Economic Reasons For the formation of the Federation

Kariba dam under construction

• The BSAC saw the union as a way for them to reduce on administrative costs
• The administrative costs were going to be fewer if the countries were united and common services made available
• The economies of these colonies also complemented one another and a union would ensure a balanced economy
• Planning at a large scale would ensure effective use of raw materials skills, labour and power
• Infrastructure such as railway, roads and air communications would be improved as they would be expanded to link the three colonies
• The BSAC was getting much profit from its economic ventures so it was important that they secure a wide economic base by having a federation
• Copper from Zambia would increase Southern Rhodesia’s industries income whilst all the others would benefit from the industries in Southern Rhodesia
• Nyasaland had few resources so it would benefit greatly from the other two which had vast resouces
• The labour base of Southern Rhodesia would be enlarged and be guaranteed
• Zambia was to benefit from the hydroelectricity for copper production as thermal power was no longer enough
• A Federation was big enough to attain capital for construction of roads and industries
• The partnership according to Roy was going to be that of a horse and rider in which Africans were inferior and were not allowed to dominate in the partnership

To access more topics go to the History Notes page.