St. Paul recorder., 1961-08-25
Question Whether
Rhodesion Election
Representative

[Continued from PARe j

DdCkeO Uy TcpTeSSlNc laws AGAINST
the exercise Of any freedom Of
labour choice would operate
against them, it is not surprising
Mr.. Joshua N'Kome, leader of
the African nationalists, raised a
new appeal for a general strike
that the referendum was passed
only by a majority Of the white
voters.
The social, economic and pol
iticaI situation of the Africans in
Southern RhOdesia, coupled with
the proximity Of the colony to
apartheid South Africa and the
known influence Of the Afrikan-
ers in the political life Of their
country, could help to explain
the plight of the African ma
jority there.
It is known that in Southern
Rhodesia roughly Al million acres
out Of the 95 million is owned by
whites who are less than 81 of
the population. Indeed, in the mines
and in the industrial establish
ments of the country, the Afri-
cans provide the labour, with very
little opportunity to rise above
situation to which they have been
pushed by circumstances since
1928, when Southern Rhodesia be-
came a self-governing colony. Edu-
cation for Africans leaves much
to be desired and the disparity in
their social and political advance
is enormous.
All considerations concerning
the referendum seem to lead to
the fear of the African majority
that, instead of the new constitu-
ton opening the way to the rapid
democratic progress Of the coun-
try, it preserves and protects the
political privileges now enjoyed by
the white minority.
For example, the African ma
tionalists believe, and with some
degree of reason, that while Brit
ain has abandoned her former re-
served powers to protect their in
terests, she has actually trans
ferred these powers into the hands
of the settler minority. The vot-
ing in the Referendum clearly
demonstrated this. They also feel
that the number of seats made
possible for the Africans active
participation in the government
are not enough and that, because
Of the conflict Of interests, they
can have no better recourse for
their protection than a thoroughly
democratic Set-up in the colony
that will permit the majority to
bring political pressure to bear to
safeguard their rights.
The Referendum is passed. The
new constitutional provisions viii
now be apph, in Southern Rhod-
esia. But this Is surely not the end
of this delicate political imbalance,
the only solution to which lies in a
reasonable racial partnership in
which racial privileges would give
way to democratic, social justice.
The new constitution, in so far
as it has for the first time in the
history Of the colony brought Afri-
cans limited participation in the
Government, could be considered
a step in the right direction. 1t Is,
however, true that it's gradualism,
at this period, does not satisfy the
aspirations of the Africans. Time
will tell whether this mandate,
given in the hands of the settler
minority, will be matched by the
liberalism required to forge a soci-
ETY. in which the rights of all will
be respected. So also will it be-
come evident in time how well, in
its practical application, the con-
stitution would be made to fit the
legitimate will of the African ma
jority. This latter holds the key to
the fruitful application of the new
document and the prospects of
true racial partnership in South
ern Rhodesia-