Decolonisation through Constitutional Means

Decolonisation through Constitutional Means

The Meaning of Decolonization through Constitutional Means

Explain the meaning of decolonization on through constitutional means

Decolonization through constitutional means is the type of liberation which involve intensive negotiation between the colonialists and African nationalists e.g. the political independence of Tanganyika, Ghana, Uganda and Zambia. All applied negotiation or peaceful means to get their independence.

Reasons for the decolonization through constitutional means

Absence of white settlers, in areas with no settlers like in Tanganyika and other parts of Africa they attained their independence through peaceful means; For example Tanganyika contained influential minorities of Europeans and Asians as the number involved was not large enough to bring obstacle in the path of national independence only 23,000 European among whom only few hundred could properly be regarded as settlers and the number of Asians was 87,000.Hence decolonization through constitutional means.

Minimal problems like tribalism and religious differences; that would have brought internal disputes struggle or disunity. This was a sovereignty advantage to some African countries. For it was simple for them to unite the masses for self determination.

The trust ship colony a trust territory colony was subjected to measure of supervision by the United Nations a situation that made it impossible for the colonizers government to entirely pressure exerted by international opinion. For example Tanganyika was not mandatory like Uganda or Kenya it was under the trust ship of UN given to Britain as a result her independence was easily influenced by the United Nations.

The role of political parties, where the political party which took over the power lacked serious opposition from other political parties which would have delayed the independence then the decolonization was through peaceful means. For example Tanganyika TANU was a major political party that had never been banned by the colonial government so it was able to operate freely without any hindrance unlike KANU in Kenya. This was very significant in achieving her goals of independence.

The role of the leader, where there were strong, approachable and democratic leaders with high sprite of patriotism for nation the independence was achieved through constitutional means. For example in Tanganyika the strong leadership of J.K. Nyerere and Oscar Kambona played a big role in achieving independence in Tanganyika by peaceful means.

Absence of heavy investment, in places where colonialists did not invest heavily in infrastructure or agriculture which they might have feared to lose the independence was through peaceful means.

The Conditions which Facilitated Constitutional Struggle for Independence

Assess the conditions which facilitated constitutional struggle for independence

There are some conditions or factors that facilitated the constitutional means of the struggle for independence. These involved mandatory colony, the role of mass media, the role of elites, the nature of colonial Governor, existence of peasant cash crops, the nature of reaction, the role of political parties and political leaders.

The Problems Experienced during the Struggle for Independence through Constitutional Means

Analyse the problems experienced during the struggle for independence through constitutional means

The colonial bureaucracy was a stumbling block, when it came at registrations of political party branches national wide, the registration governing the operation of political parties was amended aimed at debarring political party‟s the activities the government technically put a delayed tactic in registering the branches of political parties, with the same agenda of checking their spread and its influences.

The colonial government first applied simple repression, banning of political party‟s activities disaffected areas and the second tactics which was applied mostly in French colonies was the creation of colonial government sponsored political parties the like United Tanganyika Party (U.T.P) designed to up hold the cause of multi-racialism.

Colonial government sabotage by closing political party‟s branches and banning its activities, this tactic was used by the colonial government to check the influence of political parties

The colonial policy of divide and rule, this wanted to divide the people of Africa on ethnicity lines e.g. the meeting of 1957 governor Twining attempted to drive division between traditional rulers and members of nationalist movement. This was a very big obstacle for political parties to forge unity between the masses.

The opposition from church missionary society, who barred their followers from involving into active politics that would be regarded as disobedient to the church; this affected very many members of political parties who were Christians.

Lack of education for most nationalists, the colonial government prohibited the civil servants from joining active politics and were the only small elite who were educated that would helped the party. Most of the party members were comprised by a big numbers of peasants

Poor transport and communication structures, to assist nationalist leaders in mobilizing the masses from different parts to join the movement of struggle for independence for example some roads were impassable during rainy season.

Lack of political awareness among the masses, as most of the Africans were peasants who were in rural areas and did not know the objectives of the political party and their financial assistance to the party was very minimal.