# First Cabinet of Southern Rhodesia

On 1 October 1923, Sir Charles Coghlan took charge as the first Premier of the Southern Rhodesia after the referendum in 1922 which decided not to join the Union of South Africa but chose responsible government instead.

## List of ministers

Following is a list of the 8 ministers of the First Cabinet
| Department | Title of Minister | First Minister (Electoral District) | Senior Permanent Officials |
| Department of the Premier | Premier | Sir Charles Patrick John Coghlan (Bulawayo North) | Chief of Staff Secretary to the Premier & Chief Clerk to the Legislative Assembly |
| Department of Native Affairs | Minister of Native Affairs | Sir Charles Patrick John Coghlan (Bulawayo North) | Chief Native Commissioner |
| Department of the Colonial Secretary | Colonial Secretary | Sir Francis James Newton (Mazoe) | Secretary to the Department of the Colonial Secretary Controller of Printing & Stationery |
| Audit Department | Colonial Secretary | Sir Francis James Newton (Mazoe) | Auditor-General Assistant Auditor and Inspector Inspector Senior Examiner |
| Department of Health, Education and Internal Affairs | Colonial Secretary | Sir Francis James Newton (Mazoe) | Medical Director Director of Education |
| Department of the Treasury | Treasurer | Percival Donald Leslie Fynn (Salisbury North) | Secretary to the Treasury Commissioner of Taxes Controller of Customs Postmaster-General |
| Department of the Attorney-General | Attorney-General | Major Robert James Hudson (Bulawayo North) | Solicitor-General Secretary to the Law Department & Legal Adviser Senior Judge Judge Master of the High Court Commissioner of Police Registrar of Deeds |
| Department of Defence | Minister of Defence | Major Robert James Hudson (Bulawayo North) | Secretary to the Department of Defence Commandant of Southern Rhodesian Forces |
| Department of Mines and Public Works | Minister of Mines and Public Works | Howard Unwin Moffat (Victoria) | Secretary Accountant Inspectors of Mines (2) Mining Commissioners (4) Registrar of Claims Beacon Inspectors (3) |
| Public Works Department | Minister of Mines and Public Works | Howard Unwin Moffat (Victoria) | Director of Public Works Assistant Architect Assistant Inspectors (2) |
| Roads Department | Minister of Mines and Public Works | Howard Unwin Moffat (Victoria) | Engineer-in-Charge of Roads Assistant Road Engineers (2) Assistant Road Engineer and Surveyor |
| Geological Survey | Minister of Mines and Public Works | Howard Unwin Moffat (Victoria) | Director of Geological Survey Geologists (2) |
| Department of Agriculture | Minister of Agriculture and Lands | William Muter Leggate (Northern) | Director of Agriculture Chief Veterinary Surgeon Director of Veterinary Research |
| Department of Lands | Minister of Agriculture and Lands | William Muter Leggate (Northern) | Director of Lands & Surveyor-General |
As well as financial matters, the Treasurer ran the postal, telegraph and telephone services, as well as customs and excise. The Attorney-General was responsible for the police and prisons as well as legal and judicial affairs.
Ministers were permitted to prefix their names with "The Honourable".
The High Commissioner retained his nominal authority over Southern Rhodesia, but his powers were mostly devolved upon the Governor in Council.
* Sir Charles Coghlan, Premier and Minister of Native Affairs
* Percival Donald Leslie Fynn, Treasurer