Guide - Constitution & History

Constitution and History

     CONSTITUTION

THE Protectorate of Northern Rhodesia has a constitution similar to that in many Crown Colonies but with a considerable degree of self-government. Under various Orders-in-Council the British Government retains certain over-riding powers, mainly in major matters concerning native affairs, such as native land rights. Executive power is vested in an Executive Council (roughly equivalent to a Cabinet) presided over by the Governor. This Council consists of seven official (Civil Servant) Members and four unofficial (Elected) Members. One of the unofficial Members is nominated primarily to represent African interests.

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The Legislative Council is presided over by a Speaker and is composed of nine official and fourteen unofficial Members. Ten of the unofficial Members are elected and the other four are nominated to represent African interests, two of them being Africans. The seat of Government is Lusaka, where the majority of Government departments have their headquarters.

     HISTORY

Northern Rhodesia was unknown to Europeans until about the end of the eighteenth century when first contact was made by Portuguese traders. It was the great missionary journeys of Dr. Livingstone, who discovered the Victoria Falls in 1855, which led directly to the colonisation of the Territory by the British. Missionary development began shortly after Livingstone's death and the era of the trading companies followed. Separate administrations, under the control of Cecil Rhodes' British South Africa Company, were established in North-Eastern and North-Western Rhodesia in 1891. The capital of orth-Eastern Rhodesia was Fort Jameson and Kalomo was the se: t of Government for North-Western Rhodesia until 1905 when it was transferred to Livingstone. The two territories remained separate until 1911 when they were amalgamated under the present name of Northern Rhodesia. Prior to the rule of the British South Africa Company the slave trade, introduced by the Arabs, was well established in the Territory. The stamping out of the slave-traders and the ultimate setting up of British rule is a record of heroism and determination on the part of the early pioneers. Northern Rhodesia was taken over by the Crown in 1924.

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