Annual report on the social and economic progress of the people of Northern Rhodesia.

  • Colonial Office
Date:
[1932]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on the social and economic progress of the people of Northern Rhodesia. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The status of the conquered tribes under Lewanika’s dominion was that of a mild form of slavery. This social serfdom was brought to an end by the edict of Lewanika, who in 1906 agreed to the emancipation of the slave tribes. Previous to 1899 the whole territory had been vaguely included in the Charter granted to the British South Africa Company, but in that year the Barotseland—North Western Rhodesia Order in Council placed the administration of the western portion of the country by the Company on a firm basis ; and this was closely followed by the North-Eastern Rhodesia Order in Council of 1900 with similar effect. The two territories were amalgamated in 1911 under the designation of Northern Rhodesia, and the administration of the Company (subject to the exercise of certain powers of control by the Crown) continued until 1924, when, in terms of a settlement arrived at between the Crown and the Company, the administration of the territory was assumed by the Crown, and the first Governor was appointed on 1st April, 1924. Climate, There are considerable climatic differences between various parts of the country. The Zambezi, the Luangwa, and the Kafue valleys experience a much greater humidity and a more trying heat than do the plateaux above 3,500 or 4,000 feet. The hottest months are October and November before the rains break, when the mean maximum is 97° in the Zambezi valley stations and 85° at plateau stations. The mean maximum for the eight months of the hot season (September to April) is approximately 90.3° with a mean minimum of 64.5° while the corresponding figures for the four months of the cold season (May to August) are 78.7° and 46.6°. The following table gives representative temperatures for the territory experienced during 1932 : Highest Lowest Abso- Abso¬ mean Month. mean Month. lute Month. lute Month. Max.^F. Min. JT. Max.°F. Min.°F. Livingstone, 3,000 ft. ... Broken Hill 99-1 Oct. 41-2 July 105 Oct. 36 July Observatory, 3,920 ft. ... 89-3 Oct. 47-0 July 96 Nov. 41-5 July Chinsali, 4,150 ft. ... 88-5 Oct. 50-0 July 94 Sept.-Oct. 45 June Highest temperature .. • V • • 112° Feira. Lowest ,, . 28° Mkushi. The rainy season usually commences in November and lasts until April. Slight showers occur to the north-east of the territory in August and to the north-east and north-west in September. In October the rains begin to spread over the whole territory, reaching a maximum in December. The intensity of rainfall decreases in January, this falling off appearing to be the nearest approach to the break in the rains, which is characteristic of the two seasonal areas of the central tropical zone.