The Southern Rhodesia Legislative Council election of April 17, 1899 were the first elections to take place in the Colony of Southern Rhodesia. They followed the Southern Rhodesia Order in Council of 1898 which granted to the Colony a Legislative Council consisting of at least ten voting members: the Administrator of Southern Rhodesia ex officio, five members nominated by the British South Africa Company, and four members elected by registered voters. The Resident Commissioner of Southern Rhodesia also sat on the Legislative Council ex officio but without the right to vote. April 17 is the 107th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (108th in leap years). ... 1899 (MDCCCXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Southern Rhodesia was the name given to the British colony situated immediately to the north of South Africa, known today as Zimbabwe. ... An Order-in-Council is a type of legislation in the United Kingdom and in the Commonwealth which is formally made in the name of the Queen by the Privy Council (Queen-in-Council), or the Governor-General or Governor by the Executive Council (Governor-General-in-Council, Governor-in... 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The flag of the British South Africa Company The British South Africa Company (BSAC) was established by Cecil Rhodes through the amalgamation of the Central Search Association and the Exploring Company, Ltd. ...

Franchise

The Order in Council did not set any of the regulations governing the election, which were left to the (acting) High Commissioner for Southern Africa to set the qualifications for voters and delimit the electoral districts, which happened in Proclamation no. 17 of 1898. The acting High Commissioner required voters to be British subjects, male, 21 years of age and older, able to write their address and occupation, and then to fulfil the following financial requirements: (a) ownership of a registered mining claim in Southern Rhodesia, or (b) occupying immovable property worth £75, or (c) receiving wages or salary of £50 per annum in Southern Rhodesia. Six months' continuous residence was also required for qualifications b and c. All voters were entered onto a common roll.

Election arrangements

With only four members to be elected, the Acting High Commissioner decided to have two districts, Mashonaland and Matabeleland, each returning two members. The election was conducted under rules first set down for Cape Colony in 1892 with a secret ballot. No political parties were in existence at the time of the election so each candidate stood on their own record. Mashonaland is a region in northern Zimbabwe. ... The Matabele are a branch of the Zulus who escaped from King Shaka under the leadership of Mzilikazi, a former general in Shakas army. ... Official language English and Dutch1 Capital Cape Town Largest City Cape Town Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 1st 569,020 km² (1910) Negligible Population  - Total (1911)  - Density Ranked 1st 2,564,965 4. ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

Results

Mashonaland

Electorate: 1,420

Matabeleland

Electorate: 3,187; Valid votes cast: 2,311; Turnout: 72.5%

Byelection

William Fairbridge, defeated in Mashonaland, lodged an election petition after the declaration of the result, alleging that Raleigh Grey's election agents were involved in misconduct duting the election. Before the hearing commenced, Grey resigned from the Council feeling that his presence was corrupted. The election court found that Grey's agents had indulged in bribery and 'treating' (providing free food and drink for voters) at a smoking concert, and invalidated his earlier election, but as Grey was no longer a member, this had no effect. Bribery is a crime defined by Blacks Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions as an official or other person in discharge of a public or legal duty. ...

In the meantime, nominations for the byelection closed on August 21, 1899 and Grey was again nominated. With no other candidate in the field he was therefore returned unopposed. August 21 is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

Nominated members

The members nominated by the British South Africa Company were:

• Mr Justice Joseph Vintcent, Senior Judge of the High Court
• Sir Thomas Charles Scanlen KCMG, Legal Adviser
• Joseph Millerd Orpen, Surveyor-General
• Townshend Griffin, Commissioner of Mines and Works
• Herbert Hayton Castens, Chief Secretary

Sir Thomas Scanlen stood down in 1901 and was replaced by John Gilbert Kotze, Attorney General. Mr Justice Vintcent stood down in 1902 and was replaced by Clarkson Henry Tredgold. For a time during 1902, Townshend Griffin was absent and was replaced by James Hutchinson Kennedy. On the Orders insignia, St Michael is often depicted subduing Satan. ...

References

• Source Book of Parliamentary Elections and Referenda in Southern Rhodesia 1898-1962 ed. by F.M.G. Willson (Department of Government, University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Salisbury 1963)
• Official Year Book of the Colony of Southern Rhodesia, No. 1 - 1924, Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia

Elections in Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia and Zimbabwe
	Legislative Council of Southern Rhodesia 1899-1923	1899 | 1902 | 1905 | 1908 | 1911 | 1914 | 1920
	Legislative Assembly of Southern Rhodesia 1924-1964	1924 | 1928 | 1933 | 1934 | 1939 | 1946 | 1948 | 1954 | 1958 | 1962
	Legislative Assembly of Rhodesia 1964-1970	1965
	House of Assembly of Rhodesia 1970-1979	1970 | 1974 | 1977
	Zimbabwe Rhodesia House of Assembly 1979-1980	1979
	Zimbabwe House of Assembly 1980-	1980 | 1985 | 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005
	Senate of Zimbabwe 2005-	2005
	President of Zimbabwe 1987-	1990 | 1996 | 2002
	Referendums	1922 | 1934 | 1953 | 1961 | 1964 | 1969 | 1979 | 2000