ABSTRACT
The colonial history of Northern Rhodesia began in 1899 when the British South Africa Company (BSAC) received a Royal Charter to administer Southern Rhodesia. The BSAC’s influence was later extended north of the Zambezi into territory that would become Northern Rhodesia. The transition from BSAC administration to a British protectorate witnessed an increased presence of Europeans in Northern Rhodesia especially in terms of government officials but also economic opportunities attracted British shopkeepers, settlers and missionaries. When Mr. Henry Hopkinson from the Colonial Office visited the territory in August, 1952, he met with persons of mixed European and African descent at Fort Jameson. At that meeting he was addressed by H. Wm. Gardner, president of the National Association of Northern Rhodesia, who presented to him requests of persons of mixed European and African descent. First generation persons of mixed European and African descent born in Northern Rhodesia could claim to be British subjects by virtue of their birth.
