Rhodesian Rumpus

Rhodesian Rumpus (From Our London Correspondent) With the announcement of the details of the proposed new Constitution for Northern Rhodesia, one can be forgiven for being a little surprised at what all the fuss has been about. This is no revolutionary move forward guaranteeing the Africans a majority say in the country. It is certainly not the one man one vote Constitution for which the Africans have been campaigning, nor is it even as pro-African as Macleod's original proposal announced in February 1961, which was subsequently abandoned, mainly as a result of pressure from Sir Roy Welensky, The best that can be said about the new Con. stitution is that it is a slight improvement on the June 1961 proposals. Certainty Mr Kaunda is entitled to feel that the new deal is not as favourable as the one he thought he bad got in February 1961; it has certainly not given back the African nationalists any tiling like all the electoral advantages taken from them in June 1901. In February 1961 a good chance existed that African nationalists in coalition with white liberals, might win most of the middle 15 seats, and thus a legislative majority. ALTHOUGH the actual arithmetical lify for a seat has been abolished opposition to condemn this speech details of the new proposals are and the qualification of 12½ per as treasonable were defeated, there somewhat complicated, they can he cent is reduced to 10 per cent. This is no doubt that Sir Roy's supporters summarized briefly as follows. The means that a United Federal Party in the Conservative party have main changes of the present pro candidate ( Sir Roy Welensky's dwindled. posals affect only 15 of the 45 seats group) who before had to win only in the Assembly. The February 100 African votes, will now have to Two examples will serve to illust 1961 constitution extended the get near to 1.000 votes. (In 1959 Sir rate the change in the Conservative faanchise to give more Africans the Roy Welensky's party attracted only party which rallied so violently to Sir Roy's defence against the Mac- vote and proposed a three-tier assem 5½ per cent of the African voters). leod February 1901 constitution. bly—a legislature of 15 members African candidates have now had It has taken a lot of time and trou with 15 seats to be elected by an their percentage of qualifying Euro ble to muster up support for a Upper Roll of voters (dominated by pean votes reduced by 24 per cent. mild resolution defending federation the Europeans). 15 on a Lower Holl The most likely results that will (spelt this time with a small "I") (mainly African and Asian), 7 casue from this Constitution are as a vague concept instead of a double-member national constituen either the establishment of a res political entity which already exists. cies containing both Rolls and one pectable Government which repre Many of the 85 signatories of the Asian and coloured scat. In four of sents no-one. or a series of invalid original anti-Macleod motion were the national seats, one of the suc elections. The farts of the situation not prepared to sign even this mild cessful candidates had to be a Euro- must be faced that under this new ly worded resolution, and finally pean and the other an African. The Constitution there is only a remote only 10 were prepared to put their other three double-member seats possibility for an African majority, names down to this watered-down were to have no such limitations- for it will be almost as difficult to version of the Tory revolt. It is for the third group, every member get 10 per cent of the white settlers true that an amendment to this had to qualify by obtaining a mini to vote for genuine representatives motion has been tabled, demanding mum which was then unstated- of the African Liberation Move support for the Central African percentage of votes from both the ment as to get 12½ per cent. In actual fact, there is very little in Federation. but so far. only four Upper and Lower Rolls. members — Anthony Fell. Paul In the June Constitution, influ these new proposals to enrage the while settlers, and cynics are asking Williams. Donald Johnson and enced by Sir Roy Welensky's threats, Captain Henry kerby have the balance was once more tilted in whether Sir Roy's dramatic trip to signed it. Further evidence of the fax our of the European settlers. To London was not actually made to change can he seen in the speech qualify for election, a national can pre-dispose Mr Kaunda in favour of accepting the new proposals! made at the Primrose League by Mr didate would have to get 12½ per Humphrey Barclay. where he said, cent of both the African and Euro More interesting, however, is the giving in to Welensky would be like pcan poll or 400 votes, whichever British Government's and Conserva "handing over Algeria to the French was less. This was clearly a white- tive party's reaction to Sir Roy's colons". leaning scheme, since the degree of visit. Here there is a perceptible support that an African candidate change in the position as compared Federation : Crux of Problem would normally have to get from with last year. The delicacy of this However, it is not the details of the European voters would be one ex-railway worker's appearance, the new Northern Khodesian Consti in eight while a European appeal matched only by the delicacy of his tution, but the future of the Central ing to African voters would need language at London airport when African Federation and the 225.000 only about one vote in 25. he threatened to "go the whole whit inhabitants of Southern Rho The New Proposals hog" and use force if necessary did desia that really provides the crux In the new proposals the numeri not create a favourable impression; of the problem. It is this that cal alternative of 400 votes to qua although attempts by the Labour really brought Sir Roy to London. 515 March 24, 1962 The Central African federation pared to do so at the cost of Sou if necessary. Perhaps the example was brought into existence in 1953 thern Rhodesia's independence. The of the ruthless methods used by the and is made up of three very diffe British Conservative party now South African Government makes rent units. The latest population appears to be less divided on the him believe that similar measures figures show that there are 225,000 issue of Federation, and to be re can be employed to keep down the Europeans in Southern Rhodesia as conciled, regretfully to the inevit Africans in the Federation. Sir against 2.87 million Africans. In able. Roy at present is quite unwilling to Northern Rhodesia. there are give an inch, and as he has already 77,000 Europeans and 2.37 million As far as the while settlers, as plainly stated, will have no com Africans. Southern Rhodesia is a represented by Sir Roy Welensky, punction in using force. That the self-governing colony with a Prime are concerned, large parts of the use of force is a serious threat Minister. Here, the European set present federation are valueless, must be accepted by all political tlers have been in complete charge these include Nyasaland and the realists who admit that they set a of internal affairs since 1923, So Northern Province of Northern limit to British action in the Fede far, there have been no African Rhodesia, but the core of the Fede ration. members of its law-making body, ral wealth is the copper belt of Unless there is a change in policy, and only a few thousand Africans Northern Rhodesia and this they the Central African Federation is have been eligible to vote. Northern will not part with without a light. doomed. As the Monckton Com Rhodesia and Nyasaland. on the As the French have hung on in missi on pointed out a new Federa other hand, are British Protector Algeria, for Saharan oil and the tion can succeed only if it wins the ates. Here the chief executive is Belgians in the Congo tried so hard consent of the majority of the in a Colonial Office Governor. As a to maintain their hold on the rich habitants in Central Africa. In its result of the March 1960 Constitu- Province of Katanga, the white present form, it is bound to fail, as tion in Nyasaland, Dr Banda's party settlers will certainly not give up with Sir Roy's intractable attitude, got a majority of 23 in the new 33- the Northern Khodesian copper it cannot hope to win support from member Legislative? Council. As far belt without a struggle. This area the Africans, The really serious as the present proposals for North provides nearly two-thirds of the factor in the situation is that while ern Rhodesia are concerned, Afri- present Federal income and 60,000 the British Government could hot ran opinion is divided; the Maudl- out of the 71.000 whites of North possibly use force to keep the Rho- ing proposals are hardly attractive ern Khodesia are settled in the cop desias and Nyasaland together. Sir and although the leader of the per belt and along the railway line Roy Welensky could. This is an United National Independence party linking it with Southern Khodesia. inescapable fact. In the short run, might be tempted to accept these The major business and financial perhaps with a repetition of the proposals, he risks being outbid by groups like Anglo-American, the horrors in Algeria, the Congo and other nationalist leaders if he does.

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