During the 19th century the British started to make significant moves towards the occupation of the land
between Zambezi and Limpopo formerly southern Rhodesia and now Zimbabwe. These moves include The
Signing of the Rudd Concession, The Granting of the royal Chater to the BSAC, The pioneer column and
occupation, the Matabele war (1893) and finally the Formalisation of the British rule (1923). This essay
seeks to deliberate on these key steps that were taken by the British colonialists in the colonisation of
Zimbabwe.
Colonisation: is the British political practice of acquiring indigenous people's land of a region by force
Colonialists: these are British citizens who believed in colonialism and helped Britain in the colonisation
of Zimbabwe.
The signing of the Rudd concession by the British colonialists to Zimbabwe and king Lobengula. According
to Mutunhu Tendai (1976) This was accomplished by the financial backing and military support of Africa's
greatest racist and most notorious imperialist Cecil John Rhodes. On October 30, 1888, Rhodes' imperial
agents, Charle! Rudd, Rochford Maguire and Francis Thompson, with the connivance of the Rev. Charles
Helm of the London Missionary Society, tricked and deceived King Lobengula of the Matabele to sign a
mineral concession whose contents were not fully and truthfully explained by the missionary who spoke
IsiNdebele. This was the first great step that was made by the British colonialist in the colonisation of
Zimbabwe
The Granting of the Royal Charter to the British South Africa Company (1889) was the next move that was
taken in the colonisation of Zimbabwe by the British colonialists to strengthen British claims over the
region. After the signing of the Rudd concession Cecil John Rhodes quickly went to the Queen to be granted
with the royal charter which would allow him to occupy Southern Rhodesia Hence we say the granting of
the Royal charter was another step that was taken by the British colonialist in the colonisation of Zimbabwe
In 1890 the Pioneer Column a group of settlers and soldiers, formed by the BSAC marched north from
South Africa avoiding Matabeleland and established Fort Salisbury on September 12, 1890, marking the
formal occupation of Mashonaland. This was a major move by the white settlers as they now had access to
most part of the land and resources of the country hence we say the Pioneer column was a step towards the
colonisation of Zimbabwe by the British colonialist.
The colonization of Zimbabwe (formerly Southern Rhodesia) by the British took place in the late 19th
century. Here are five key steps in the process:
1. Royal Charter Granted to the British South Africa Company (1889)
o Cecil Rhodes, a British imperialist, obtained a Royal Charter from Queen Victoria for his
British South Africa Company (BSAC), allowing it to administer and exploit territories in
Southern Africa, including present-day Zimbabwe.
2. Signing of the Rudd Concession (1888)
o Rhodes' representatives, led by Charles Rudd, secured the Rudd Concession from King
Lobengula of the Ndebele people. The agreement, often obtained under dubious
circumstances, gave BSAC rights to exploit minerals and land in the region.
3. Pioneer Column and Occupation (1890)
o The BSAC organized the Pioneer Column, a group of settlers and soldiers, which marched
north from South Africa and established Fort Salisbury (now Harare) on September 12, 1890,
marking the formal occupation of Mashonaland.
4. Resistance and Defeat of the Ndebele and Shona (1893-1897)
o The Ndebele and Shona people resisted British rule in the First Matabele War (1893) and
later in the First Chimurenga (1896-1897). However, they were defeated due to superior
British weaponry, leading to complete British control.
5. Formalization of British Rule (1923)
o After BSAC rule ended, Southern Rhodesia became a British colony in 1923 following a
referendum among white settlers, leading to direct British administration and further
entrenchment of colonial rule.
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ChatGPT said:
Detailed Steps in the Colonization of Zimbabwe
The colonization of Zimbabwe was driven by British imperial ambitions, led by Cecil Rhodes and his
British South Africa Company (BSAC). Below is a more detailed breakdown of the process:
1. The Rudd Concession (1888)
Before direct British involvement, Cecil Rhodes sought control over the mineral-rich lands of the Ndebele
Kingdom, ruled by King Lobengula. He sent Charles Rudd, one of his agents, to negotiate an agreement
with Lobengula.
The Rudd Concession, signed in 1888, granted exclusive mineral rights to the BSAC in exchange
for weapons, money, and British protection.
Lobengula later realized that the British had tricked him, as the agreement was interpreted as giving
Rhodes full control over his kingdom.
Lobengula tried to revoke the concession, but the British government used it as a justification for
colonization.
2. The Royal Charter and Pioneer Column (1889-1890)
To strengthen British claims over the region, Rhodes sought official approval from the British government.
In 1889, the British Crown granted a Royal Charter to the British South Africa Company
(BSAC), giving it authority to occupy and administer the land north of the Limpopo River.
In 1890, Rhodes sent a military and settler expedition known as the Pioneer Column, composed of
about 200 settlers and 500 armed policemen, to march into Mashonaland.
On September 12, 1890, they raised the British flag and established Fort Salisbury (now Harare),
marking the beginning of colonial rule.
3. The Ndebele Wars and the Fall of Lobengula (1893-1894)
As British settlers expanded into Ndebele lands, tensions escalated between the Ndebele people and the
BSAC.
In 1893, the First Matabele War broke out when the British accused Lobengula of raiding Shona
territories.
The British, using Maxim guns (early machine guns), crushed the Ndebele warriors, who were
armed mainly with spears.
Lobengula fled north and is believed to have died in 1894, marking the collapse of the Ndebele
Kingdom.
By 1894, Matabeleland and Mashonaland were under British rule, and white settlers began taking
over land.
4. The First Chimurenga (1896-1897) – Resistance and British Repression
The Shona and Ndebele people launched a major uprising against British rule, known as the First
Chimurenga (War of Liberation).
The Ndebele rebellion began in March 1896, followed by the Shona revolt in June 1896.
The Africans used guerrilla warfare to attack white settlers and disrupt colonial rule.
However, the British responded with brutal force, burning villages, executing leaders, and using
advanced weaponry.
By 1897, the resistance was crushed, and the British executed the last major Shona leader, Mbuya
Nehanda, in 1898.
5. Southern Rhodesia Becomes a British Colony (1923)
After years of BSAC rule, the British government decided to take direct control.
In 1922, white settlers were given the choice between joining the Union of South Africa or becoming
a self-governing colony under British rule.
A referendum was held, and the white minority voted for self-governance under Britain.
In 1923, the country was officially renamed Southern Rhodesia, becoming a British colony with an
all-white government.
Africans were further marginalized, as land, political rights, and economic power were concentrated
in the hands of European settlers.
Aftermath and Road to Independence
1930: The Land Apportionment Act reserved most fertile land for white settlers, forcing Africans
into reserves.
1953-1963: Southern Rhodesia was merged into the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland with
Zambia and Malawi.
1965: The white minority government, led by Ian Smith, declared independence unilaterally (UDI),
refusing black majority rule.
1965-1980: Zimbabweans waged the Second Chimurenga (Zimbabwe War of Liberation) against
colonial rule.
1980: After years of armed struggle, Zimbabwe gained independence under Robert Mugabe on
April 18, 1980.
Would you like more details on any specific part?
Permalink [Link] Journal Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies, 7(1) ISSN 0041-
5715 Author Mutunhu, Tendai Publication Date 1976
