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1944 Northern Rhodesian general election

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General elections were held in Northern Rhodesia on 29 September 1944.[1]

Electoral system

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The eight elected members of the Legislative Council were elected from eight single-member constituencies.[2] There were a total of 6,527 registered voters.[2]

Constituency Settlements Registered voters
Broken Hill Broken Hill, Mkushi, Serenje 950
Livingstone and Western Balovale, Kalabo, Livingstone, Mankoya, MonguLealui, Senanga, Sesheke 469
Luanshya Luanshya, Mufulira 1,497
Midland Broken Hill (South), Lusaka, Mumbwa 648
Ndola Fort Rosebery, Kasempa, Kawambwa, Mwinilunga, Ndola 656
Nkana Chingola, Nkana 1,771
North-Eastern Abercorn, Chinsali, Fort Jameson, Isoka, Kasama, Lundazi, Luwingu, Mpika, Mporokoso, Petauke 270
Southern Mazabuka, Namwala 266
Source: Legislative Council of Northern Rhodesia[2]

Campaign

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All constituencies were contested by more than one candidate with the exception of Broken Hill, where Labour Party leader Roy Welensky was returned unopposed.[3]

The incumbent members for Livingstone and Western (Francis Sinclair), Luanshya (Michael McGann) and Nkana (Martin Visagie) did not run for re-election.[3]

Results

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Constituency Candidate Party Votes % Notes
Broken Hill Roy Welensky Labour Party Unopposed Re-elected
Livingstone and Western Hedley Priest Labour Party 223 69.91 Elected
Robert Hood Orr Independent Labour 96 30.09
Luanshya James Morris Independent 406 50.50 Elected
Francis Edward John Patrick Murray Labour Party 398 49.50
Midland Hugh Kennedy McKee Independent 212 40.85 Re-elected
Marais von Eeden Independent 183 35.26
Edwin Bernard Evans Labour Party 124 23.89
Ndola Godfrey Pelletier Independent 223 50.57 Re-elected
Charles Allan Labour Party 218 49.43
Nkana Brian Goodwin Independent Labour 573 55.96 Elected
James Knock Wykerd Labour Party 451 44.04
North-Eastern Thomas Spurgeon Page 94 51.93 Re-elected
Grant Bruce Robertson Independent 87 48.07
Southern Richard Ernest Campbell Independent 95 51.35 Re-elected
John Milton Walker 90 48.65
Source: East Africa and Rhodesia[4]

Aftermath

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Following the elections, a petition was sent to the Governor requesting the annulment of the result in Ndola. An enquiry by the Acting Chief Justice found that seven ballots had been improperly rejected, meaning that the result would have been a tie.[5] A by-election was held on 4 December,[6] in which the original winner Godfrey Pelletier opted not to run.[7] Harold Williams was elected in his place.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "News Items in Brief", East Africa and Rhodesia, 14 September 1944, p59
  2. ^ a b c Official Verbatim Report of the Debates of the Fifth Session (Resumed) of the Ninth Legislative Council, Legislative Council of Northern Rhodesia, p22
  3. ^ a b "N. Rhodesian General Election: Mr. Roy Welensky Returned Unopposed", East African and Rhodesia, 7 September 1944, p34
  4. ^ "Three New Members in N. Rhodesian Council: Four Members Re-elected by Narrow Majorities", East Africa and Rhodesia, 5 October 1944, pp107–108
  5. ^ "New Election for Ndola Seat: Voting Papers Were Improperly Rejected", East African and Rhodesia, 26 October 1944, p188
  6. ^ "Ndola Election", East Africa and Rhodesia, 23 November 1944, p273
  7. ^ "Ndola Election", East Africa and Rhodesia, 9 November 1944, p230
  8. ^ "Ndola's New M.L.C.", East Africa and Rhodesia, 11 January 1945, p489