20th century – 20th century
Southern Rhodesia
The Land Apportionment Act of 1930, enforced in 1931, formalized racial allocation of land in Southern Rhodesia. It reserved a large European Area, restricted African landholding, and divided the territory into Native Reserves, a Native Purchase Area, a European Area, and an Unassigned Area. The legislation entrenched the economic and political advantages of the white minority.
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The Story
European landholding in Southern Rhodesia expanded substantially during the period of British South Africa Company rule and subsequent white-dominated self-government. By 1911, Europeans had acquired about 7,700,000 hectares, and by 1925 they owned approximately 12,500,000 hectares. These holdings included nearly all land above 900 metres within forty kilometres of the railways, areas valued for their mild temperatures and dependable rainfall.
The Land Apportionment Act was enacted in 1930 and enforced in April 1931. It divided the country into four major categories: Native Reserves, a Native Purchase Area, the European Area, and an Unassigned Area. The European Area comprised 50.8 percent of the country, while Native Reserves accounted for 22.4 percent and the Unassigned Area for 18.4 percent. Urban areas were included within the European Area.
The legislation gave legal force to an unequal distribution that had already developed through settler acquisition and political control. Africans had purchased only about 18,000 hectares outside the Native Reserves by 1925, compared with the vast European holdings. Land served the white minority both as a factor of production and as an object of speculation, while the Act restricted the possibility of independent economic development for the African majority.
20th century – 20th century
Southern Rhodesia
The Land Apportionment Act of 1930, enforced in 1931, formalized racial allocation of land in Southern Rhodesia. It reserved a large European Area, restricted African landholding, and divided the territory into Native Reserves, a Native Purchase Area, a European Area, and an Unassigned Area. The legislation entrenched the economic and political advantages of the white minority.
Continue exploring
The Story
European landholding in Southern Rhodesia expanded substantially during the period of British South Africa Company rule and subsequent white-dominated self-government. By 1911, Europeans had acquired about 7,700,000 hectares, and by 1925 they owned approximately 12,500,000 hectares. These holdings included nearly all land above 900 metres within forty kilometres of the railways, areas valued for their mild temperatures and dependable rainfall.
The Land Apportionment Act was enacted in 1930 and enforced in April 1931. It divided the country into four major categories: Native Reserves, a Native Purchase Area, the European Area, and an Unassigned Area. The European Area comprised 50.8 percent of the country, while Native Reserves accounted for 22.4 percent and the Unassigned Area for 18.4 percent. Urban areas were included within the European Area.
The legislation gave legal force to an unequal distribution that had already developed through settler acquisition and political control. Africans had purchased only about 18,000 hectares outside the Native Reserves by 1925, compared with the vast European holdings. Land served the white minority both as a factor of production and as an object of speculation, while the Act restricted the possibility of independent economic development for the African majority.
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