adminThe Rhodesia, Herald 15 May 1919
IN the legislative Council yesterday Sir Charles Coghlan moved a resolution asking for information as to what proof of fitness, financial and otherwise, would be considered sufficient to justify the grant of Responsible Government to Southern Rhodesia.
He said that the resolution was, to a large extent, self-explanatory. He thought it was admitted that at the next general election the question of the form of government best suited to the country would be determined, and that would involve a change in the present form of government.
He thought the recent debates proved that the present form of government was not suited to the needs of the country. He, however, did not say a word against the present Government.
He thought it was the axiom of political economy that where people were obliged to have the affairs of the country conducted at their expense they must just as well have the conduct of their own affairs.
It was, therefore, desirable that they should clear up side-issues so that the electors would be able to pronounce a decision at the elections.
Responsible Government could be given provided satisfactory proof was adduced as to their financial fitness to conduct the country.
He thought their history would prove that the people of this country were of, at least, a sufficiently high order of intelligence and were as capable of conducting their own affairs as other populations to whom the imperial Government had granted self-government.
He held that the question of the constitutional change must be left to the people at the elections. All they could do now was to ask for an indication of the view of the Imperial Government as to what would constitute proof that this country was able to have Responsible Government.
Col. Heyman seconded, and supported the view of Sir Charles Coghlan.
Col. Grey was unable to agree with all the term on the resolution, and thought that the resolution did not go far enough. He did not think that the resolution would draw an answer from the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
He moved an amendment to the effect that they should ask the Imperial Government for information regarding its intentions in connection with the alienated land and the administration thereof in the event of Responsible Government being granted to the country.
He held they should state exactly what they wanted in plain terms.
Mr. Cleveland supported Sir Charles Coghlan and considered that the terms of the resolution were sufficient to get from Imperial Government a statement as to what proof they considered necessary.
He thought that Col. Grey was desirous of a continuation of the Chartered Company until the expiry of the Charter.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
When the Pioneer column came into Zimbabwe in 1890, they took over control of the whole country and the nation was governed by the British South Africa Company (BSAC) through a Royal Charter.
As the Charter agreement was about to expire, discussions about self-government began to take place which resulted in Self Government in 1923.The country was named Southern Rhodesia after Cecil John Rhodes.
From Responsible Government to the present, it took lots of struggles before a democratic Government under the leadership and control by indigenous people was instituted in 1980.
Many heroes and heroines had to suffer and die before the current Government could come into being. For all intents and purposes, what is obtaining is the Responsible Government.
Online Reporter