ZIMSEC O Level · History · Form 3
The scramble for Africa
European powers rushed to take control of African territory in the late 19th century.
- Causes: need for raw materials and markets (Industrial Revolution), national prestige, strategic interests, and the spread of Christianity.
- The Berlin Conference (1884–85) set rules for claiming African land; Africans were not represented.
The colonisation of Zimbabwe
- 1888: the Moffat Treaty and the Rudd Concession; Cecil Rhodes used the Rudd Concession to obtain a royal charter for the British South Africa Company (1889).
- 1890: the Pioneer Column entered Mashonaland and raised the flag at Fort Salisbury (Harare) in September.
- 1893: the Anglo-Ndebele war; Lobengula fled and Bulawayo was occupied.
- 1896–97: the First Chimurenga/Umvukela against land seizures, cattle confiscation, forced labour and hut tax. Leaders included Mbuya Nehanda, Sekuru Kaguvi and Mkwati.
Colonial rule
- Land Apportionment Act (1930) divided land racially, giving Africans the poorer reserves.
- Africans paid taxes and provided cheap labour on farms and mines.
Exam tip: Use dates in sequence; examiners reward accurate chronology.
Check yourself
- What was the purpose of the Berlin Conference?
- Which company colonised Zimbabwe in 1890?
- Give two causes of the First Chimurenga/Umvukela.
Show answers
- To set rules for European powers claiming African territory and avoid war among them.
- The British South Africa Company.
- Any two: loss of land and cattle, hut tax, forced labour, ill-treatment by settlers.
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