Zimbabwe: A True Independence?: Self-Government

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Self-Government

The British South Africa Company (BSAC) allowed continuous European settlements. However, conflict sparked between the colonies and the company and Southern Rhodesia was annexed to the crown (B). Then, African natives were deemed as British subjects and the colonies received a basic constitution (C). Also, BSAC sold the mineral rights to the territory for 2 million dollars, which allowed a government to form (C). With that settled, more sparks lit fire to the relationship between the colonies and the natives. Europeans dominated foreign affairs and harbored powers to safeguard the rights of Africans (C). However, in 1930 Southern Rhodesia adopted a land apportionment act that reserved half the total land for Europeans including (C)

Mining and other industrial regions
Railroads and roads

The rest were given to the Tribal Trust Land that allotted barren and dearth fields to the natives (C). This was a first to many other acts that adopted the policy of dividing land on a racial basis.

In 1953, Central African Federation (CAF) formed, consisting of 3 British territories (D)

· Northern Rhodesia (today’s Zambia)
Nyasaland (today’s Malawi)
Southern Rhodesia (today’s Zimbabwe)

The CAF retained the original constitutional status but disbanded after Southern Rhodesia pulled out. After, Southern Rhodesia sought an independent course and became the former Zimbabwe, Rhodesia (D).

Flag Of Rhodesia from 1965 -1979

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Robert Mugabe

Robert Mugabe is both Zimbabwe’s first prime minister and has dominated the country’s political system as the only president since independence (A). Extreme tactics such as forced land distribution appalled both the natives and the white farmers, destroyed the economy, and allowed for a widespread shortage of basic commodities (A). Despite several warnings from other countries, Mugabe rigged the 2002 presidential election for another round of monarchy (A). In March 2005, his ruling party, ZANU-PF, won a two-thirds majority in the parliamentary election, leaving the constitution open to change and recreating the Senate (A). However, by March 2008, the opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, was able to win the most votes in the presidential polls. After extensive violence and negotiations on a power-sharing government, Mugabe remained as president with Tsvangirai as prime minister (A).

1980 Invasion

Rhodes led the Pioneer Column and established Fort Victoria. This was called the 1890 Invasion (A). After, Rhodes trespassed onto Lobengula’s territory. Lobengula, the wise king of Ndebele, realized that the foreigners had come to his country in order to exploit its gold. Although he struggled to contain their ambitions and greed, the Europeans tricked Lobengula into signing an exclusive treaty that signed away the valuable rights of Ndebele people and granted European access to all raw minerals (A).

The Pioneer Corps

Europeans tricked Lobengula into signing an exclusive treaty that signed away the valuable rights of Ndebele people and granted European access to all raw minerals (A). The BSAC funded the Pioneer Corps and Rhodes in their goal to annex Souther Rhodesia (E). Fueled by competition from the Germans, Portuguese, and Boers, Rhodes hurried to secure the land under British control. Equipped with 2,500 men and about one million pounds, the effects of the Pioneer Corps were astounding. From a poorly developed, neglected area, Southern Rhodesia bloomed under the control of a new elite class. From the Iron Age monarchy, the white leaders possessed the country through superior European technology and complete confidence in its abilities. Along with the introduction of advanced weaponry, the Pioneer Corps ushered in a new culture and new beliefs into Southern Rhodesia, resulting in a new moral order within the indigenous people.

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