Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland election, 1953

The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland general election of December 15, 1953 was the first election to the legislative assembly of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which had been formed a few months before. The election saw a landslide victory for the Federal Party under Godfrey Huggins, who had been Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia for the past 20 years.

Composition of the Federal Assembly

Voters elected 35 members of a unicameral Federal Assembly: 14 from Southern Rhodesia constituencies, 8 from Northern Rhodesia constituencies, and four from Nyasaland. In addition, there were three members from each territory representing African interests: one of these was a European and two were African. In Southern Rhodesia only, these positions were elected; in the other territories, the Governor appointed the European member, while an electoral college chose the African members.

Electoral qualifications

When the Federal constitution was agreed at the London conference of 1953, the qualification for electors in Northern and Southern Rhodesia was taken as the same as those in operation for territorial elections in those territories. Nyasaland did not have direct elections at this point and so was excluded until the Legislative Council there enacted proper provisions.

At the election day, the electorate was comprised as follows:

pecially elected African members

pecially elected African members

pecially elected African members

ebakwe byelection

J.R. Dendy Young, the Confederate Party member for Sebakwe (Southern Rhodesia), was appointed as a Judge. He resigned on January 26, 1956, and the byelection to succeed him was held on April 5, 1956. By this time, the Confederate Party had been dissolved and replaced by the Dominion Party.

Mrewa byelection

Neville Barrett, the Federal Party member for Mrewa (Southern Rhodesia) died on April 15, 1957. The byelection to replace him was held on June 6, 1957.

Mashonaland byelection

Jasper Savanhu, the specially elected African member for Mashonaland (Southern Rhodesia), had problems with the proposed new constitution in terms of its provisions for voters' qualifications. Although his responsibility was to represent the views of Africans, his electorate were predominantly Europeans. He therefore decided to vote for the proposals, but immediately to resign (August 1, 1957) and seek re-election. When nominations closed on September 27, 1957, he was the only candidate nominated, and was therefore declared elected unopposed.

eat vacant at dissolution

Paul Brereton (Federal Party), one of the ordinary members for Nyasaland, died on July 21, 1958. The seat was left vacant due to the imminent federal election.