Colonisation and the First Chimurenga: notes

Colonisation

• Rhodes and the BSA Company: wanted gold and land north of the Limpopo.
• Rudd Concession (1888): Lobengula signed, thinking it gave limited mining rights. Rhodes used it to get a Royal Charter.
• Pioneer Column (1890): settlers raised the flag at Fort Salisbury.
• 1893 war: the company defeated the Ndebele army.

First Chimurenga (1896 to 1897)

• Causes: loss of land and cattle, forced labour, taxes, and a belief that spirits called for resistance.
• Leaders: Nehanda, Kaguvi and Mkwati.
• Defeat: weaker weapons, lack of unity, and settler reinforcements.
• Result: settler rule hardened and the leaders were executed.