1. Colonialism In Zimbabwe

2. Origins
• Cecile Rhodes
– Works w/ investors
– British South Africa Co. (BSA)

3. Why Zimbabwe?
• Heard of Mutapa & Rozwi Empires’ wealth
• Believe modern mining will find more
minerals

4. Zimbabwean Response
• Ndebele King
Lobengula objects
– He’s tricked
– Intentional incorrect
translation
– Thought he was
allowing a few
prospectors but actual
document allowed
BSA to do “anything
necessary” to obtain
natural resources

5. BSA’s Miners
• Found Shona miners had been thorough
• Few new minerals found
• Vandalized historical sights looking for
gold

6. King Lobengla’s Response
• Tries all possible diplomacy vs. BSA
• BSA initiates combat & wins
– Maxin guns
– Artillery
– Mounted troops

7. Result
• King Lobengula is killed
• Land is divided among whites
• Livestock was stolen from local people
and given to colonists
• Govt. Segregation & Oppression

8. Reaction to Oppression
• 1896-1987 Zimbabwean uprising
– Worked hard but BSA had reinforcements
from other African colonies
– Became a British Protectorate

9. • British regularly used military action vs.
African Authorities to maintain power
– Kill / discredit all powerful Africans

10. Effects of African Opp. To
Colonialism
• 1953 Britain combines colonies
2 colonies of Rhodesia + Nyasaland (now
Malawi) = Federation of Rhodesia

11. Land Distribution 1965

12. • Mozambique became indep.
– Provided ZANU guerillas w/ a way to enter
Rhodesia
– African Nationalists vs. Ian Smith’s white
minority govt. that had declared indep. From
UK
– ZANU led by Robert Mugabe & ZAPU Joshua
Nkoma

13. Results
• Nkoma= led coalition • Mugabe wins 1980
govt. election

14. Concerns w/ Independence
• Land Ownership=Biggest Problem
– How to redistribute the land fairly?
– Does land belong to colonists whose
ancestors took it away?
– Does land belong to local families who haven’t
owned land for generations?

15. Problems w/ Land Redistribution
• Causes stress
– Agriculture
– Economy
– Inflation