Racism and apartheid in southern Africa: Rhodesia; a book of data

116 Pages·2005·5.88 MB·English

by  Austin, Reginald

Racism and apartheid
in southern Africa
Rhodesia
Racism and apartheid
in southern Africa
Rhodesia
A book of data
by Reginald Austin
I I
The Unesco Press Paris 1975
Published by The Unesco Press,
7 Place de Fontenoy, 75700 Paris
Printed by Imprimeries Réunies, Lausanne
ISBN 92-3-1 O 1270-3
French edition: 92-3-201270-7
oUnesco 1975
Cover photograph: Picou. Printed ~rrS wrlrrrlurid
Preface
This book on Rhodesia is a companion volume to Racism and Apartheid in # i93c ,+ c
~~
Southern Africa: South Africa and Namibia,p ublished by Unesco in October 1974.
The book is intended for the general public and, more particularly, for teachers.
It seeks to give the background to the present situation in Rhodesia and to the
newspaper reports on it, and to assist those who wish to inform students and
pupils more fully about Rhodesia. Suggestions for further reading are included
in the text and in the bibliography.
The views expressed are not necessarily those of Unesco.
The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this
publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part
of the Unesco Secretariat concerning the legal status of any country or territory,
or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers.
August 1975
Contents
Introduction,9
SignEficantd ates, 11
I. Conquest,2 1
The white invasion, 21; The first armed conflict, 24; Resistance to conquest, 25;
‘Thee stablishment of Rhodesia,2 6 ; Consolidation,3 0
2. Land,3 1
The Tangwena case, 32; The physical division, 33; The qualitative division, 34;
Economic subjugation, 35
3. Education,4 3
Discrimination, 43 ; Some educational statistics. 45 ; The quality of African education,
45 ; Primary and secondary education,4 6;T echnical education and apprenticeship, 48;
University education,5 1
4. Basic economic data, 53
5. Labour, 59
Agriculture. 59; Africans forced into a money economy, 60; Racialism and labour
unity, 61 ; Industrial Conciliation Act (1934), 63 ; Labour relations between Africans
and whites, 63 ; Negotiating structures, 64; Employment of Africans by economic
sector, 64; First- and second-class trade unionists, 65; Employment and freedom
of movement,6 6
6. White political power at any price, 67
Non-representative rule, 67; Virtual exclusion of blacks from the vote, 69; The
Federation (1953-63),7 0; ‘Federated brethren’, 71 ; Symbolic desegregation, 72;
Intransigence or transition,7 4
7. Soft constitution and hard government,7 5
The soft constitution. 75 ; Hard government, 76; Government and African leadership,
80;C larification of the conflict, 81
8. Civil war, 83
Landmarks, 83;T he full circle, 87
9. The liberation struggle, 89
IO. The liberation campaigns 1966-74,91
Il. Sanctions,9 5
Appendixes
1. The 1961 constitution, 101
2. 1971 settlement proposals, 1103
3. Rhodesian Front, 104
4. ZAPU : the party's ideological concept, 106
5. Constitution of ZANU,1 09
6. The African National Council, 1 I1
7. The constitution of FROLIZI,1 15
8. Zimbabwe declaration of unity, Lusaka, Republic of Zambia,7 December 1974, 116
Bibliograph-y,1 i 7
Introduction
As any white Rhodesian will inform you-to the amazement of his black
countrymen-apartheid has no place in the Rhodesian social, economic or
political system and never has been part of it. Indeed apologists and even
informed critics frequently urge moderation in judgement upon and dealings
with it, to avoid ‘forcing’w hite Rhodesia to turn to apartheid.
Depending on their colour, the inhabitants often refer, either proudly or
sardonically, to the ‘Rhodesianw ay of life’ ; this book attempts to explain why.
Apartheid is an Afrikaans word meaning separateness. As the political
ideology practised in South Africa, it means territorial separation and separate
administrative and social structures for whites and the various racial and tribal
groups, but all under white control. As white society and its economy depend
on black labour, however, separation has to be selectively applied. Racial
discrimination and separation are essential features of apartheid but, as the
Rhodesian example shows, can be achieved by less formal social and economic
structures of domination,a nd bolstered by social custom and legislation.
The settler-dominated country created largely by the efforts of Cecil
Rhodes and his followers is now called Rhodesia, and its present white inhabi-
tants are called Rhodesians. Legally, however, it continues to be ‘Southern
Rhodesia’,b eing still regarded by the United Nations and all its Member States
as a colony of the United Kingdom, which is internationally responsible for the
territory.
The vast majority of the African population now refer to the territory as
Zimbabwe, after one of the political systems which formerly flourished there.
Rhodesia and Zimbabwe represent opposing ideals. This book is primarily
concerned with the former.
Significant dates
1200-1 500 Settlement of various Shona-speakingg roups in the area.
1400-1 500 Establishment of the Mwene Mutapa dynasty after Korekore con-
quest of the Tavara, an area of present north-west Mashonaland.
1511 António Fernandes visits Mwene Mutapa.
1500-1 600 Growth of the Ronvi confederation in what is now Matabeleland
and western Mashonaland, Mwene Mutapa, and based at Zimba-
bwe. Regular contacts with Portuguese, Arab and Swahili traders.
1561 Portuguese Jesuit missionary Fr Gonzalo da Silveira killed in
north-east Mashonaland.
1570 Portuguese punitive expedition sent against Mwene Mutapa.
1600-1 700 Decline of Mwene Mutapa, increasing power of Portugal and the
Rozwi empire.
1700-1 800 Supremacy of the Rozwi and period of prosperity and peace.
1819 Shoshangane leads an Ngoni group to settle in the Limpopo
valley.
183&31 Ngoni invasion under Zwangendaba, sacking of Zimbabwe and
death of the Mambo (king) at Taba Zi Ka Mambo. Zwangendaba
go north to present-day Tanzania.
1838 Ndebele invasion and settlement under Mzilikazi Kumalo. Tribute
imposed on surrounding Shona-speakingg roups.
1859 Robert Moffat establishes the first mission station at Inyati by
permission of Mzilikazi.
1861 Mzila succeeds Shoshongane as Paramount of the Shangana, and
penetrates into Manyikaland,i mposing tribute.
1870 Lobengula Kumalo succeeds Mzilikazi as king of the Ndebele.
1888 Moffat negotiates treaty of peace and amity between Lobengula
and Britain (ratified April).
Rudd concession agreed with Lobengula (for C.J . Rhodes).
1889 Royal Charter granted to British South African Company (BSAC)
to enable it to exploit the concession.
1890 Pioneer column recruited, enters the territory and establishes Fort
Salisbury (12 September).
Racism and apartheid in southern Africa 12
1891 Britain establishes protectorate over Mashonaland.
1893 Invasion of Matabeleland authorized (3 October).
Bulawayo occupied (4 November).
Allan Wilson patrol, pursuing Lobengula, annihilated on Shanga-
ni River (4 December).
1894 Probable death of Lobengula.
Establishment of African reserves in north and north-east Matabe-
leland.
Hut tax imposed.
Matabeleland Order in Council.
1895 Rhodesia so named by proclamation (23 April).
Jameson raid on Transvaal (29 December).
1896 Jameson raiders captured.
Ndebele rebellion starts in Umzingwani district (24 March).
Mashona rebellion starts with the Mangwende attack under
Mchemwa on the Mrewa Native Commissioners’ camp (20 June).
Storming and capture of Mkwati’s stronghold at Taba Zi Ka
Mambo (5 July).
Rhodes’ first of five idubus with Ndebele leaders in Matopo hills
(21 August).
Attacks on Chief Makoni’s fortress in caves at Gwindingwi, using
dynamite to blow the defenders out (1-3 September).
Makoni surrenders and is shot after a summary trial ordered by
Lieut.-Col.A lderson (3 September).
1897 Kunzwi Nyandoro’s kraal stormed (June).
Mashiangombi’s kraal attacked and Mashiangombi killed
(23 July).
Railway reaches Bulawayo from south (November).
1898 Two mediums, Kagubi and Nehenda,t ried for murder (2 March).
Nehenda and Kagubi executed together with Chief Mashanganyi-
ka.
Kagubi received into the Catholic Church in the death cell, given
the name Dismas;N ehenda refuses baptism, insisting she wanted
to die in her home in Mazoe.
BSAC promises and starts payment of £360,000 compensation to
settlers.
Imperial Order in Council establishes new constitution.
Railway reaches Umtali from Beira.
1899 First meeting of Legislative Council under new constitution.
Railway reaches Salisbury from Beira.
Boer War commences,c utting Rhodesia off from the Cape.
1900 Mapondera rising in Mazoe.
Estimated total of African-owned cattle : 55,000.
1901 Mapondera defeated by Mashonaland native police (March).
Last battle until 1960s: Mapondera continues guerilla raids, and
to support chiefs Makombe and Chioco in their unsuccessful
resistance to Portuguese authority.
1902 Rhodes dies.