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Introduction
The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (also known as the Central African Federation, CAF) was a colonial combination or joining of three southern African territories – the self-governing British colony of Southern Rhodesia and the British protectorates of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland – between 1953 and 1963. The idea to amalgamate Northern and Southern Rhodesia started as early as 1930s by the white settlers in both areas. There were both economic and political reasons.
Political Reasons for the formation of the Federation
The amalgamation would benefit the few whites in Rhodesia and Nyasaland from African Nationalism.
The Federation was used to reinforce British imperial dominance.
It was also used as a way of blocking racist Afrikaaners doctrine from advancing northwards from South Africa.
The federation was intended to establish multi-racial societies in Central Africa where there would be black and white partnership permanently as argued by the British government.
Blacks would be given political and economic opportunities they did not have before.
Economic reasons for the formation of the Federation
The BSAC saw the union as a way for them to reduce on administrative costs.
The administrative costs were going to be fewer, the countries were united and common services made available.
The economies of these colonies also complemented one another and a union would ensure a balanced economy.
Planning at a large scale would ensure effective use of raw materials skills, labour and power.
Infrastructure such as railway, roads and air communications would be improved as they would be expanded to link the three colonies.
The BSAC was getting much profit from its economic ventures so it was important that they secure a wide economic base by having a federation.
Copper from Zambia would increase Southern Rhodesia’s industries income while all the others would benefit from the industries in Southern Rhodesia.
Nyasaland had few resources so it would benefit greatly from the other two which had vast resources.
The labour base of Southern Rhodesia was going to be increased.
Zambia was to benefit from the hydro-electricity copper production as thermal power was no longer enough.
Arguments for and against the Federation
The white settlers both in Northern and Southern Rhodesia and some Africans in Southern Rhodesia who were attracted to the promised policy of partnership argued for the formation of the federation. However, Africans in Northern Rhodesia as well as the British Government initially opposed the idea of federation.
Arguments for Federation
Federation would bring economic prosperity to all the three areas, as they would complement each other economically.
All three states would share in the economic benefits from the Gold and copper mines in Southern and Southern Rhodesia.
Federation would lead to a stronger British State in Central Africa that would check or stop the spread of South African Racial policies.
Africans in Southern Rhodesia Supported Federation because they were attracted to the concept of Partnership as opposed to the policy of racial discrimination that had existed earlier.
Arguments against Federation
The Africans in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland opposed Federation because;
Since the two were protectorates of the British government, they were used to the policy of African Paramountancy and were aware that a federation would be controlled and dominated by the whites that were in the minority.
They also did not want the policy of racial discrimination that prevailed in Southern Rhodesia to be introduced in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland as well.
Some white settlers in Southern Rhodesia preferred a union with South Africa rather than a federation with Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland because they wanted to continue with their racial policies.
The joining of the two Rhodesians and Nyasaland would have been difficult due to the fact that Southern Rhodesia was a colony and followed a policy of Direct rule while Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland were protectorates and followed indirect rule.
The British opposition Labour and Liberal Parties opposed Federation because they did not want to force Africans into it.
Africans were also sceptical of the proposed policy of partnership and believed that the only kind of partnership that would ever exist between the two races would be like that of “a rider and a horse”.
Despite the opposition to the Federation, it was introduced in October 1953. This was because it was decided that the arguments for federation outweighed those against.
The Federal constitution
In order to prepare for the federation constitution, there were several meetings that were held between 1949 and 1953.
In February 1949, representatives from the three territories met at the Victoria Falls Conference to make proposals for the formation of the Federation. However, the Labour Party government rejected the proposals because Africans were not represented.
In 1951, the Conservative Party came to power in Britain under Winston Churchill. He was sympathetic to the white settlers wish for a Federation.
In the same year, another conference was held at the Victoria Falls. Although Africans were represented, they did not agree to the proposed constitution.
In 1952, the Conservative government under Churchill called for another conference in London to finalise discussions on the Federal constitution. At this conference, all were represented including Africans. The African representatives still protested against the Federal constitution.
However, the British government sent a conservative politician to Central Africa to find out the African views on Federation. He falsely reported that Africans were for Federation.
Therefore, in October 1953, the British government approved the federal constitution that led to the formation of the federation. Sir Godfrey Huggins who had been the Prime minister of Southern Rhodesia became the First Federal Prime Minister.
Terms of the Federal constitution
The constitution provided for a federal parliament to be based in Salisbury, which was the federal capital. The Federal Parliament would consist of 36 members of parliament, 18 from Southern Rhodesia, 11 from Northern Rhodesia and 7 from Nyasaland. Of the 36, only six would be Africans.
The Constitution also provided for a Federal government that would be based in Salisbury and in 1954, Sir Geoffrey Huggins became the First Federal Governor/Prime minister. The Federal Governor was also responsible for the appointment of a federal cabinet.
The Federal Constitution also provided for an African Affairs Board. This board was made up of 3 Europeans representing Africans and 3 Africans from the three territories. The duties of the African Affairs Board included protesting against any bill segregating against Africans.
Franchise was given to all white settlers of voting age but very few Africans were allowed to vote.
The Federal Government would control Finance, trade, communication, industry and defence while the territories and their local governments would be responsible for Education, land, agriculture and health.
Federal Revenue came from income tax from all three territories but the bulk came from Northern Rhodesian copper. The Revenue was divided into; 60 percent for the federal government, 17 percent for Southern Rhodesian government, 17 percent for the Northern Rhodesian government and only six percent for Nyasaland.
The Federal Constitution was to be reviewed within seven years. If it worked well, the Federation would be given independence from the British government.
The British government also retained some powers over the review of the constitution, African affairs and defence.
Successes/Advantages of the Federation
Advantages of the Federation
ECONOMIC
It enabled the establishment of agricultural training centres like Mlezu.
It led to an economic boom as whites benefited more than the blacks as their wages were 10 times that of the blacks.
It enabled the improvement and development of infrastructure as there was the construction of railways and roads.
Southern Rhodesia benefited from cheap labour from Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia.
The building of the Kariba Dam provided electricity for the people in Southern Rhodesia more than in Northern Rhodesia.
Copper from Northern Rhodesia was used to finance investment in Southern Rhodesia.
The opening of the University of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in Salisbury, thus education was improved.
Irrigation schemes were established at Mkwasine, and Kariba. This helped in productivity of food.
New airport was established in Bulawayo and so many industries were also started in Bulawayo.
Cash crops started to be grown in Southern Rhodesia and this led to improved trade and brought a lot of foreign currency.
One can thus argue that Southern Rhodesia benefited more than Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia
POLITICAL
The federation was meant to foster settler domination and supremacy over Africans. Settlers in Northern Rhodesia believed their position would be strengthened by the many settlers in Southern Rhodesia.
It improved the security of the settlers.
It avoided the isolation of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
It prevented southern Rhodesia from being colonised by the Boers of South Africa.
The first Prime Minister of the Federation was from Southern Rhodesia.
The number of Africans in the federal government slightly increased.
The capital of the federal government was established in Southern Rhodesia, Salisbury.
SOCIAL
The University of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was opened in Salisbury in 1957 by the federal government. The university was multiracial as per the requirements of the partnership.
It was a London University affiliate and London degrees were given at the institution.
Education and research were boosted by the opening of the University. NB: African education was in the hands of the Territorial Government while that of the Europe was in the hands of the Federal government.
Many primary and secondary mission, government private schools were built which expanded up to upper primary (Standard 6).
Many African children began to go to school up to Standard 6.
The numbers of children who passed Standard 6 increased, i.e. in 1962 the number of children with Standard 6 passes increased from 2 278 to 11 460.
Secondary education was greatly expanded especially during the last years of the Federation.
Teachers’ training colleges were built in all the colonies.
In Zimbabwe teachers’ colleges such as Gwelo and Umtali were built.
Senior classes also began for those who wanted to correspond with their studies.
Many Africans were employed in the education sector as school inspectors, teachers and headmasters.
Reasons for the collapse
of the Federation
N.B The Federation was formally ended on 31 December 1963.
One of the main reasons for its collapse was that it was formed without the native’s consent.
African nationalists in Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia were not happy with the Federation as it sidelined their countries.
The partnership process was too slow to be accomplished as Africans remained at the loss side of the partnership as the Federal government increased white supremacy by certain laws such as the Constitutional Amendment Act of 1957.
In Rhodesia racial discrimination was still an issue as some laws which encouraged racism such as the Land Apportionment Act remained intact.
The whites in Rhodesia, however, felt that the laws were too liberal and threatened the existence of Colonial government in the federation.
They began to advocate for the independence of the Federation from the British government and full membership in the Commonwealth.
The British government refused to grant the Federation a state status.
Although the Federation brought about economic development, nationalists were angry that the Southern African dominance.
The nationalists in Nyasaland argued that it was better to suffer in freedom than to be prosperous when they are servants.
The nationalists in Nyasaland resisted violently against the Federation so that their country was break away from it.
The African National Congress was formed in 1940s in Malawi and was concerned with the welfare an advancement of the natives. The most dominant nationalists were H B Chipembere and M W K Chiume. When their attempt to block the Federation was successful they began a campaign of not co-operating with the government. Another party led by Hastings Banda called the Nyasaland African Congress was formed in 1958. This party was militaristic to a larger extend that state of national emergency was declared in March 1959. The congress leaders were captured and killed as government tried to restore order. The party was active in the opposition of the Federation. The party asked the British government to allow Africans to vote for the withdrawal of Northern Rhodesia from the Federation.
In Northern Rhodesia, they adopted policies of non-violent resistance and non-co-operation by boycotting shops and beer halls in 1957.
Another party under Kenneth Kaunda was formed called the Zambia Congress which later changed its name to United National Independence Party (UNIP).
The British agreed for the dissolution of the congress in March 1963.
Malawi became independent in May 1964 while Zambia became independent in October 1964. However, Southern Rhodesia remained under colonial rule.
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