1926 Northern Rhodesian general election

General elections were held in Northern Rhodesia on 22 May 1926 to elect the Legislative Council for the first time.[1] A further four members were appointed by the Governor in September 1926.[2]

Electoral system edit

The Legislative Council Ordinance 1925 published in June 1925 provided for the election of members to the Legislative Council,[3] which had been established in 1924. Five constituencies were created; Eastern, Livingstone and Western, Midland, Northern and Southern.[4] Voting was restricted to British subjects, with suffrage granted to men aged 21 or over and women aged 25 or over, as long as they had lived in their constituency for at least six months and had property worth £250 or an annual salary of at least £200.[3] There were a total of 1,036 registered voters.[5]

Constituency Settlements Registered voters
Eastern Abercorn, Chiengi, Chinsali, Fort Jameson, Fort Rosebery, Kasama, Kawambwa, Lundazi, Luwingu, Mpika, Mporokoso, Petauke, Serenje 170
Livingstone & Western Balovale, Kalabo, Lealui, Livingstone, Mankoya, Nalolo, Sesheke 331
Midland Feira, Lusaka, Mumbwa 159
Northern Broken Hill, Kasempa, Mkushi, Mwinilunga, Ndola, Solwezi 201
Southern Kalomo, Mazabuka, Namwala 175
Source: Legislative Council of Northern Rhodesia[5]

Campaign edit

In two constituencies, Eastern and Livingstone and Western, there was only one candidate, both of whom were elected unopposed. Two candidates ran in Northern and Southern, whilst three ran in Midland.[1]

Results edit

Constituency Candidates Votes % Notes
Eastern Herbert Goodhart Unopposed
Livingstone and Western Leopold Moore Unopposed
Midland Douglas Stirke Elected
John Powell
Edward Copeman
Northern Louis Gordon 105 66.0 Elected
William Doull 54 34.0
Southern Thomas Henderson Murray Elected
Frederick Clarke
Nominated Henry Parkin
John Smith
Arthur Stephenson
Tudor Trevor
Source: Northern Rhodesia Gazette 1926, East Africa[6]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Northern Rhodesia Gazette, 26 April 1926, pp32–33
  2. ^ "Government Notice No. 110 of 1926", Northern Rhodesia Gazette, 9 September 1926, p63
  3. ^ a b "Ordinance No. 25 of 1925", Northern Rhodesia Gazette, 6 June 1925, pp95–96
  4. ^ "Government Notice No. 97 of 1925", Northern Rhodesia Gazette, 23 July 1925, p183
  5. ^ a b Official Verbatim Report of the Debates of the Fifth Session (Resumed) of the Ninth Legislative Council, Legislative Council of Northern Rhodesia, p19
  6. ^ "Personalia", East Africa, 23 September 1926, p12