Towns and Secondary Industry in Rhodesia

Salisbury (Harare) in 1910

• Blacks had not been allowed in whites locations and this was protected by the Urban Location Ordinance of 1892
• The developments in mining, agriculture and transport encouraged growth and establishment of towns, such as Bulawayo, Salisbury, Umtali, Fort Victoria and Gwelo
• Secondary industries and factories were opened in the 1940s
• They were responsible for the processing the raw materials produced in mines, farms e.t.c
• The establishment of industries was also due to the fact that the BSAC wanted to invest surplus profits realized and mining and agriculture
• Textile industry was established in Kadoma (Gatooma), Iron and Steel Commission at Que Que (Kwekwe) and a sugar refinery at Bulawayo in 1936
• Shoe and clothing factories were also built in most towns
• Many Africans moved to the towns to seek employment
• Due to rapid growth of towns commerce also began with banks and shops opening
• By 1950 75 000 African workers were living in towns and it rose to 1.5 million by 1953
• The industry began to produce weapons and machinery for war during World War 2
• Rhodesia was supporting Britain
• Some Rhodesians were sent to go and offer services in the war
• A Royal Air Force training base was established in Rhodesia which trained about 11 000 pilots
• The manufactured products were exported all over the world
• The Kariba Hydro-electric was the largest and lasting achievement of the Rhodesian Front
• The economy became balanced on mining, agriculture and manufacturing
• The need for social services such as education and health rose

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