United Federal Party
Encyclopedia
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 (known since 1980 as Zimbabwe
) for over 30 years. The party was formed as the United Party (UP) in 1934, under the leadership of Godfrey Huggins, when the ruling Reform Party merged with the Rhodesian Party (formed by Charles Coghlan
in 1923).
The UP had a clear majority at every election between 1934 and 1958 except 1946, when Huggins still managed to remain as Prime Minister. When in 1953 the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
came into being and the colony of Southern Rhodesia
became a territory alongside Northern Rhodesia
and Nyasaland
, the United Party
changed its name to the United Rhodesia Party, and in 1958 yet another merger took place, when the United Rhodesia Party merged with the Federal party to form the United Federal Party.
In the same year the party split following the sacking of the liberal Garfield Todd
, who unsuccessfully contested the 1958 general election as head of a revived United Rhodesia Party.
In 1962 the United Federal Party lost the general election to the more conservative Rhodesian Front
, and ceased to function effectively as a political force after the 1965 election and UDI
.
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
's most successful political parties, and governed the country (known since 1980 as Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
) for over 30 years. The party was formed as the United Party (UP) in 1934, under the leadership of Godfrey Huggins, when the ruling Reform Party merged with the Rhodesian Party (formed by Charles Coghlan
Charles Patrick John Coghlan
Sir Charles Patrick John Coghlan was the first Premier of Southern Rhodesia and held office from October 1, 1923 until his death on August 28, 1927....
in 1923).
The UP had a clear majority at every election between 1934 and 1958 except 1946, when Huggins still managed to remain as Prime Minister. When in 1953 the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, also known as the Central African Federation , was a semi-independent state in southern Africa that existed from 1953 to the end of 1963, comprising the former self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia and the British protectorates of Northern Rhodesia,...
came into being and the colony of Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
became a territory alongside Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia was a territory in south central Africa, formed in 1911. It became independent in 1964 as Zambia.It was initially administered under charter by the British South Africa Company and formed by it in 1911 by amalgamating North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia...
and Nyasaland
Nyasaland
Nyasaland or the Nyasaland Protectorate, was a British protectorate located in Africa, which was established in 1907 when the former British Central Africa Protectorate changed its name. Since 1964, it has been known as Malawi....
, the United Party
United Party
United Party is a term used various political parties:* United Party of Canada* United Party * United States United Party* United Party of National Development, Zambia* United Party * United Party * United Party...
changed its name to the United Rhodesia Party, and in 1958 yet another merger took place, when the United Rhodesia Party merged with the Federal party to form the United Federal Party.
In the same year the party split following the sacking of the liberal 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:...
, who unsuccessfully contested the 1958 general election as head of a revived United Rhodesia Party.
In 1962 the United Federal Party lost the general election to the more conservative Rhodesian Front
Rhodesian Front
The Rhodesian Front was a political party in Southern Rhodesia when the country was under white minority rule. Led first by Winston Field, and, from 1964, by Ian Smith, the Rhodesian Front was the successor to the Dominion Party, which was the main opposition party in Southern Rhodesia during the...
, and ceased to function effectively as a political force after the 1965 election and UDI
Unilateral Declaration of Independence (Rhodesia)
The Unilateral Declaration of Independence of Rhodesia from the United Kingdom was signed on November 11, 1965, by the administration of Ian Smith, whose Rhodesian Front party opposed black majority rule in the then British colony. Although it declared independence from the United Kingdom it...
.