Federation_of_Rhodesia_and_Nyasaland Northern_Rhodesia

1 federation of rhodesia , nyasaland

1.1 attempts @ association
1.2 federation implemented
1.3 opposition federation
1.4 end of federation , independence

federation of rhodesia , nyasaland

map of federation of rhodesia , nyasaland.



early attempts @ association

as 1915, british south africa company proposed amalgamating southern rhodesia , northern rhodesia, rejected southern rhodesian legislature in 1917, might have prevented southern rhodesia obtaining self-government. option again rejected in 1921, same reason. after southern rhodesian electorate voted self-determination in 1922, objection ceased, , in 1927 conservative colonial secretary, leo amery gave southern rhodesia settlers impression supported claim acquire more productive parts of northern rhodesia.

at end of first world war, european population of northern rhodesia tiny, 3,000 compared ten times many in southern rhodesia, increased rapidly after discovery of copperbelt in 1920s. northern rhodesian settlers wanted self-government european minority electorate, separate southern rhodesia. however, once british government appeared reject idea of further white minority governments in africa, talk of amalgamation resumed.

in 1927, british government appointed hilton young commission on possible closer union of british territories in east , central africa. majority thought northern rhodesia , nyasaland should seek closer links east africa, minority report favoured linking these 2 territories southern rhodesia on economic grounds. before commission s report published, there discussions between northern rhodesian settlers , southern rhodesian government on terms of total union of 2 rhodesias single colony. northern rhodesian settlers prepared join southern rhodesia if there no other way achieve minority rule. when northern rhodesia s mining industry suffered major downturn in 1930s, representatives pushed amalgamation in january 1936 @ victoria falls, southern rhodesian labour party blocked it, because british government objected southern rhodesian policies of job reservation , segregation being applied in north.

shortly after copperbelt strike of 1935 there election legislative council, in candidates supported investigating amalgamation of northern , southern rhodesia. after conference @ victoria falls between elected members , representatives of southern rhodesian political parties in january 1936 resolved in favour of amalgamation under constitution conferring right of complete self-government . united kingdom government refused set royal commission, following pressure europeans in both rhodesias, particularly godfrey huggins, had been prime minister of southern rhodesia since 1933, british government agreed in 1937 set one, bledisloe commission, chairman lord bledisloe. terms if reference consider possible closer association between 2 rhodesias , nyasaland.

federation implemented

the bledisloe commission reported in march 1939, , suggested africans benefit socially , economically european enterprise. however, thought 2 major changes necessary: firstly, moderate southern rhodesian racial policies, , secondly, give form of representation of african interests in legislatures of each territory. commission considered complete amalgamation of 3 territories, , thought more difficult plan future development in looser federal union. did not favour alternative under southern rhodesia absorb copperbelt. despite unanimous african opposition amalgamation southern rhodesia, commission advocated @ time in future, however, majority of commission members ruled amalgamation out immediate possibility, because of african concerns , objections. majority favoured union of northern rhodesia , nyasaland 1 unit co-operate economically southern rhodesia possible first step uniting 3 territories later. northern rhodesia s white population severely disappointed, outbreak of world war ii fundamentally changed economic , political situation, northern rhodesian copper became vital resource in winning war.

during second world war, co-operation between 3 territories increased joint secretariat in 1941 , advisory central african council in 1945, made of 3 governors , 1 leading european politician each territory. post-war british governments persuaded closer association in central africa cut costs, , agreed federal solution, not full amalgamation southern rhodesian government preferred. first post-war colonial secretary 1946 1950, arthur creech jones of labour party, reluctant discuss plans amalgamation godfrey huggins, prime minister of southern rhodesia because of opposition africans , within own party. did not entirely rule out federation, had been proposed conference held @ victoria falls in 1949 between southern rhodesian government, , elected, or unofficial members of northern rhodesia legislative council led roy welensky, without africans present. left successor in post in 1950 1951, james griffiths, begin exploratory talks huggins , welensky representing white minorities of both rhodesias, subject opinion of majority african populations being ascertained. after change in british government in 1951, incoming conservative colonial secretary, oliver lyttelton removed condition of sounding out african opinion in november 1951 , pushed ahead against strong african opposition. after further revisions of proposals federation, agreement reached. following positive referendum result in southern rhodesia, northern rhodesia joined federation of rhodesia , nyasaland when created in 1953.

opposition federation

in 1946, federation of african welfare societies formed, uniting welfare societies had been set educated africans in towns in 1930s discuss local affairs in english. in 1948 federation changed name northern rhodesia congress , godwin mbikusita lewanika, had aristocratic barotse background, became first president. in late 1940s several local trade unions representing african miners merged form northern rhodesian african mineworkers union. under mbikusita lewanika, congress gradually developed political force. had radical policies, mbikusita lewanika favoured gradualism , dialogue settler minority. in 1950 , 1951 failed deliver strong anti-federation message , in 1951 mbikusita lewanika voted out of office , replaced more radical harry nkumbula.

harry nkumbula, schoolteacher kitwe, had been given scholarship study in london, met hastings banda. main african objections federation summed in joint memorandum prepared nkumbula northern rhodesia , banda nyasaland in 1950, shortly before nkumbula returned northern rhodesia. these objections political domination white minority of southern rhodesia prevent greater african political participation, , control southern rhodesian politicians lead extension of racial discrimination , segregation. nkumbula returned northern rhodesia in 1950 fight against federation , against mbikusita lewanika s leadership of congress. radicalism caused chiefs , conservatives withdraw support congress, northern rhodesian african national congress, party renamed in 1951, able persuade african representative council recommend 2 of members african-nominated members of legislative council in 1951. shortly after formation, federal government attempted take control of african affairs british colonial office, proving fears of nkumbula , banda justified. scaled modest british post-war proposals african development.

the northern rhodesian african national congress had been rather small, largely urban, party under mbikusita lewanika, nkumbula used opposition federation increase membership. in 1951, kenneth kaunda, formerly teacher, became organising secretary congress in northern province, , in 1953 moved lusaka secretary general of congress, under nkumbula s presidency. efforts of congress, including failed general strike in march 1953, not prevent imposition of federation, , apart urban protests, sullenly accepted african majority. both kaunda , nkumbula began advocate self-government under african majority rule, rather increased african representation in existing colonial institutions. in addition demanding break-up of federation, congress targeted local grievances, such colour bar , denial of jobs or services africans , low pay , poor conditions african workers. kaunda prominent in organising boycotts , sit-ins, in 1955 both , nkumbula imprisoned 2 months.

imprisonment radicalised kaunda, intensified campaign of economic boycotts , disobedience on release, had opposite effect on nkumbula, had acted indecisively on 1953 general strike. nkumbula s leadership became increasingly autocratic , alleged using party funds own benefit. however, kaunda continued support nkumbula though in 1956 nkumbula attempted end campaign against colour bar. kaunda s estrangement nkumbula grew when spent 6 months in britain working labour party on decolonisation, final rupture came in october 1958 when nkumbula tried purge congress of opponents , assume sweeping powers on party. in month, kaunda , of younger, more radical members left form zambia african national congress, kaunda president.

end of federation , independence

after defection of kaunda , radicals, nkumbula decided northern rhodesian african national congress contest legislative council elections held under 1959 order-in-council in october 1959. increase chances of congress, entered electoral pacts white liberals. kaunda , zambia african national congress planned boycott these elections, regarding 1959 franchise racially biased. however, before elections state of emergency had been declared in nyasaland , banda , many of followers had been detained without trial, following claims had planned indiscriminate killing of europeans , asians, , of african opponents, so-called murder plot . shortly afterwards, on 12 march 1959, governor of northern rhodesia declared state of emergency there, arrested 45 zambia african national congress including kaunda , banned party. kaunda later received 19-month prison sentence conspiracy, although no credible evidence of conspiracy produced. declaration of states of emergency in both northern rhodesia , nyasaland marked end of attempts nationalist parties work within colonial system, , start of push immediate , full independence.

although nkumbula , party won several seats in october 1959 elections, made little use of kaunda s enforced absence , managed alienate section of northern rhodesian african national congress who, former zambia african national congress members, formed united national independence party in october 1959. when kaunda released prison in january 1960, assumed leadership. nkumbula , left of congress retained support in south of country, had maintained strong following among ila , plateau tonga peoples, united national independence party dominant elsewhere.

roy welensky, northern rhodesian settler federal prime minister november 1956 had convinced alan lennox-boyd, colonial secretary 1954 1959, support federation , agree pace of african advancement gradual. remained view of british cabinet under harold macmillan until after declaration of states of emergency, when decided set royal commission on future of federation of rhodesia , nyasaland held in 1960. became monckton commission, concluded federation not maintained except force or through massive changes in racial legislation. advocated majority of african members in nyasaland , northern rhodesian legislatures , giving these territories option leave federation after 5 years.

iain macleod replaced lennox-boyd colonial secretary in october 1959: released banda , negotiated constitution responsible government nyasaland him, follow elections in 1961 lead african majority on legislative council. however, macleod more cautious on political change in northern rhodesia. plan legislative council african majority (16 african members 14 europeans) opposed welensky, , under pressure cabinet colleagues, macleod accepted welensky s proposal council of 45 members, 15 of whom elected largely african electoral roll, 15 largely european roll, 14 both rolls jointly , 1 asians. inflating value of votes on largely european roll, there further requirement in 14 so-called national constituencies successful candidates had gain @ least 10% of african votes , 10% of european ones. complicated franchise, required voters have relatively high income, used in elections of october 1962. in this, kaunda s united national independence party gained 14 seats around 60% of valid votes; european federal party gained 16 seats 17% of votes, , nkumbula s congress held balance if power 7 seats: 37 of 45 seats filled, in many of national constituencies, no party gained 10% of both african , european votes.

although congress had arranged before election federal party voters vote other s candidates in national constituencies, nkumbula agreed work in coalition had kaunda prime minister, , 2 , parties worked in reasonable harmony until pre-independence election on 1964 where, wider franchise, united national independence party gained 55 of 75 parliamentary seats. federation of rhodesia , nyasaland formally dissolved on 31 december 1963, , country became independent republic of zambia on 24 october 1964, kaunda president.