|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| The '''New Longwoodshire Settlement Scheme''' was a plan by the colonial government of [[Rwizikuru#Self-government|Riziland]] to bring in immigrants from [[Estmere]] to the northern regions of the [[Northern Territory (Rwizikuru)|Northern Territory]]. First organised in 1938, the scheme was designed to attract 100,000 Estmerish settlers to the area by 1948.
| | {{Infobox royalty |
| | |name = Izibongo Ngonidzashe |
| | |image = IzibongoNgonidzashe75.jpg |
| | |succession = [[Monarchy of Rwizikuru|Mambo of Rwizikuru]] |
| | |reign = 1 June, 1968 - 21 September, 1979 |
| | |predecessor = ''himself as President'' |
| | |suc-type = |
| | |successor = [[Kupakwashe Ngonidzashe]] |
| | |succession2 = [[President of Rwizikuru|Chairman of the National Salvation Council]] |
| | |reign2 = 18 January, 1964 - 1 June, 1968 |
| | |suc-type2 = |
| | |predecessor2 = [[Pierre-Ardachir Niyonzima]] {{small|(as President)}} |
| | |successor2 = ''himself as Mambo'' |
| | |reg-type2 = {{nowrap|[[Vice-President of Rwizikuru|Vice-President]]}} |
| | |regent2 = [[Fred Ngonidzashe]] |
| | |spouse = [[Anatswanashe Ngonidzashe]] |
| | |issue = 10+ children, including [[Kupakwashe Ngonidzashe]] |
| | |full name = Nathaniel Izibongo Ngonidzashe |
| | |house = [[House of Ngonidzashe]] |
| | |father = [[Munonzwa Ngonidzashe]] |
| | |mother = [[Kugarakunzwana Ngonidzashe]] |
| | |birth_date = {{birth date|1921|4|28|df=y}} |
| | |birth_place = [[Vongai]], [[Rwizikuru|Riziland]] (present-day [[Rwizikuru]]) |
| | |death_date = {{death date and age|1979|9|21|1921|04|28|df=y}} |
| | |death_place = [[Crogan]], [[Rwizikuru]] |
| | |religion = {{wp|Methodism|High Estmerish Church}} |
| | |occupation = {{wp|General officer|General}}, {{wp|politician}} |
| | |signature = |
| | }} |
| | '''Izibongo Ngonidzashe''' (28 April, 1921 - 21 September, 1979) was a politician and military official, serving as {{wp|general}}, as the [[President of Rwizikuru|Chairman of the National Salvation Council]] after a [[Rwizikuran coup d'etat, 1964|1964 coup]] that overthrew [[Pierre-Ardachir Niyonzima]], and the first [[Monarchy of Rwizikuru|Mambo of Rwizikuru]], ascending the throne in 1968, and reigning until his death in 1979. Having reigned for 15 years, 8 months, and 3 days, he was the longest reigning leader of an independent Rwizikuru until his son and successor, [[Kupakwashe Ngonidzashe]] surpassed his record on 25 May, 1995 as the longest reigning leader of Rwizikuru. |
|
| |
|
| ==Background== | | ==Early life== |
| [[File:Nyangani_from_nyamuziwa_source.jpg|250px|thumb|left|View of [[Mount Rekusununguka]] near [[Godfredson, Rwizikuru|Godfredson]], 2007]]
| | Izibongo Ngonidzashe was born on 28 April, 1921, as the second child and eldest son of [[Munonzwa Ngonidzashe]] and [[Kugarakunzwana Ngonidzashe]] in the town of [[Vongai]] at the district of [[Parunoguma]]. His father was the youngest son of [[Mutupo Ngonidzashe]], who was the main ruler of the area around present-day Vongai in the late nineteenth century, whose ancestors held control of the area since roughly the 1700s. |
| In the aftermath of the [[Great War (Kylaris)|Great War]], [[Estmere]] faced significant housing shortages and lack of economic opportunities as a result of its occupation during the Great War by [[Functionalist Gaullica]]. As the country rebuilt, many Estmerish people, particularly from the lower classes left for the [[Rwizikuru#Recolonization|Colony of Riziland]], as one of the few major Estmerish colonies remaining in the [[Estmerish Empire]], which unlike [[Satavia]] or [[Imagua]], lacked {{wp|self-government}}.
| |
|
| |
|
| With the influx of Estmerish immigrants to the colony from 1936 onward, most of them moved to [[Port Fitzhubert]], with some of the immigrants, particularly the more affluent, headed to the [[White Highlands]]. This led to competition between the newly arrived working class white immigrants and the working class Bahian population present in the city: while the colonial government supported the white population "to the extent of its abilities," due to the financial situation in both the colony and the metropole, it put pressure on the government to find "a suitable site that is as close as possible to [[Estmere]] in terms of climate."
| | His family moved to [[Port Fitzhubert]] in 1923, as his father sought to give his children a good education. Thus, in 1926, Izibongo Ngonidzashe entered the [[Charles Fitzhubert School]], where he was described as an excellent student by his teachers, and he was noted for his propensity to go into the library to study military history for hours at a time. |
|
| |
|
| At the same time, the colonial government sought to focus on increasing its authority on the peripherial regions of the country, including the northern areas of the [[Northern Territory (Rwizikuru)|Northern Territory]], which outside of [[Rusere]] had very limited control from the colonial government, despite a continuous presence since the early 1890s in [[Rusere]]. This area was dominated by the {{wp|Tigrinya people|Akortu}} north of the [[Tedawabe River]], who also inhabited adjacent parts of what was then the [[Gaullica|Gaullican]] colony of [[Haute-Gond]], which in the post-Great War period became the [[Werania|Weranian]] Mandate of [[Obergond]]. Thus, by 1936, outside of Rusere and the [[Port Fitzhubert-Rusere railway line|Port Fitzhubert-Rusere line]], this region of the Northern Territory was not under colonial control.
| | In 1932, he finished his elementary studies, and took the exams to get into the [[Shungudzemwoyo Nhema Grammar School|James Parlow Grammar School]] (present-day [[Shungudzemwoyo Nhema Grammar School]]). After passing them, he began his schooling at the James Parlow Grammar School, where they noted his "knowledge of most things," and his charisma, which they likened to his father. |
|
| |
|
| ==History==
| | After finishing {{wp|sixth form}} in 1939, (TBC). |
| ===Selection===
| |
| [[File:Huggins.jpg|250px|thumb|right|[[Chief Minister of Riziland|Chief Minister]] [[Byron Wigram]], 1937]]
| |
| In 1937, [[Chief Minister of Riziland|Chief Minister]] [[Byron Wigram]] began considering plans for "an extensive area of settlement along the periphery of the colony." As the first Chief Minister of the newly [[Rwizikuru#Self-government|self-governing colony]], Wigram sought to increase the numbers of the Estmerish population within the colony "to counteract the influence of the [[Chennois|Gaullicans]] in [[East Riziland]] and [[Yekumavirira|Kigomba]]." In addition, with immigration numbers rising, it became urgent to encourage [[Murungu|varungu]] to settle in other areas of the colony, as most of the good land around [[Crogan]] was now owned by long-time residents, while prices in the [[White Highlands]] left many unable to move there permanently.
| |
| | |
| In addition, strategic considerations had to be taken into account: with much of Riziland's borders now adjoining Estmerish mandates administered from [[Port Fitzhubert]], and with a high likelihood that these areas would become part of Riziland, the colonial government felt that there was little need to exert influence over the former border regions, which given the limited budgets in the post-war period, meant that the colonial government had to choose a location "close to or on the border with the former Gaullican colony of the Upper Gonda."
| |
| | |
| Thus, two options were presented for the proposed scheme: the first option was in [[North Balisaland]], which had the advantages of easier terrain to construct at, and its larger area meant that more land could be "repurposed from tribal use to white use," although it had the disadvantage of poor infrastructure, as the [[Rwizikuru Rail|railway line]] to [[Chekumabvazuva]] ended in [[Mutupo]], which would necessitate building an extension of the railway line to the area. The second option was in the [[Northern Territory (Rwizikuru)|Northern Territory]], which although the area was dominated by the [[Ambakaran Mountains]], and would be significantly smaller than "any area carved out of North Balisaland," had an advantage of already-existing infrastructure, as there was a railway line connecting [[Rusere]] to [[Port Fitzhubert]], which would enable settlement of the area to be done cheaply and without much prior investment on the part of the colonial government.
| |
| | |
| With both areas having a {{wp|subtropical highland climate}}, it was decided in January 1938 that the Northern Territory would be the site of the settlement scheme, as it had fewer up-front costs for the Estmerish and colonial governments, which reduced the likelihood of the project "proving ruinous to the Estmerish economy." Over the next six months, surveyors would survey the "flatter regions" of the area in order to divide the area up for Euclean settlement. Land surveying was done "with little to no regard" to traditional ownership, as due to the historical lack of authority over the area, Estmere never paid attention to land ownership in the area, and thus assumed that the lands were all public lands. Furthermore, the surveyed areas were declared to be "exclusively for the use of Eucleans," prohibiting virtually all Bahians (excluding [[Mirites]] and [[Freemen]]) from owning property in the area. These policies would lead to tensions between colonial officials and the {{wp|Tigrinya people|Akortu}} and {{wp|Bemba people|Makomo}} peoples living in the surveyed areas, as their lands were stolen for the purpose of the scheme.
| |
| | |
| ===Settlement===
| |
| [[File:BatlowSoldiersSettlementEstateSettlersAndFamilies.jpg|250px|thumb|left|A farm near [[Newstead, Rwizikuru|Newstead]], 1941]]
| |
| In June 1938, the New Longwoodshire Settlement Scheme officially began, with Byron Wigram planning for the area to "accommodate 100,000 Estmerish people in an outpost of Empire in [[Bahia]]." Based on the information he received, Wigram declared the area "New Longwoodshire," comparing the [[Ambakaran Mountains]] to the [[Neeves]] within [[Longwoodshire]].
| |
| | |
| Migrants willing to settle in rural areas were given 160 acres of land, under the condition that they build a "suitable" dwelling within a year, and cultivate at least 40 acres within five years. In addition, this scheme was restricted to immigrants from [[Estmere]] (including [[Borland]]) and to [[Murungu|native-born whites]] who demonstrated a "clear knowledge of {{wp|English language|Estmerish}}, effectively precluding [[Chennois]] and other {{wp|French language|Gaullophone}} whites from settling in the area.
| |
| | |
| Initially, the settlement scheme progressed relatively well: while due to {{wp|copper}} mining near [[Rusere]], few farms were set up around Rusere, farms were established on the banks of the [[Tedawabe River]], while infrastructure improvements were made to connect the farms and the new villages established by the Estmerish settlers, such as [[Godfredson, Rwizikuru|Godfredson]] and [[Newstead, Rwizikuru|Newstead]], with Rusere. However, tensions with the {{wp|Tigrinya people|Akortu}} and {{wp|Bemba people|Makomo}} would rise, with the Akortu in particular beginning to attack settlers living in the countryside, beginning the [[Akortu insurgency]] which lasts to this day, as Akortu separatists fought against the colonial milita, who were seen as protecting the interests of the white settlers. This greatly hampered settlement, particularly outside of Rusere, while many settlers lacked the skills to farm, as they generally came from industrial centres in Estmere.
| |
| | |
| By 1941, of the 81,959 Estmerophone whites in the colony and mandates, 27,491 were living within New Longwoodshire. However, of the 27,491 whites in New Longwoodshire, 18,975 lived in Rusere, with only 8,516 living elsewhere within New Longwoodshire. This was in contrast to the 109,491 natives residing within New Longwoodshire, "with only trace amounts of [[Mirites]] and [[Freemen]] present, all entirely in Rusere." These figures were disappointing to the Estmerish authorities, as this scheme seemed to have done little to actually develop the periphery.
| |
| | |
| That year, Byron Wigram was succeeded as Chief Minister by [[Jean-Louis Milhaud]]. Under Jean-Louis Milhaud, he expanded the scheme to "all Eucleans seeking a better life," which enabled Chennois and other Euclean groups to immigrate to New Longwoodshire. This move was initially objected to by many Estmerish setlers, who feared "becoming a minority in our own land," but as the Akortu insurgency intensified, Estmerish settlers were willing to accept "any newcomer so long as they are willing to defend our outpost of Estmerish civilisation."
| |
| | |
| The growing violence in New Longwoodshire against both the settlers and the colonial government would reduce immigration to the area, while many of those who settled abandoned their farms and properties, or otherwise sold them to the local population. Furthermore, as Estmere's economy recovered, there was less of a desire for Estmerish people to immigrate to Riziland, as they could find more opportunities in Estmere than in Riziland. Thus, by 1945, the white population of New Longwoodshire was estimated at only around 30,000 people, with the colonial government admitting that "there is practically zero chance that the 100,000 white immigrant target will be met by 1948," with optimistic projections now predicting 50,000 by 1948, and 100,000 by 1958, assuming current rates of immigration.
| |
| | |
| In 1945, with the election of [[Zophar Bohannon]] as the third Chief Minister, and the first Bahian to occupy that role, he prepared Riziland for independence. As part of the process, in 1945, he ended all official racial segregation, which effectively put an end to the settlement scheme, as the area could now be settled freely by Bahians. However, the scheme officially continued until the colony obtained its independence the following year: by that point, it was estimated that 31,692 whites were residing in New Longwoodshire.
| |
| | |
| ==Extent==
| |
| | |
| ==Legacy==
| |
| The New Longwoodshire Settlement Scheme is largely seen as a failure. (TBC)
| |
Izibongo Ngonidzashe (28 April, 1921 - 21 September, 1979) was a politician and military official, serving as general, as the Chairman of the National Salvation Council after a 1964 coup that overthrew Pierre-Ardachir Niyonzima, and the first Mambo of Rwizikuru, ascending the throne in 1968, and reigning until his death in 1979. Having reigned for 15 years, 8 months, and 3 days, he was the longest reigning leader of an independent Rwizikuru until his son and successor, Kupakwashe Ngonidzashe surpassed his record on 25 May, 1995 as the longest reigning leader of Rwizikuru.
Early life
Izibongo Ngonidzashe was born on 28 April, 1921, as the second child and eldest son of Munonzwa Ngonidzashe and Kugarakunzwana Ngonidzashe in the town of Vongai at the district of Parunoguma. His father was the youngest son of Mutupo Ngonidzashe, who was the main ruler of the area around present-day Vongai in the late nineteenth century, whose ancestors held control of the area since roughly the 1700s.
His family moved to Port Fitzhubert in 1923, as his father sought to give his children a good education. Thus, in 1926, Izibongo Ngonidzashe entered the Charles Fitzhubert School, where he was described as an excellent student by his teachers, and he was noted for his propensity to go into the library to study military history for hours at a time.
In 1932, he finished his elementary studies, and took the exams to get into the James Parlow Grammar School (present-day Shungudzemwoyo Nhema Grammar School). After passing them, he began his schooling at the James Parlow Grammar School, where they noted his "knowledge of most things," and his charisma, which they likened to his father.
After finishing sixth form in 1939, (TBC).
