Annual report on Northern Rhodesia / Colonial Office.

  • Colonial Office
Date:
[1951]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on Northern Rhodesia / Colonial Office. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    37/126 page 25
    Chapter 5 : Commerce The year 1951 saw a continuation of the expansion of the trade of the Territory which has been a feature of its economy since the war, and both imports and exports reached new high levels. This expansion has not been achieved without having to face grave difficulties. The mining industry remains the main source of income and although progress has been made in recent years towards a more diversified pattern of industry, the Territory remains dependent for many essentials of life on imports. The supply of these to an inland country dependent on a single railway link connected to a few ports over great distances subjects the transport system to great strain. The ports upon which Northern Rhodesia depends have, moreover, to be shared with the developing economies of Southern Rhodesia and South Africa. The supply of essential imports to Northern Rhodesia was, therefore, dominated during 1951 by the problem of port capacity and railway transport. The expansion in trade attained in spite of these difficulties represents, therefore, a considerable achievement. Decisions were taken during 1951 to provide additional railway and port facilities, but until these schemes can be carried out these problems will be the main factors limiting the development of the Territory, when opportunities for investment continue to increase. The dependence on imports also means that the Territory is very sensitive to world conditions of supply and demand for the goods it requires. The increase in European population and the flow of Africans to the urban areas has required a great increase in building, resulting in a heavy demand for building materials. The position in regard to cement was greatly eased by the coming into production of the Chilanga Cement Factory with a production capacity of 50,000 tons a year, but the procurement of other building materials remained difficult. Never¬ theless, although the shortage of roofing materials, iron and steel, and timber, in particular, necessitated the continuance of control over building, a great increase in the volume and value of building was achieved. The increase in the European population and the rising standard of living of the African urban population necessitated increased im¬ portations of foodstuffs, notably wheat, butter, cheese and maize to supplement local production, which, despite expanded acreages, continues to fall behind demand. Fuel supplies continued to present serious difficulties. In particular the supplies of coal from Wankie remained well below the requirements
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3