The Southern Rhodesia general election of April 25, 1946 was held seven years after the previous election

Southern Rhodesia general election, 1939

The Southern Rhodesia general election of April 14, 1939 was the fifth election since the colony of Southern Rhodesia was granted self-government. Prime Minister Godfrey Huggins' United Party government were re-elected in a landslide...

, the term of the Assembly having been extended so that there would be no general election during the Second World War. The election showed a strong shift to the right, as the United Party government led by Prime Minister

Prime Minister of Rhodesia

The Prime Minister of Rhodesia was the head of government in the colony of Rhodesia. Rhodesia's political system was modelled on the Westminster system and the Prime Minister's role was similar to that of the same position in other countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New...

 Godfrey Huggins lost its overall majority; however, Huggins could count on the support of one of the factions of the Rhodesia Labour Party

Rhodesia Labour Party

The Rhodesia Labour Party was a political party which existed in Southern Rhodesia from 1923 until the 1950s. Originally formed on the model of the British Labour Party from trade unions and being especially dominated by railway workers, it formed the main opposition party from 1934 to 1946...

 in any vote of confidence and therefore remained in office.

Franchise and Electoral procedure

During the war a number of changes to the franchise had been made. The arrival of large numbers of British citizens to train as pilots for the Royal Air Force

Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...

 from 1940 led to a sudden increase in the electorate. Many Rhodesians felt that the forces personnel ought not to have the vote, given that their presence in Rhodesia was transitory and they had no long-term commitment. Therefore the Assembly passed the Electoral Amendment Act 1941 which disfranchised them. The Act also disfranchised British citizens from other dominions who were not prepared to make a declaration of willingness to serve in Southern Rhodesia's defence forces. A third provision of the Act was to extend a previous lifetime disqualification of those sentenced to imprisonment to those given suspended prison sentences.

In the Civil Disabilities Act 1942, anyone convicted of treason

Treason

In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...

able or seditious

Sedition

In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...

 practices, those who had deserted from or evaded service in the Army, or who were cashiered or dishonourably discharged, was disqualified from registration as a voter. To cope with the large number of Rhodesians serving away from the colony in the armed forces, the Active Service Voters Act 1943 permitted them to record their votes in a general election. They were permitted to vote for a political party rather than an individual candidate.

Political parties

The twists and turns within the Rhodesia Labour Party which led it to divide into two parties at this election are recounted in the article on the Rhodesia Labour Party

Rhodesia Labour Party

The Rhodesia Labour Party was a political party which existed in Southern Rhodesia from 1923 until the 1950s. Originally formed on the model of the British Labour Party from trade unions and being especially dominated by railway workers, it formed the main opposition party from 1934 to 1946...

.

Jacob Smit, who had been an ally of Huggins in Reform Party days and previously served at the Ministry of Finance, went into opposition early in 1944. He joined a group of conservatives who were developing a new political party on the principles of economy in public spending, free enterprise, and seeking dominion status within the British Empire. Smit was soon appointed the Leader of this group, which named itself the Southern Rhodesia Liberal Party

Southern Rhodesia Liberal Party

The Southern Rhodesian Liberal Party was a political party in Southern Rhodesia, founded in 1939 by Jacob Smit , the former United Party minister of finance...

.

Summary result

Electorate: 40,943
Turnout: 67.1%

Party	Seats in 1939 Southern Rhodesia general election, 1939 The Southern Rhodesia general election of April 14, 1939 was the fifth election since the colony of Southern Rhodesia was granted self-government. Prime Minister Godfrey Huggins' United Party government were re-elected in a landslide...	Candidates	Elected	Unopposed	Popular vote
Votes	%
United Party United Federal Party The United Federal Party, previously known as the United Party and the United Rhodesia Party, was one of Southern Rhodesia's most successful political parties, and governed the country for over 30 years...	23	30	13	-	11,865	43.2
Southern Rhodesia Liberal Party Southern Rhodesia Liberal Party The Southern Rhodesian Liberal Party was a political party in Southern Rhodesia, founded in 1939 by Jacob Smit , the former United Party minister of finance...	-	29	12	-	9,041	32.9
Rhodesia Labour Party Rhodesia Labour Party The Rhodesia Labour Party was a political party which existed in Southern Rhodesia from 1923 until the 1950s. Originally formed on the model of the British Labour Party from trade unions and being especially dominated by railway workers, it formed the main opposition party from 1934 to 1946...	-	23	3	-	4,583	16.7
Southern Rhodesia Labour Party Rhodesia Labour Party The Rhodesia Labour Party was a political party which existed in Southern Rhodesia from 1923 until the 1950s. Originally formed on the model of the British Labour Party from trade unions and being especially dominated by railway workers, it formed the main opposition party from 1934 to 1946...	7	11	2	-	1,540	5.6
Independents Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...	-	6	-	-	424	1.6
Totals	30	99	30	-	27,453	100%

Results

• Ind - Independent
  Independent (politician)
  In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
  
  
• Lab - Rhodesia Labour Party
  Rhodesia Labour Party
  The Rhodesia Labour Party was a political party which existed in Southern Rhodesia from 1923 until the 1950s. Originally formed on the model of the British Labour Party from trade unions and being especially dominated by railway workers, it formed the main opposition party from 1934 to 1946...
  
  
• L - Liberal Party
• SR Lab - Southern Rhodesia Labour Party
  Rhodesia Labour Party
  The Rhodesia Labour Party was a political party which existed in Southern Rhodesia from 1923 until the 1950s. Originally formed on the model of the British Labour Party from trade unions and being especially dominated by railway workers, it formed the main opposition party from 1934 to 1946...
  
  
• UP - United Party
  United Federal Party
  The United Federal Party, previously known as the United Party and the United Rhodesia Party, was one of Southern Rhodesia's most successful political parties, and governed the country for over 30 years...
  
  

Constituency Electorate and turnout	Candidate	Party	Votes
AVONDALE 1,632 (75.4%)	Albert Rubidge Washington Stumbles	L	567
	Cecil Douglas Dryden	UP	488
	Neil Housman Wilson	Ind	77
	Alexander Aitken Draper	SR Lab	57
	George Arthur Henry Radford	Lab	41
BULAWAYO CENTRAL 1,644 (63.8%)	† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Donald Macintyre	SR Lab	353
	Henry Alfred Holmes	UP	327
	Mathew Henry Gibson	Lab	242
	Olive Hope Robertson	L	127
BULAWAYO EAST 1,231 (70.8%)	David Wood Young	UP	632
	Llewellyn Davies	L	239
BULAWAYO NORTH 1,407 (61.3%)	† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Thomas Hugh William Beadle	UP	666
	Cecil Maurice Baker	Lab	196
BULAWAYO SOUTH 1,949 (61.5%)	James Stuart McNeillie	Lab	518
	Malcolm Granger Fleming	UP	425
	Theodore Albert Edward Holdengarde	L	185
	Arthur Harold Bean	SR Lab	71
CHARTER 1,051 (74.8%)	Jacob Letterstedt Smit	L	360
	Herbert Jordan Posselt	UP	304
	Mrs. Louise Hosea Fourie	Lab	122
EASTERN 1,247 (71.2%)	Aubrey William Dunn	L	490
	† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Jacobus Petrus De Kock	UP	398
GATOOMA 1,175 (62.0%)	George Munro	L	287
	William George Vowles	UP	243
	Arthur Henry Edwin Haycock	Lab	198
GWANDA 1,113 (67.3%)	William Henry Elliott	UP	292
	George Wilburn Rudland	L	287
	Edwin Harley	Lab	170
GWELO 1,405 (70.6%)	Robert Williamson	L	441
	† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Max Danziger	UP	385
	Harry Joseph Filmer	Lab	166
HARTLEY 1,360 (68.6%)	Thomas James Golding	L	487
	† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Hugh Volant Wheeler	UP	446
HIGHLANDS 1,951 (75.7%)	Charles Arden Bott	L	757
	† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Leslie Benjamin Fereday	UP	595
	Charles Findlay	Lab	124
HILLSIDE 1,690 (71.0%)	† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Harry Herbert Davies	Lab	673
	Eric Tom Hepburn	UP	438
	John Wilfred Bush	L	88
INSIZA 1,165 (61.4%)	Reginald Stephen Garfield Todd Garfield Todd Sir Reginald Stephen Garfield Todd was a reformist Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia from 1953 to 1958 and later became an opponent of white minority rule in Rhodesia. He was born in Invercargill, New Zealand.-Background:...	UP	330
	Victor Henry van Breda	Lab	195
	Guy Maxwell Foy Southey	L	190
LOMAGUNDI 1,128 (66.1%)	Patrick Archibald Wise	L	374
	† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... George Henry Hackwill	UP	372
MARANDELLAS 1,292 (74.0%)	Leslie Major Cullinan	UP	476
	William Thomas Edward Fitzsimons	L	340
	Edward Bostock Harben	SR Lab	140
MAZOE 918 (64.4%)	† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Edward Walter Lionel Noaks	UP	360
	Jack Herbert Keightley	L	213
	William Ramsay Ramsay	SR Lab	18
QUE QUE 1,361 (79.9%)	George Arthur Davenport	UP	377
	John Henry Cremer	L	257
	Thomas Nangle	Lab	246
RAYLTON 1,613 (67.2%)	† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Lawrence John Walter Keller	Lab	470
	Kenneth Mackenzie Goodenough	UP	360
	Barend Gerhardus Retief	SR Lab	183
	David Graham Johnstone	L	71
SALISBURY CENTRAL 1,470 (63.5%)	Leslie Manfred Noel Hodson	UP	438
	Ronald Leo Thomas	L	224
	Charles Olley	Ind	191
	† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Edgar Pope Vernall	Lab	73
	Mrs. Agnes Tait Wilson	Ind	7
SALISBURY CITY 1,683 (66.7%)	† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Jacob Hendrik Smit	L	565
	Robert Wynne Truscott	UP	352
	Arthur Tom North	Lab	115
	Mrs. Gladys Maasdorp	SR Lab	91
SALISBURY GARDENS 1,408 (66.4%)	Sir Ernest Lucas Guest Ernest Lucas Guest Sir Ernest Lucas Guest KBE, CMG, CVO, LLD was a Rhodesian statesman, lawyer and soldier. His grandfather moved from Kidderminster, England to South Africa, where he was born in Grahamstown. At the outbreak of the Second Boer War, although he was underage, he enlisted and saw active service...	UP	472
	David Keith Watt	L	390
	Ernest Roy Wright	SR Lab	39
	Edwin Robert Wilson Major	Lab	34
SALISBURY NORTH 1,199 (67.8%)	† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Godfrey Martin Huggins	UP	525
	Eric Kenneth Hockey	L	265
	David Heurtley Linton	Ind	23
SALISBURY SOUTH 1,741 (65.4%)	Denzil Crichton Paul	L	453
	† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... George Henry Walker	Lab	338
	Mrs. Muriel Ena Rosin	UP	295
	Mrs. Otilia Liebermann	Ind	52
SELUKWE 1,237 (68.0%)	George Baden-Powell Tunmer	L	421
	Egon Aage Klifborg	Lab	232
	Charles William Fenton Wells	UP	188
UMTALI NORTH 1,036 (65.9%)	† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Tom Ian Findlay Wilson	UP	413
	Harry Thomas Fairbridge Went	SR Lab	129
	Christopher Henry Perrem	L	96
	Roelof Hendrik Venter	Lab	45
UMTALI SOUTH 1,181 (70.9%)	† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... James Brown Lister	SR Lab	421
	Edgar Cuthbert Fremantle Whitehead Edgar Whitehead Sir Edgar Cuthbert Fremantle Whitehead, OBE, was a Rhodesian politician. He was a longstanding member of the Southern Rhodesia Legislative Assembly, although his career was interrupted by other posts and by illness. In particular he had poor eyesight, and wore very thick glasses, and later...	UP	331
	George Cyril Hamilton-Browne	L	68
	Hajo Spandow	Lab	17
VICTORIA 1,333 (67.8%)	Raymond Osborne Stockil	L	522
	† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... William Alexander Eustace Winterton	UP	342
	John Theodore Appel	Lab	40
WANKIE 1,125 (46.2%)	John Alexander Ewing	UP	200
	† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Allan Watson Whittington	Lab	197
	Benjamin Austen Williams	L	123
WESTERN 1,198 (66.1%)	† Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... Patrick Bissett Fletcher	UP	395
	Frederick William Sauerman	L	154
	Francis Edward John Patrick Murray	Lab	131
	Frank Richard Peach	Ind	74
	Martin Olds	SR Lab	38

Lomagundi

On July 15, 1946 an election petition from George Henry Hackwill in relation to the Lomagundi district was allowed. As a result Patrick Archibald Wise was unseated, and Hackwill was declared elected.

Umtali North

Tom Ian Findlay Wilson resigned from the Assembly in September 1946. A byelection was held to replace him on November 8, 1946.

Constituency Electorate and turnout	Candidate	Party	Votes
UMTALI NORTH 800 (79.3%)	Edgar Cuthbert Fremantle Whitehead Edgar Whitehead Sir Edgar Cuthbert Fremantle Whitehead, OBE, was a Rhodesian politician. He was a longstanding member of the Southern Rhodesia Legislative Assembly, although his career was interrupted by other posts and by illness. In particular he had poor eyesight, and wore very thick glasses, and later...	UP	427
	Christopher Henry Perrem	L	207

Hartley

Thomas James Golding died on August 2, 1947. A byelection was held in his constituency on September 26, 1947.

Constituency Electorate and turnout	Candidate	Party	Votes
HARTLEY 943 (49.9%)	Patrick Archibald Wise	L	543
	Ralph Drew Palmer	UP	294