General elections were held in Northern Rhodesia on 20 March 1959,[1] although voting did not take place in two constituencies until 9 April.[2] The United Federal Party (UFP) was expected to win the elections,[1] and did so by taking 13 of the 22 elected seats on the Legislative Council.[2]

Electoral system

The elections were the first held under the Lennox-Boyd constitution.[3] It provided for a 30-member Legislative Council with 22 elected members, six official members and two appointed members.[3] The 22 elected seats were divided into 12 "ordinary" seats with mostly European voters, six "special" seats mainly reserved for African voters, two reserved for African candidates and two reserved for European candidates.[2] "Ordinary" voters had to have at least four years of secondary education and either an income of at least £300 a year or own property worth £500. They could also qualify by having primary education and earning at least £480 a year or owning £1,000 of property, or for those not meeting the educational requirements, have an annual income of at least £720 or own over £1,500 of property. Certain people were automatically entitled to register as "ordinary voters", including ministers of religion, chiefs recognised by the Governor and wives of anyone qualified as an "ordinary" voter (although in the case of polygamous marriages, only the senior wife qualified).[4] "Special" voters had to have at least two years of secondary education and an income of at least £120 a year, or have an income of at least £150 or own property worth £500 or more. Automatic qualification as a "special" voter was given to pensioners receiving a monthly or annual pension for at least 20 years' service for one employer, headmen or hereditary councillors with at least two years of unpaid service and who were recognised by their chief, or be the wife (or senior wife) of any qualified "special" voter.[4] All voters had to be over 21, able to complete their registration form in English and have lived in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland for at two years and in their constituency for three months.[4]

The African reserved seats were created by combining several ordinary seats, whilst the European reserved seats were based on combinations of the special seats. Every voter had two votes, one for their special or ordinary constituency member, and one for their reserved member. In the ordinary and European reserved seats, special votes were not allowed to account for more than a third of the total.[5]

A total of 30,234 people were registered to vote, up from 15,505 for the 1954 elections. Of the 23,388 "ordinary" voters, 20,546 were Europeans, 2,046 Indians and 796 Africans. The 6,846 special voters included 6,821 Africans, 20 Europeans and five Indians.[5]

Constituencies
Ordinary Reserved African Ordinary voters Special voters
Broken HillSouth Central2,208394
Livingstone1,200140
Lusaka Central1,428102
Lusaka East1,503289
Lusaka West2,483163
Southern1,243381
ChingolaCopperbelt1,317325
Kitwe East1,485195
Kitwe West1,672366
Luanshya2,296275
Mufulira1,729403
Ndola2,943267
Special Reserved European Ordinary voters Special voters
BarotselandWestern Rural239488
North Western187637
South Western197620
EasternEastern Rural686790
Luapula306473
Northern266538
Total23,3886,846
Source: East Africa and Rhodesia[5]

Campaign

A total of 54 candidates contested the elections, of which 20 were African.[1] Four parties ran in the election, with the UFP led by John Roberts putting forward 18 candidates, the Dominion Party 10, the Central Africa Party led by John Moffat seven and the Northern Rhodesian African National Congress led by Harry Nkumbula one (Nkumbula himself). Seventeen candidates ran as independents, with one running as a Central Africa Party independent. The Zambian African National Congress, a breakaway from the NRANC, called for a boycott.[1] The UFP were unopposed in two seats.[6] No candidates were nominated for the Northern and Luapula Special constituencies,[5] requiring nominations to be reopened until 19 March.

The UFP held a centrist position, supporting dominion status for the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland and opposing the British Colonial Office (reflecting the views of most white Northern Rhodesians).[1] The Dominion Party put forward a right-wing platform including supporting a partition of the Federation into European and African areas.[1] The Central Africa Party ran on a liberal platform.[1]

Results

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
United Federal Party17,37651.6913+3
Dominion Party4,05512.061New
Central Africa Party3,40210.123New
Northern Rhodesian African National Congress5721.701New
Independent Central Africa Party2470.731New
Independents7,96423.691–1
Vacant2–
Total33,616100.0022+10
Source: Northern Rhodesia Election Office[7]

By voter roll

Party Ordinary seats Special seats African seats European seats Total
seats
Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats
United Federal Party8,54059.371142114.3007,85553.58256034.40013
Dominion Party3,32923.141−−−7264.950−−−1
Central Africa Party9766.78057119.4017875.3701,06865.6023
Northern Rhodesian African National Congress−−−57219.431––––––1
Independent Central Africa Party–––2478.391–––––––
Independents1,54010.7101,13338.4915,29136.090–––2
Vacant–––––2––––––2
Invalid/blank votes268––––752–––––
Total14,653100122,944100615,41110021,628100222
Registered voters/turnout21,82567.14–3,844––––
Source: Northern Rhodesia Election Office[7]

By constituency

Constituency Candidate Party Votes %
OrdinaryBroken HillJohn RobertsUnited Federal Party1,27574.43
Gladys DouglasIndependent43825.57
ChingolaWilliam Gray DunlopUnited Federal PartyUnopposed
Kitwe EastHugh StanleyUnited Federal Party83177.95
Francis SmithDominion Party23522.05
Kitwe WestJerry SteynUnited Federal Party89057.09
Cecil EarlDominion Party66942.91
LivingstoneMaurice RabbUnited Federal PartyUnopposed
LuanshyaRodney MalcomsonUnited Federal Party1,20874.38
Robert GreerDominion Party41625.62
Lusaka CentralErnest SergeantUnited Federal Party60762.64
Donald ClarkeIndependent18819.40
Frederick GrayIndependent12112.49
Cyril ThatcherDominion Party535.47
Lusaka EastEbden CarlisleUnited Federal Party56246.18
Alexander ScottIndependent40533.28
Charles FlemingDominion Party23519.31
Irene BuchananIndependent151.23
Lusaka WestEric Grindley-FerrisUnited Federal Party73542.58
Ralph SealCentral Africa Party33619.47
Frank DerbyDominion Party28216.34
Douglas EdmondsIndependent27116.34
Margaretha SeibritzIndependent1025.91
MufuliraPieter WulffUnited Federal Party73452.32
Bertram RedmondDominion Party66947.68
NdolaCecil Dennistoun BurneyUnited Federal Party1,09457.73
Norman HuntCentral Africa Party64033.77
William van ZylDominion Party1618.50
SouthernGert SmithDominion Party60950.21
Geoffrey BeckettUnited Federal Party60449.79
SpecialBarotselandKwalombota MulondaIndependent38266.90
Mufaya MubunaUnited Federal Party16829.42
Yuyi NgangaIndependent213.68
EasternAlfred GondweCentral Africa Party39836.28
Chiwala BandaIndependent29226.62
Isaac NkholomaUnited Federal Party25323.06
Shadrick ChemeIndependent15414.04
LuapulaNo candidate nominated
North-WesternWilliam NkanzaIndependent Central Africa Party24739.02
Samuel MbilishiIndependent21323.65
Beston MulukuCentral Africa Party17327.33
NorthernNo candidate nominated
South-WesternHarry NkumbulaNorthern Rhodesian African National Congress57288.96
Robinson NabulyatoIndependent7111.04
African
Reserved		CopperbeltGabriel MusumbulwaUnited Federal Party4,45158.26
Lawrence KatilunguIndependent2,67435.00
Robinson PutaIndependent3134.10
Pascale SokataIndependent2022.64
South CentralWilliam KazokahUnited Federal Party3,40448.50
Safeli ChilesheIndependent2,10229.95
Gwale HabanyamaCentral Africa Party78711.21
Noah ChyapeniDominion Party72610.34
European
Reserved		Eastern RuralJohn MoffatCentral Africa Party66260.90
Reuben KidsonUnited Federal Party42539.10
Western RuralHarry FranklinCentral Africa Party40675.05
Hugh MitcheleyUnited Federal Party13524.95
Source: Northern Rhodesia Election Office[7]

By-elections

By-elections were held in the Luapula and Northern Special constituencies on 9 April.

Constituency Candidate Party Votes %
LuapulaSamson MunungaIndependent23451.88
M M Simfukwe11325.06
John Mutale5712.64
G E Tafuna4710.42
NorthernLakement NganduIndependent22842.22
M G M Chali22341.30
Mateyo Kakumbi8916.48
Source: East Africa and Rhodesia[8]

Aftermath

Following the election, Governor Arthur Benson appointed six ministers; John Roberts as Minister of Labour and Mines, Ebden Carlisle as Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, William Gray Dunlop as Minister of Transport and Works, Rodney Malcomson as Minister of Local Government, Gabriel Musumbulwa as Minister of African Education and Edson Mwamba as Minister of African Agriculture.[9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Racial Issue In N. Rhodesia Elections: African Boycott", The Times, 12 March 1959, p11, Issue 54407
  2. 1 2 3 "Sir R. Welensky Gains Election Victory: Party Sure Of 13 Seats", The Times, 23 March 1959, p10, Issue 54416
  3. 1 2 "Election Move By Africans" The Times, 23 December 1958
  4. 1 2 3 David C. Mulford (1964) The Northern Rhodesian General Election 1962, Oxford University Press, pp11−12
  5. 1 2 3 4 "N Rhodesia's General Election: Full List of Candidates", East Africa and Rhodesia, 12 March 1959, p821
  6. ↑ "Northern Rhodesia Elections", East Africa and Rhodesia, 26 March 1959, p880
  7. 1 2 3 Northern Rhodesia: Legislative Council elections – March 20th, 1959: Analysis of results, Northern Rhodesia Election Office
  8. ↑ "Election Results", East Africa and Rhodesia, 25 April 1959, p1007
  9. ↑ "New Ministers For N. Rhodesia: Two Africans Included", The Times, 28 March 1959, p5, Issue 54420
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