A History of Juvenile Delinquency in Colonial Zimbabwe, 1890-C.1960
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Deviance and Colonial Power: A History of Juvenile Delinquency in Colonial Zimbabwe, 1890-c.1960 By Ivo Mhike SUBMITTED IN FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS IN RESPECT OF THE DOCTORAL DEGREE QUALIFICATION IN AFRICA STUDIES IN THE CENTRE FOR AFRICA STUDIES IN THE FACULTY OF THE HUMANITIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE February 2016 Supervisor: Prof I.R. Phimister Co-Supervisor: Dr K.V. Law Declaration (i) I, ……….................................................., declare that the Doctoral Degree research thesis that I herewith submit for the Doctoral Degree qualification ................................................... at the University of the Free State is my independent work, and that I have not previously submitted it for a qualification at another institution of higher education. (ii) I, ............................................................, hereby declare that I am aware that the copyright is vested in the University of the Free State. (iii) I, ....................................................., hereby declare that all royalties as regards intellectual property that was developed during the course of and/or in connection with the study at the University of the Free State, will accrue to the University. Signature: Date: Abstract This thesis is the first comprehensive study of juvenile delinquency in colonial Zimbabwe. Based on a detailed reading of archival sources generated by central government in various departments, urban municipalities, and autobiographies, it reconstructs important dimensions in the labelling and treatment of juvenile delinquency between 1890 and 1960. In doing so, it explores the socio-political development of Southern Rhodesian society and demonstrates the diversity and shifting notions of what constituted deviance and delinquency during this period. Taking issue with the existing historiography which narrowly focuses on black juvenile delinquency this thesis challenges the notion that racial distinctions overshadowed all else in the construction of juvenile delinquency, arguing that delinquency transcended race and was equally influenced by the analytical categories of class, gender and ethnicity. Through analysing the state’s ideas regarding juvenile institutions and rehabilitation, it plots the contours of the shifting notions of what constituted social and colonial order. While some Southern African historiography discusses aspects of white juvenile delinquency and racial heterogeneity, this study demonstrates how delinquency is a prism that refracts on the deep divisions within white society. It suggests a different view of empire relations by exploring the fissures within groups and the limits of racial co-operation. In addition, this thesis takes important steps toward historicising the development of childhood in colonial Zimbabwe; in doing so, it significantly modifies a number of historiographies, and opens up space for creating a more comprehensive history of childhood and youth in Africa. Keywords: Juvenile, Delinquency, Colonial Zimbabwe, Childhood, Historiography, Colonial Order, Gender, Class, Ethnicity. I Opsomming Hierdie tesis is die eerste omvattende studie van jeugmisdaad in koloniale Zimbabwe. Deur middel van ’n noukeurige ontleding van argivale dokumente, wat nagelaat is deur verskeie sentrale regeringsdepartemente, stedelike munisipaliteite en outobiografieë, word belangrike dimensies in die klassifisering en behandeling van jeugmisdadigheid in die tydperk 1890 tot 1960 gerekonstrueer. Daardeur word die sosio-politiese ontwikkeling van die Suid-Rhodesiese samelewing verken, wat wys op die uiteenlopende en verskuiwende begrippe oor wat in hierdie tydperk as afwykend of misdadig beskou is. Hierdie tesis verskil van die bestaande historiografie wat nougeset fokus op swart jeugmisdadigheid en bied daardeur ’n uitdaging aan die opvatting dat rasseverskille die vertolking van jeugmisdadigheid oorskadu. In teendeel, hierdie tesis voer aan dat misdadigheid rassegrense oorskry en dat dit eweneens beïnvloed is deur analitiese kategorieë soos klas, geslag en etnisiteit. Deur die staat se idees oor rehabilitasie en jeuginrigtings te ontleed, word die kontoere van die ewig verskuiwende begrippe oor wat die sosiale en koloniale orde sou behels, verken. Suider-Afrikaanse historiografie bespreek aspekte van wit jeugmisdadigheid en rasseverskeidenheid, maar hierdie studie wys hoe misdadigheid as ’n prisma kan dien waardeur daar nuwe lig op die klowe binne die wit samelewing gewerp kan word. Deur die skeure binne groepe en die perke van rassesamewerking te verken, tree daar ’n nuwe beeld na vore wat betref verhoudings binne die Britse ryk. Daarmee saam doen hierdie tesis belangrikke stappe om die ontwikkeling van kinders en jeugdigheid in koloniale Zimbabwe te historiseer. Dit omvorm ’n aantal historiografieë en skep ’n ruimte vir ’n meer omvattende geskiedenis van kinders en die jeug in Afrika. Sleutelwoorde: Jeugdiges, Misdadigheid, Koloniale Zimbabwe, Kinders, Historiografie, Koloniale Orde, Ras, Geslag, Klas, Etnisiteit. II Dedication To the memory of Linos Mubiwa; a mentor and source of inspiration…And to amaiguru, amai Tanaka – you left us too early III Acknowledgements I wish to thank my supervisors for their support and guidance. To Prof Phimister, thank you for your unwavering commitment, encouragement and patience throughout the research and writing of this thesis. I also feel extremely fortunate to have been amongst your first batch of doctoral candidates at the University of the Free State. Your generosity and faith in me made this study possible. To Dr Law, I thank you for your enthusiasm and patience for this project. You generously gave of your time and expertise in the detailed readings you gave to the various chapters of this thesis. Above all, you believed in me. I am grateful to those who have made time to read and discuss my work with me, Admire Mseba, Andy Cohen and Cornelius Muller. To the pioneers of the International Studies Group, Clement Masakure, Dan Spence, Rory Pilossof, Lindie Koorts, Noel Ndumeya, Kudakwashe Chitofiri, Tinashe Nyamunda, Lazlo Passemiers, Abraham Mlombo, Adam Holdsworth, a big thank you for all your support, ideas and friendship. In that regard, special thanks also to Anusa Damion, Alfred Tembo and Lazlo Passemiers. In addition, to Mrs le Roux, thank you for providing a warm and motherly care which I so much needed. A heartfelt thank you goes to the staff at the National Archives of Zimbabwe in Harare and Bulawayo for their tireless efforts at providing access to archival repositories. I could not have completed this thesis without the support of all my friends and family. Special thanks to my wife, Rejoice and daughter, Anopa, and to my Mom and Dad. To the Simangos - you have always been there in every aspect of my life. Finally, to Ushehwedu Kufakurinani, Godfrey Hove, Wesley Mwatwara, Tapiwa Madimu, George Karekwaivenane, Tariro Kamuti and Precious Tirivanhu thank you for leading the way and for inspiring me. IV Abbreviations ABM - American Board Mission ANC - African National Congress BSAC - British South Africa Company BSAP -British South Africa Police CCN - Conference of Christian Natives CID - Criminal Investigation Department CNC - Chief Native Commissioner CYL - City Youth League DRC - Dutch Reformed Church FNWS - Federation of Native Welfare Societies FWISR - Federation of Women’s Institutes of Southern Rhodesia ICA - Industrial Conciliation Act (1934) IHL - Imprisonment with Hard Labour JEA - Juveniles Employment Act (1926) LAA - Land Apportionment Act (1930) LWG - Loyal Women’s Guilds MDC - Movement for Democratic Change MSA - Masters and Servants Act (1901) NAD - Native Affairs Department NC - Native Commissioner NDP - National Democratic Party NED - Native Education Department NHS - National Health Services NLHA - Native Land Husbandry Act (1951) NUAARA - Native Urban Areas Accommodation and Registration Act (1946) NWS - Native Welfare Societies PAC - Pan Africanist Congress PEA - Portuguese East Africa V RCC - Roman Catholic Church RF - Rhodesian Front Party SoN - Superintendent of Natives SRMC - Southern Rhodesia Missionary Council SRNA - Southern Rhodesia Native Association SRPAS - Southern Rhodesia Prisoners Aid Society ZANU PF - Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front VI Glossary of Terms Bira - all night ritual Chimbwido/Mujiba - female and male runners and informers during the liberation war Lobola - bride wealth Mahobo Parties - urban beer parties: Mahobo is a Ndebele derivative which means many People. Makwayera - colonial rural choir/dance competitions Manyunyu - bullying in school Nhimbe - Traditional work parties Shebeens - ‘illegal’ liquor outlets Situpa - registration certificate Skokian - ‘illegal’ opaque beer brew that matures after one day Zhii Riots - refers the sound made by a falling tree. The term was adopted to refer to the force of the 1960 riots VII List of Tables Table 1: Juvenile Delinquency Statistics, 1910-1936……….………………...……………. 43 Table 2: Bulawayo population figures, 1936 and 1944……………………………………... 83 Table 3: African Juvenile Offences, 1941-1943………...………………………….………. 97 Table 4: Number of committals at Driefontein Certified School, 1936-1944.……….…… 123 Table 5: Disposal of African Offenders in 1954………………………………...………… 140 Table 6: Origins of Pupils committed to the Reformatory, 1950-1956…………………… 143 Table 7: Financial Allocations for Education (Africans and Non-Africans), 1955/6…...... 154 Table 8: Financial Allocations for Education (Africans and Non Africans), 1955/6……..