CENTRAL AFRICAN HISTORY Topic: European Settlers in Central Africa Sub-Topic: Relationship between Indigenous African and White Settlers 1. Describe the relationship between Africans and Europeans Solution: Introduction: Various white groups settled in Southern Africa from 1652 when the first Dutch Colonists camped in the area. Nearly forty years later, there came about 220 French Huguenots who were completely absorbed by the earlier Dutch speaking settlers. Huguenots were French Protestants who run away from European as a result of being religiously persecuted by the Catholics. After sometime, more settlers came including more Dutch, low-Germans, North Germans who fought alongside the British. The relationship between Africans and the Europeans brought about uprising against Colonial rule as we are going to describe in the following sub-headings: a. Racial Discrimination: The Colonial government discriminated against Africans and did not allow them to take on responsible position in government. Africans were also not allowed to elect their own African representatives in legislative council. b. Hut Tax Africans had to pay a hut tax which white farmers did not have to do. The hut tax forced Africans to become labourers on white farms. c. Mistreatment of Farm Labourers: African labourers of white farms were treated very badly by white supervisors. For example, on the large Bruce Estate, the supervisor, W.J. Livingstone was known for his cruel treatment of workers. Workers had to work for very long hours for little pay. They also had to pay rent for settling on white farms, while also having to pay hut taxes to the government. d. Insufficient Schools: Chilembwe complained bitterly about the small number of schools available to Africans. He blamed the missionaries who preached about equality but who do not practiced what they preached. Subtopic: Colonial Administration: 1. Discuss colonial direct and indirect methods of ruling Africans Solutions: a. Direct Rule: Direct rule was direct involvement of colonial administration by the Portuguese and French. b. Indirect Rule: This was the control of traditional rulers by the colonial administration mostly done by the British. Subtopic: African Resistance to European Domination: 1. Distinguish between primary and secondary resistance. Solutions a. Primary resistance was the early resistance to colonialism by Africans in the 19th century were concerned with protest against unfair treatment by Europeans. b. Secondary resistance was the later resistance against colonial rule in central Africa or the struggle for independence, which started soon after World War II which started in 1939 and ended in 1945. 2. Discuss specific incidents of early African resistance to colonialism. Solutions: There were many specific incidents of the early African resistance to colonialism among them were: a. Chilembwe uprising in Nyasaland Introduction Chilembwe was a follower of Joseph Booth, the founder of the Zambezi industrial mission in Blantyre in 1892. Booth paid for Chilembwe to study theology in Africa at a Baptist seminary for Afro-Americans in Virginia from 1899 to 1900. Booth was deported to America for supporting African interests and for his stand against racial segregation and bad treatment of African workers on the white farms. On his return to Nyasaland, chilembwe opened the provident Industrial Mission in his home town or district Chiradzula on the shire highland. By 1911, he had opened a number of schools. Chilembwe spoke out strongly against injustices committed against Africans by the colonialist. In 1915, he had a rebellion against the colonial government with the aim.`` strike a blow and die, for our blood will surely mean something at last.’’ The main reasons for this rebellion were the following: Racial discrimination: the colonial government discriminated against Africans and did not allow them to take on responsible positions in government. Africans were also not allowed to elect their own African representatives in the legislative council. Hut tax: Africans had to pay a hut tax, which white farmers did not have to do. The hut tax forced Africans to become labourers on white farms. Mistreatment of farm labourers: African labourers on white farms were treated very badly by white supervisor. For example, on the large Bruce Estate, the supervisor, W.J Livingstone, was known for his cruel treatment of workers. Workers had to work for very long hours for little pay. They also had to pay rent for settling on white farms, while also having to pay hut taxes to the government. Insufficient school: Chilembwe complained bitterly about the number of schools available to Africans. He blamed the missionaries who preached about equality but who did not practice it. Involvement of Africans in the First World War (1914-1918): the immediate cause of the 1915 rebellion was the recruitment of Africans by the British to serve as porters when the First World War against Germany broke out. Chilembwe protested against the death of so many Africans in a ‘‘White man’s War.’’ He was especially bitter that the families of Africans who were killed in the war still had to pay taxes. Chilembwe and his men took advantage of the absence of British soldiers and police who were on the border with the German colony attack. The uprising started on 23rd January, 1915 on the Bruce Estate where Livingstone and two other whites were killed. However, the rebellion was quickly suppressed by the colonial government. Chilembwe was killed on the Mozambique border while trying to escape. In conclusion, it is the writer’s view that though the uprising was a failure, it showed that Africans especially those with some education would not tolerate the unfair and unjust conditions of colonialism. a. Ndebele Uprising Of 1896 Causes: There were many causes of the 1896 Ndebele Uprising. One of the long-term causes was that the Ndebele terribly suffered from starvation after the 1893 Ndebele war. For they had lost all the fertile land and cattle to the white men as punishment for their rebellion. The company administration decided to increase the small white BSA company police force by recruiting more shone policemen in the mines and farms. The shone policemen became very popular with the Ndebele for they misused their power by Jamboking the Ndebele terribly. The Ndebele became very annoyed as they regarded the shone as their slaves. Another cause of the war was that of natural disasters. Southern Rhodesia and the rest of Central Africa experienced a prolonged drought as from 2894. Rinderpest, starting in Kenya, had attacked the cattle. The colonial government issued an order to kill many animals belonging to Africans which did not have dipping facilities. Many cattle especially those of the Ndebele were killed. The Ndebele failed to understand that this was an effective method to stop the spread of disease. Africans were also not used to routine work of working under pressure in the mines. The local religious priests in the names of Muslims, the all powerful god who dwelt among the matopos had ordered that the Europeans should be driven out and had promised victory. The immediate cause of the war the Jameson Raid of 1895. Here the friction that existed in the Transvaal government between Kruger and the uitlanders over taxes, citizenship, railway issues, a dynamite monopoly and other factors forced Rhodes to use military means to solve the problem. Rhodes hoped that the uitlanders would rise and overthrow the Kruger government and give him his chance to make a direct route to the north. Rhodes was prepared to help them. Jameson was also enthusiastic about the uprising and offered the help of the B.S.A Company police and moved 6000 of them to pitsani. Kruger got the news of the impending government overthrow and prepared himself. This disastrous undertaking had removed an important section of the police from Rhodesia and so gave the discontented Matebele a good opportunity to rebel. As a result, the uprising began in March, 1896. Uprising: When the uprising broke out, settlers in the outlying districts, farms and mines were attacked by the Ndebele before they began to march to Bulawayo in a crescent formation. Fortunately, the road to the south was left open so that the Europeans who escaped death could use it to flee the country. However, it was along this same route from mafeking that helped the settlers to come. From Bulawayo, patrols were sent which rescued people from distant mines and farms. Finally the Matebele withdrew towards the Matopos. Peace Part: At this time, Rhodes entered the Matopo Hills for negotiations and they agreed on a number of measures. One of them was that the Matebele Indunas were allowed to keep some of their old authority. Rhodes also promised to pay them salaries and to provide the Matebele with food and seed. In return, the Matebele agreed to give up their weapons and to hand over those responsible for some of the deaths to the settlers. b. The Shona Uprising of June,1896: Introduction: The shone uprising took the settlers by surprise because the shone were not thought to be a fighting people as the settlers thought they were rescuing them from the Ndebele raids. Causes: There were many causes of the shone uprising of 1896 among them were: When the pioneers first entered Mashonaland in 1880, the shone thought that they would go away but the company eventually started regarding them as their subjects. This annoyed the shonas very much. The Shonas were also annoyed at the behaviour of the white who took huge areas of land for their farms and mines without the permission of the local chiefs. It was also found that the shonas who were used to trade with the Portuguese in Zambezi valley were stopped by the settlers and therefore, the shonas became very angry. In 1894, the company began to demand hut tax and at this point, NKUZI Nyaudoro, a shone chief in the Salisbury area refused to pay and prepared to fight. This marked the shone resistance. The other specific incident of the early African resistance to colonialism was the chewe rebellion led by Nyanga. Results of the Two Uprisings: There were many results of the two uprising. The notable ones were: Southern Rhodesia was a defeated country and therefore, whites could now expand their farms in former native lands. In 1897, the railway line from the southern reached Umtali (Mutare) later extended to Salisbury (now Harare). Therefore, the African interests in this part of the British colony were suppressed more than in any other part of Africa up into the 1950s. The Africans then resorted to guerrilla war and crushed the white minority regime by April, 1980. 3. Describe important welfare associations which represented the interests of Africans in Northern Rhodesia? Solution: The Mwenzo Welfare Society: This was the first welfare association formed in 1923 at Mwenzo in Northern Province led by David Kaunda, Donald Siwale, Hezekiya Kawosa and Peter Sinkala. Aim: The aim of the organisation was to help in the development of the country by building up necessary link between the government and the people but the people were not yet ready for such political activities and the association got dissolved in 1928. 4. Describe how early African church leaders resisted colonial rule? Solution: The early African Church leaders resisted colonial rule in many ways. Among them were: a. The early African church leaders openly spoke out against the white missionaries and the colonial government preaching the gospel. b. Open Rebellion: Such one example of a rebellion was the one led by John Chilembwe in Malawi and spoke out strongly against the injustices committed against Africans by the colonialist. c. Formation of African dominated churches: In central African, primary resistance was mainly led by African dominated churches that broke away from the missionary churches. The African religions leaders believed that the mission arises and colonial government were guilty of social, political and economic injustices and hence, they resisted colonial rule. These ideas spread to other areas were individual started forming other political parties and these parties United Africans and therefore, fought for independence. 5. Describe the methods employed by Africans in resisting colonial rule? Solution: There were so many methods employed by Africans in resisting colonial. These methods were: a. Nyasaland: In 1912, the Nyasa government passed a District Administrative Ordinance allowing the formation of District Council; the principal headmen were allowed to sit in these councils and councils became the only official channels through which the African opinion could reach the colonial government. As a result, educated Africans felt ignored and organised themselves into the Nyasaland Native Association in the same year which was led by Levi Mumba. Furthermore, there was also the formation of welfare societies and trade unions which convey to the governments African grievances e.g. loss of land, colour bar and other matters incidental thereto. b. Northern Rhodesia After being inspired by Nysalalanders especially Levi Mumba, the first Mwenzo welfare Association was formed in 1923 and the founders were David Kaunda (the father of the first Republic of Zambia,Dr K.D Kaonda), Donald Swale, Hezekiya Kawosa and Peter Sinkala. The principle aim was that it became a platform through which Africans could express their social, economic and political view. c. Southern Rhodesia There was no association in Southern Rhodesia But similar organisations which expresses African feelings against colonialism existed. In 1923, Abraham Twala, a Southern African who lived in Southern Rhodesia formed the Rhodesia Bantu voters Association in Gwelo. Its initial aim was to help settlers to get responsible government in return for better treatment. The Association did not succeed because very few Africans qualified as voters. In 1927, Robert Sambo influenced by a Southern African trade unionist Robert Kaduale founded by the industrial and commercial workers union where political matters were discussed; Sub Topic; the Rise of African Nationalism: 1 .Explain the role of educated Africans in the struggle for independence Solution: The role of educated Africans in the struggle for independence was the formation of political parties because they felt that Africans grievances going to be heard quickly. The other role of educated African was the desire to get rid of their foreign rulers so that they could have a government run by people of their own nationality. They also felt that colonial peoples are being exploited by the Europeans have conscientising other Africans to rebel against the whites and therefore, formed their own political parties. The other role of educated Africans in the struggle for independence was to bring to right the failures that the colonial masters bought such as poverty hence the need to form political parties. 2. Describe the role played by labour movement in fighting colonial rule? Solution: The labour movement played an important role in fighting colonial rule. For instance in the Copperbelt Province of Northen Rhodesia, Africann trade unions started to grow in an attempt to secure better conditions for African. The need for African trade union was made clear by the copperbelt strikes of 1935 and 1940, and by 1945 African railway workers’ strike. In 1949 Northern Rhodesia Mine Workers Union (NRAMU) was formed under Lawrence Katilungu. This was a well organized union. It organized a strike in 1952 and gained high wages and better working conditions. Perhaps more important also was that union members often became members of NRANC (changed to ANC in 1951). In this way, they were able to take part in struggle for independence. 3. Analyse the political parties and liberation movements in Central Africa that fought for independence. Solution: (a) Northern Rhodesia: In 1948 Northern Rhodesia African National Congress was formed with G.M Lewanika as the first president. The initial aim was to make petitions against the proposed federation. In 1951, NRANC changed to African National Congress with H.M. Nkumbula as its presidents. When the federation was imposed in 1953, the congress continued to fight against it and demanded self government in its place. In 1958 Northern Rhodesia was granted Benson constitution which pleased nobody. Africans were not given the majority in the legislative council. The congress opposed this constitution and Nkumbula even burnt the white paper which was a federation paper and called for two days of national prayer. This was because political party leaders fell that the federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland created protects to the Africans. Further in 1958, Zambia African National Congress (ZANC) was formed by younger members who felt that ANC was working to closely with the colonial powers therefore; the aim of the ZANC was to unite Africans and to fight for independence. However, ZANC was banned by the colonial government and its leaders such as Kenneth Kaunda, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe and Munukayumba Sipalo were arrested. In 1959 therefore, United National Independence Party (UNIP) was created from the other political parties formed when the ZANC was banned and Mainza China led the party until Kenneth Kaunda was released from prison in 1960. In addition, self government was granted to Nyasaland in 1960 which led to increased demands from Kaunda for a similar constitution for Northern Rhodesia. Kaunda wanted a non-violent campaign to continue working towards independence, but the campaign became violent in some cases. However, led to civil disobedience campaign 1961 called the chachacha in Northern, Luapula and Copperbelt Province which in turn led to roads being blocked, bridges destroyed and government buildings and property burned down. Because of these reasons it led to the government revising the constitution on condition that the violence stopped. When election were held in 1962, which was based in the new constitution. UNIP got 14 seats and the United Federal Party 10 seats. Kaunda and Nkumbula formed a coalition government. In 1963 December 31, the federation formally dissolved. Because of squabbles in the coalition government, Kaunda and Nkumbula demanded free elections in January, 1964. UNIP was an overwhelming majority. It formed the government with Kaunda as the Prime Minister. After forming the independence constitution, on 24th October, 1964, Northern Rhodesia became an independent state under the new name Zambia with Kenneth Kaunda as the first President. From the reasons above, it is the writer’s view that these political parties and liberation movement played a role for the independence of most Central African Countries. (b) Nyasaland: In Nyasaland, it is writer’s view that the same things that was happening in Northern Rhodesia also happened in Nyasaland because these countries were working in collaboration and it can simply be said that indeed these political parties and liberation movements in Central Africa truly fought for the independence as we are going to analyse in this discussion. The return of Banda to Nyasaland after 40 years in Britain caused widespread riots in the territory. ANC was becoming more militant. This compelled the British government to appoint Devlin commission in 1958 to examine the causes of the crisis. Therefore, the commission reported that the crisis was caused by African growing opposition against the federation. The reported convinced many people in Britain that federation was bound to fail. Settlers became worried that Britain would not grant independence to the federation. As a result of the Devlin Commission ANC was banned but was reborn as Malawi Congress Party in 1959. By 1960, when another commission, the Monkton commission recommended the end of the federation. Nyasaland was granted a new constitution which ensured African majority in the legislative council. But people like Dr. H.K Banda wanted immediate independence. In 1961 elections the Malawi Congress Party won 22 seats out of 28. The remainder went to U.F.P (United Federal Party). In 1962 Nyasaland was granted self government after another constitution conference was held. Banda formed a cabinet with him as the Prime Minister and on December 31, 1963 federation was dissolved and Nyasaland became independent on 6th July, 1964 under the name of Malawi with Dr. H.K. Banda as the first President. In conclusion, it can be said that because of the above reasons, the political parties and indeed the liberation movements in Central Africa fought for independence. On the other hand, time was just ripe for the African Countries to attain their independence. (c) Southern Rhodesia: From the discussion read upon from Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, it can be said that indeed the political parties and liberation movements fought for independence in Central Africa. Furthermore, it can be also noted that because Ghana was granted independence, time was also reap for most African Countries to be granted independence as in the discussion. In 1969, Southern Rhodesia adopted a new constitution which made majority rule impossible. This ZAPU and ZANU to wage a guerilla war from outside between 1967 and 1970 which from 1974 onwards was intensified. The fighting was led by ZIPRA of ZAPU and ZAALA of ZANU led by Nkomo and Mugabe respectively. Nkomo operated from Zambia while Mugabe was in Mozambique. War and economic pressure forced the settler regime to begin talks with internal moderate Africans and later with radical movements. In 1979, Abel Muzorewa of ANC won the April elections and became the prime minister of Southern Rhodesia. In the same year 1979 between September and December, Laucaster house talks were held. The draft constitution of independence was produced. The Muzorewa government was dissolved and lord Soames became the provisional Prime Minister and in February, 1980 fresh elections were held. The results surprised participants and foreign observers and in April, 1980, Zimbabwe became independent with Robert Mugabe as the prime minister until 1988 when they changed to Presidency and he became Zimbabwe’s first president. From this discussion above, it be concluded that indeed political parties and liberation movements played a role for most African countries to achieve their independence. Sub Topic: The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland 1. Discuss the reasons for and against the formation of the federation. Solution: The central African federation was also called the federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland and was formed in October, 1953.the main reasons for and against the Central African Federation have been discussed below as follows: a. Social Reasons For: Settlers in Northern Rhodesia did not approve up the policy of the paramouncy of Africans interest. They hoped that federation with southern Rhodesia would end this policy. Africans in southern Rhodesia supported federation because they believed that union with Northern Rhodesia would bring the policy of the paramouncy of Africa interests to their area. Against: Whites in southern Rhodesia wanted to have closer ties with apartheid in South Africa. The policy of paramouncy of African interests therefore, met with their opposition. b. Political Reasons: For Settlers in northern Rhodesia did not approve of the policy of the paramouncy of African interests. They hope that federation would mean an end to this policy. Africans in southern Rhodesia supported federation because they believed that union with Northern Rhodesia would bring the paramouncy of the African interests to their area. Against Africans in northern Rhodesia did not trust the idea of partnership. Robinson Nabulyato said, ‘partnership is a ladder for European to climb on us’. In Britain, the labour and liberal parties objected to federation if it was going to be imposed on Africans. c. Economic reasons For The whites in southern Rhodesia wanted to benefit from the income from the copper mines in northern Rhodesia while those in Northern Rhodesia wanted to benefit from the southern gold fields. The conservative government in Britain believed that federation would result in economic stability with three main products (copper, gold and tea) for export. The British government also believed that federation would attract international funding for large scale projects, such as the building of a hydroelectric scheme and the extension of railway. Against The opposition labour and liberal parties in Britain argued that the federation should not be forced on Africans in the protectorates against their wishes. 2. Analyze the success and failures of the federation Solution: a. The federation had some successes has the writer is going to analyze in the following: Most whites or colonialist in southern Rhodesian supported the federation because it was in the best interest up all the three territories to come together because each territory was economically dependent on a single export productNorthern Rhodesia-cooper; Nyasaland –tea; and Southern Rhodesia-tobacco. Furthermore, a sharp fall in the price of this one product would seriously affect that country’s economy, so it was thought that the economy of the federation would be strong because it would not rely on one product alone. On the centrally, these white settlers had interest of controlling these products and taken them to their countries where they manufacture finished products and send them to Central Africa where there was already market. S in short, they got these cheaper raw materials and made finished products and hence make a lot of profits. Furthermore, although Africans in the protectorates were opposed to federation, the federal constitution gave them full security. This was because there was an African Affairs Board which existed to block bills which discriminated against Africans; Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland could continue to be protectorates for as long as their people wanted. On the other hand, these colonialists did not preach what they say and in most cases, there were the ones discriminating Africans. Africans themselves cared and loved each other. b. Failures The federation had also some failures as the writer is going to analyze below: Some of the settlers, the Boers, who spoke African languages and originated South Africa did not want Southern Rhodesia to have any links with protectorates. They had been used to racial segregation and disliked the talk of ‘partnership’ between races. This too was a weaken on the part of the federation which entails that the federation can no longer lasts for a long time. Further, the settlers were afraid that African Nationalism which was already growing in Ghana would sweep from the west into central Africa. Many of these settlers would have preferred Southern Rhodesia to have links with South Africa. This however, meant that hatred with these other two central African countries will continue even if the federation was there and hence, there was need to look to the federation to for it does not provide any solutions faced by these countries. Steps leading to the Independence of the three Central African Countries 1. Analyze the steps leading to the Independence of the three Central African territories The steps leading to the Independence of the three Central African territories are as follows: Solution: a. Northern Rhodesia 1950: Federation committee started in Ndola by a group of young such as Justine Chimba, Simon Kapwepwe, Rueben Kamanga and Nephas Tembo to campaign against federation. 1951: Northern Rhodesia African National Congress changed to African National Congress (ANC), led by Harry Nkumbula. The ANC’s aim was to prevent the formation of the federation. In March, 1953, Nkumbula burned the British White Paper on the proposal federation Constitution and called for two days of national prayer. In October 1953: the federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was created despite African protest. 1958: Zambia African Congress (ZANC) was formed by younger members, who felt that the ANC was working too slowly with the colonial powers. However, the ZANC was banned by the colonial government. Its leaders, such as Kenneth Kaunda, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe and Munu Kayumba Sipalo were arrested. In 1959, the United National Independence Party (UNIP) was created from other political parties formed when the ZANC was banned; Mainza Choma led the party until Kenneth Kaunda was released from prison I 1960. In 1960, self-government was granted to Nyasaland that led increased demands from Kaunda for a similar constitution for Northern Rhodesia. Kaunda wanted a non-violent campaign to continue working towards independence, but the campaign became violent in some cases. In 1961, civil disobedience campaign called the Chachacah in Northern, Luapua and Copperbelt provinces led to roads being blocked, bridges destroyed and government buildings and property burned down. This campaign led to the government revising the constitution on condition that the violence stopped. In 1962, elections were held which were based on the new constitution. UNIP got 14 seats, the ANC 7 seats and the United Federal Party 10 seats. Kaunda and Nkumbula formed a coalition government. In 1963 December 31, the federation was formally dissolved. Because of the squabbles in the coalition government, Kaunda and Nkumbula demanded fresh elections in January 1964. UNIP won an overwhelming majority. It was formed the government with Kanda as the prime minister. After framing the independence constitution, on 24th October, 1964, Northern Rhodesia became an independent state under the name of Zambia with Kenneth Kaunda as the first president. In conclusion, it can be said that indeed the steps to independence was arranged in such a way that Northern Rhodesia attains its independence as quickly as possible but what made it so difficult to attain its independence quickly was because African leaders were selfish who fought as to who will be the leader amongst themselves and also it prolonged the attainment of independence, b. Southern Rhodesia At the time federation was ending and the protectorates were nearing independence, settlers in southern Rhodesia were consolidating their position. When federation formally ended in1963, Edger Whitehead of the United Federal Party was the prime minister. But whitehead was soon accused of becoming too liberal to the Africans. This forced Ian Smith and other settlers to break away and form the Rhodesia Front under the leadership of Winston Field. In 1964, Winston Field resigned after differing over the issue of unilaterally declaring Southern Rhodesia independent. Smith took over as prime minister of Rhodesia Front. On 11th November, 1965, he declared Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI). In 1969, Southern Rhodesia adopted a new constitution which made majority rue impossible. This led ZAPU and ZANU to wage guerilla war from outside between 1967 and 1970 which from 1974 onwards was intensified. The fighting was led by ZIPRA of ZANU and ZANLA of ZANU led by Nkomo and Mugabe respectively. Nkomo operated from Zambia while Mugabe was in Mozambique. War and economic pressure forced the settlers’ regime to begin talks with internal moderate Africans and later with radical movements. In 1979, Abel Muzorewa of ANC won the elections and became the prime minister of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia. In the same year 1979, between September and December, Lancaster House talks were held. The draft constitution of independence was produced. The Muzorewa government was dissolved and Lord Soames became the provisional prime minister. In February 1980, fresh elections were held. The results surprised participants and foreign observers. Of the 100 seats: Bishop Muzorewa’s ANC won 20 Sithole’s party won 1 Nkomo’s ZAPU-PF won 20 Mugabe’s ZANU-PF won 57 Settlers-RF won 20 In April 1980, Zimbabwe became independent with Robert Mugabe as the prime minister until 1988 when they changed to presidency and he became Zimbabwe’s first president. In conclusion, it can be therefore, concluded that despite the fact that the leaders of Southern Africa worked hard for their countries to become independent. This lacked leadership because of in-house fighting to who will be their president and so it also prolonged the process of independence like what happened in Northern Rhodesia. c. Nyasaland In 1944, there was the formation of Nysaland African Congress (NAC) by leaders such as Wellington Chirwa and Charles Matinga. In 1955, the young Turks, a group of younger, more radical leaders such as H. Chipembe, Chiuma Yaleta, Dunchuza Chisiza and T. B. Banda replaced the more moderate older leaders. Their aim was to achieve self-government and a system of one man, one vote. In 1957, expansion of congress to a mass political party through an active programme of recruiting new members. In 9-March 1959, state of emergence was declared by the government Sir Robert Armitage, after a series of violent clothes between congress members and colonial officials. There were also strikes, riots and demonstration of which the worst was at Nkata Bay. In July 1959, Malawi Congress Party (MCP), a new political party was formed under the leadership of Ortwi Chirwa. When Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda was released from prison in 1960, he became the new leader of MCP. Banda declared that the MCP would continue fighting for the total independence of Malawi. In 1959, Davlin commission was set up by the colonial office in London to investigate the causes of troubles in Nyasaland in 1940. In its report, the commission stated that the violence resulted from widespread opposition to the federation and the people’s desire to rule themselves. In 1960, Mockton Commission did further investigations and determined that there was strong opposition to the federation in Nyasaland as well as Northern Rhodesia. In April, 1960, more self-government and the right to vote granted to Nyasaland by colonial Secretary Macleod. In August, 1961, elections under a new constitution were won by a large majority by the Malawi Congress Party. In January, 1963, responsible government status was granted to Malawi and in July, 1964, independence state of Malawi was established, with Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda as the first president. Therefore, thus steps helped Nyasaland to achieve its independence despite the fact that they faced a number of obstacles from the colonialists Topic: Majority Rule Sub Topic: Post-Independence Development 1. Analyse the development of post-independence economic and political systems of the three central African territories. Solution: The economic developments was seen in areas of mining where a lot of mines were opened due to smooth exploration of the mineral wealth and a lot of mines which were shut down were opened like Chambishi mine in Kalulushi dstrict. More and more people were employed in these mines. The economic developments were seen in agriculture. This boosted through the giving of subsidies to farmers in terms of inputs. The farmers were also encouraged by the readily available markets from the government. Government was able to buy most of crops produced and money for the procurement of these commodities was given to farmers in good time. Further in these areas of manufacturing, more and more manufacturing companies were created and the old ones were expanded. By so doing, a lot of citizen were employed and so, this eased the unemployment levels in the three countries. In addition to the developments, in Zambia and Malawi, Multi-parties were created just after independence. Thereafter, there was a declaration of one party participatory democracy. Further again, there was a rebirth of multi-party democracy which is still there in these three countries. In Zimbabwe, there was a declaration of Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965, by Ian Smith who was prime minister for Southern Rhodesia. There was then the formation of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia under the new leadership of Robert Mugabe after getting independence in 1980 and the new party ZANU-PF which won the majority rule. Other political developments followed suit. Conclusion: In conclusion, it can be said that indeed these developments were splendid in alleviating poverty in these three countries. However, after getting independence, these leaders wanted to remain in power like Kaunda in Zambia. Further, though intimidation of multi-party democracy, a lot of these leaders were kicked out of offices. Also because most of the economies were ruined and also there were easily removed from their public offices.
