingham. in 1971 ucr became university of rhodesia , began awarding own degrees. in 1980 renamed university of zimbabwe.