Colonialism in Zimbabwe

1. Colonialism in Zimbabwe
The Road from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe

2. Cecil Rhodes and the BSA
• Cecil Rhodes formed an agreement with the Shona (natives in the area that is
now Zimbabwe) to mine their land in search for gold in 1888
• Rhodes received a charter to form the British South Africa Company (BSA)
in 1889 to settle the land north of South Africa
• Rhodes settles this new territory and renames it Rhodesia
• Southern Rhodesia is the area that will one day become Zimbabwe

3. New Settlers and Conflict
• The settlement of Rhodesia brought new settlers further into the African
interior
• Rhodes began to implement taxes on the Shona
• The Shona fought against the BSA
• They were overcome in 1897
• All of Rhodesia was under complete control of the BSA

4. Forming a Government
• The initial government included 7 BSA officials and 7 settlers
• By 1914, the settlers held a majority of the seats
• BSA charter expired in 1923 leaving Southern Rhodesia with 2 choices
• Become a new province of South Africa
• Become a self-governing British colony
• The settlers chose to become a self-governing British colony
• Awarded Responsible Government

5. Responsible Government
• The settler government dealt with land segregation, segregated governance,
and political and economic privileges for the white settler community
• The settlers focused on utilizing Southern Rhodesia’s land for its agricultural
potential and mineral resources
• Their biggest issue was learning how to govern a racially diverse colony
• They had to deal with relations between the Shona, the Ndebele, and the settlers

6. Central African Federation
• Britain created a Central African Federation in 1953 of Southern Rhodesia
(Zimbabwe), Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), and Nyasaland (Malawi)
• Zambia and Malawi gained independence a decade later
• The Federation was broken up upon their independence
• The Federation was formed to further economic benefits of the region while
minimizing conflict
• The Federation fell apart due to political turmoil

7. Towards Independence
• Southern Rhodesia wanted to become a colony independent of Britain with
a guaranteed white minority ruling class
• Ian Smith became prime minister of Rhodesia in 1964
• Worked to negotiate independence from Britain unsuccessfully
• Britain would not give up control of Rhodesia unless they were assured that the
government would work towards shifting to majority rule
• Smith declared Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) on November 11, 1965

8. Impacts of UDI
• The new Rhodesian government stripped blacks of their rights
• International outrage
• Britain initially tries peaceful negotiations with Smith following the UDI
• Smith does not budge and will not change his stance
• Britain places economic sanctions and eventually an embargo on all goods in
and out of Southern Rhodesia

9. Time for a Change
• Smith realized that negotiations were necessary
• Reach an agreement with internal black leaders in 1978
• Secure protection of white political and economic interests
• Multiracial Elections to be held in 1979
• Civil War had been occurring throughout the 1970s and still did not cease
• Britain negotiated ceasefire and set up new elections in 1980

10. Independence
• Zimbabwe obtained internationally recognized independence on April 18,
1980
• Robert Mugabe became president