‘POTTED’ HISTORY – Matabeleland/Southern
Rhodesia

Southern Rhodesia’s history is more complex and diverse than the following short chronological table suggests. Deeply committed men and women of all creeds, nationalities and political persuasions have played their part in its rich and bitterly contested past.

I lived there from 1948 to 1963 (from 4 to 20 years of age), and my memories of those years are of a happy and carefree childhood and adolescence in a small close-knit colonial and Christian community in Bulawayo, Matabeleland. The selection of the importance of events ties in with my memories of those years.

My short history starts with Mzilikazi’s migration northwards into Central Africa, where he settled south of the Zambezi River. I flew to London in March 1963, and my history concludes as the Federation of the Rhodesias and Nyasaland is about to be dissolved.

I have refreshed and updated my knowledge as best I can in the limited time I have available during my course, and apologise if I inadvertently offend any users of this website.

1817 Mzilikazi, Tshaka’s greatest general flees from his wrath, treks northward, and later founds the Matabele nation at Bulawayo.
1855 Dr David Livingstone, the famous Scottish missionary ‘discovers’ the Victoria Falls.
1859 Inyati Mission, first permanent European settlement, founded by Dr Robert Moffat.
1870 Lobengula, son of Mziligazi, installed as King of the Matabele.
1888 Rudd concession granted to Rhodes by Lobengula, giving him the mineral rights of the territory.
1890 Pioneer column reaches Harari Hill, and founds Fort Salisbury
1891 Order-in-Council declaring British Protectorate over Bechuanaland, Matabeleland and Mashonaland.
1892 First land settlement Scheme announced. Beira Railway Company floated.
1893 Matabele Impi attacks Mashonas at Fort Victoria. War on the Matabele authorised. The Chartered Company’s force occupies Lobengula’s kraal, the present site of Bulawayo. Major Allan Wilson and his patrol annihilated near Shangani River.
1894 Death of Lobengula presumed.
1896 Matabeleland and Mashonaland rebellions – murders of settlers. Rhodes with unarmed party visits the Matopos and parleys with chiefs. Official submission of Matabele chiefs.
1897 Consent to the official use of the name ‘Rhodesia’. Railway from the Cape via Mafeking reaches Bulawayo.
1898 Beira railway reaches Umtali.
1899 Outbreak of the Boer War.
1902 Cecil John Rhodes dies in South Africa and is buried in the Matopos Hills. Bulawayo-Salisbury railway completed.
1904 Railway to Victoria Falls completed, and goes on northward. Victoria Falls bridge, 400 ft above water, opened.
1914 Outbreak of World War I.
1918 Armistice.
1920 First London-Cape flight in the ‘Silver Queen’, crashes at Bulawayo. Responsible Government debated and approved.
1922 Referendum of voters taken on question whether Southern Rhodesia (SR) should join the Union of South Africa or assume Responsible Government. Majority of votes for Responsible Government.
1923 SR annexed to Great Britain and Responsible Government established.
1939 Outbreak of World War II.
1940 Empire Training Schools for Royal Air Force opened at Salisbury, Bulawayo and Gwelo.
1945 Surrender of all German armed forces in Europe. Japan surrenders. End of World War II.
1947 Royal Family visits Salisbury, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.
1949 Preliminary conference at the Victoria Falls on the Federation of Southern and Northern Rhodesia (NR) with Nyasaland. All Blacks Rugby Team defeated in Bulawayo by Rhodesia.
1952 Death of King George VI and Princess Elizabeth proclaimed Queen. Visit of Newcastle United, the FA Cup-holders.
1953 Final conference on Federation in London. Central African Rhodes Centenary Exhibition held in Bulawayo, opened by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and the British Commonwealth.
1954 Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland formed.
1957 African National Congress re-forms incorporating the Youth League and adopts their principle of ‘One Man, One Vote’.
1958 Hastings Banda returns to Nyasaland after self-imposed exile in UK, and Kenneth Kaunda politically active in NR.
1959 African National Congress is banned in SR.
1960 Harold MacMillan makes his famous ‘Winds of Change’ speech in Cape Town on his trip through Africa. National Democratic Party (NDP) is formed.
1961 Conference is held in Salisbury and a new constitution, with a voting system involving A and B rolls, is agreed by all parties, but after much civil unrest the NDP is banned. The Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), successor to the NDP, is formed.
1962 Referendum is held on new constitution – ‘Yes’ vote. Federal Parliament is dissolved by Sir Roy Welensky. Nyasaland is given the right to secede from the Federation. ZAPU follows a policy identical to the NDP but with greater militancy. ZAPU is banned by the government, and most of its leaders restricted for 3 months to the area surrounding their home villages. In the general election held in December the newly-formed Rhodesian Front party gains a working majority of five seats. Political detainees released.
1963 The “break-up” conference held with British Government at Victoria Falls re the dissolution of the Federation, and Independence for SR. NR given the right to secede.
Assassination of President Kennedy.
1964 Federation dissolved.

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