History Southern_Rhodesia

1 history

1.1 origin rhodesia
1.2 century independence
1.3 1953–1965
1.4 return rhodesia
1.5 legal aspects of name since 1964

history
origin rhodesia

initially, territory referred south zambezia , reference river zambezi, until name rhodesia came use in 1895. in honour of cecil rhodes, british empire-builder , key figure during british expansion southern africa. in 1888 rhodes obtained mineral rights powerful local traditional leaders through treaties such rudd concession , moffat treaty, signed king lobengula of ndebele people. southern first used in 1898 , dropped normal usage in 1964, on break-up of federation of rhodesia , nyasaland. rhodesia remained name of country until creation of zimbabwe rhodesia in 1979. legally, british perspective, name southern rhodesia continued used until 18 april 1980, when republic of zimbabwe promulgated.

cecil rhodes (1853-1902), founder of de beers mining company

the british government agreed rhodes company, british south africa company (bsac), administer territory stretching limpopo lake tanganyika under charter protectorate. queen victoria signed charter in 1889. rhodes used document in 1890 justify sending pioneer column, group of white settlers protected well-armed british south africa police (bsap) , guided big game hunter frederick selous, through matabeleland , shona territory establish fort salisbury (now harare). in 1893–1894, of new maxim guns, bsap defeated ndebele in first matabele war, war resulted in death of king lobengula , death of of members of shangani patrol. shortly after disastrous bsap jameson raid transvaal republic, ndebele led spiritual leader mlimo against white colonials , began second matabele war (1896–97) resulted in extermination of half british settlers. after months of bloodshed, mlimo found , shot american scout frederick russell burnham , thereafter rhodes walked unarmed ndebele stronghold in matobo hills , persuaded impi lay down arms, ending revolt.

a legislative council created in 1899 manage company s civil affairs, minority of elected seats, through bsac had pass government measures. company british institution in settlers , capitalists owned shares, , local black african tribal chiefs remainder, , electorate council limited shareholders, electorate exclusively white settlers. on time more settlers arrived , growing number had less amount of land required own share in company or in trades supporting company workers, successive activism resulted in first increasing proportion of elected seats, , allowing non-share holders right vote in election. prior 1918, opinion among electorate supported continued bsac rule opinion changed because of development of country , increased settlement. in addition, decision in british courts land not in private ownership belonged british crown rather bsac gave great impetus campaign self-government. in resulting treaty government self-government, crown lands sold settlers allowed settlers right vote in self-governing colony.

century independence

the territory north of zambezi subject of separate treaties african chiefs: today, forms country of zambia. first bsac administrator western part appointed barotseland in 1897 , whole of north-western rhodesia in 1900. first bsac administrator eastern part, north-eastern rhodesia, appointed in 1895. whites in territory south of river paid scant regard though, , used name rhodesia in narrow sense mean part. designation southern rhodesia first used officially in 1898 in southern rhodesia order in council of 20 october 1898, applied area south of zambezi, , more common after bsac merged administration of 2 northern territories northern rhodesia in 1911.

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.

1953–1965

land apportionment in rhodesia in 1965

in 1953, calls independence mounting in many of african possessions, united kingdom created federation of rhodesia , nyasaland (or central african federation, caf), consisted of southern rhodesia, northern rhodesia , nyasaland (now zimbabwe, zambia, , malawi, respectively). idea try steer middle road between differing aspirations of black nationalists, colonial administration , white settler population. caf sought emulate experience of australia, canada , south africa – wherein groups of colonies had been federated form viable independent nations. designed indissoluble federation , caf started unravel due low proportion of british , other white citizens in relation larger black tribal populations. additionally, incorporating tribes within dominion potential citizens, dominion created paradoxical situation of having white elite owning of land , capital, whilst using cheap black labour.

the federation of rhodesia , nyasaland dissolved on 1 january 1964. however, expected nyasaland let go, whilst remainder of rhodesia both north , south united. although northern rhodesia had white population of on 100,000, additional british military , civil units , dependents, of these relatively new region, in extraction business, had little landed interests, , more amenable allowing black nationalism southern rhodesians. accordingly, britain granted independence northern rhodesia on 24 october 1964. however, when new nationalists changed name zambia , began tentatively @ first , later in rapid march africanisation campaign, southern rhodesia remained british colony, resisting attempts bring in majority rule. colony attempted change name rhodesia although not recognised united kingdom. majority of federation s military , financial assets went southern rhodesia, since british government did not wish see them fall hands of nationalist leaders, , since southern rhodesia had borne major expenses of running federation. regard latter, however, northern rhodesia wealthiest of 3 member states (due vast copper mines) , had contributed more overall building of infrastructure other 2 members did. southern rhodesia, recognising inevitable dissolution of federation, quick use federal funds in building infrastructure ahead of others. key component of building of kariba dam , hydroelectric facility (shafts, control centre, etc.), situated on southern rhodesian side of zambezi gorge. situation caused embarrassment zambian government later when front line state in support of insurgents rhodesia in major source of electric power controlled rhodesian state.

return rhodesia

with protectorate of northern rhodesia no longer in existence, in 1964 southern rhodesia reverted name rhodesia (see next section).

in 1965, rhodesia unilaterally declared independent under white-dominated government led ian smith. after long civil war between white (until 1979) government , 2 african majority, soviet bloc-aligned liberation movements (zimbabwe people s revolutionary army , zimbabwe african national liberation army), britain resumed control brief period before granting independence country in 1980, whereupon became zimbabwe.

legal aspects of name since 1964

on 7 october 1964 southern rhodesian government announced when northern rhodesia achieved independence zambia, southern rhodesian government officially become known rhodesian government , colony become known rhodesia. on 23 october of year, minister of internal affairs notified press constitution amended make official. legislative assembly passed interpretation bill declare colony referred rhodesia. bill received third reading on 9 december 1964, , passed governor assent.

however, no assent granted bill. section 3 of southern rhodesia (annexation) order 1923 provided southern rhodesia shall known colony of southern rhodesia , southern rhodesia (constitution) act 1961 , order-in-council followed both referred such. these united kingdom measures , outside powers of southern rhodesian institutions amend them.

the rhodesian government, had begun using new name anyway, did not press issue. unilateral declaration of independence in name of rhodesia. while new name used, southern rhodesia remained colony s formal name in united kingdom constitutional theory: example, act passed united kingdom parliament declaring independence legal nullity entitled southern rhodesia act, 1965. when rebellion formally declared @ end passing of constitution of zimbabwe-rhodesia (amendment) (no. 4) act 1979, united kingdom resumed governance of colony under direct control of governor, using name of southern rhodesia.