EXTRA-TERRITORIAL AFRICAN POLICE AND SOLDIERS IN SOUTHERN RHODESIA (ZIMBABWE) 1897–1965

Abstract

During the early and mid-twentieth century, the security forces of colonial
Southern Rhodesia were dominated by African men from neighbouring territories
such as Nyasaland, Northern Rhodesia and Portuguese East Africa who had entered
the regional migrant labour system. This included many with previous military
experience. As the British South Africa Police (BSAP) evolved from a paramilitary
occupation force into a professional law enforcement organisation, extra-territorial
recruits were phased out in favour of local men fluent in local languages with
western-style education. Despite this, African police from other territories
continued to have a disproportionate impact on the force as many became longserving
and accomplished members, who dominated the paramilitary African Police
Platoon and served as drill instructors for all recruits. During the First World War,
most African soldiers in the Rhodesia Native Regiment (RNR) were migrant
workers recruited directly from Southern Rhodesia’s mines. During the Second
World War, just under half of the Rhodesian African Rifles (RAR) originated from
other territories. The recruiting of extra-territorial African soldiers declined further
in the 1950s and early 1960s as military conditions of service in their respective
homes improved, the Masvingo-Gutu area became a dependable source of local
recruits and eventually newly independent black-ruled states came into conflict with
white-ruled Rhodesia.