Ministry of Agriculture (Rhodesia)

Ministry of Agriculture of Rhodesia
Coat of arms of Rhodesia
Department overview
Formed1 October 1923; 101 years ago (1923-10-01)
Dissolved1 June 1979; 45 years ago (1979-06-01)
Superseding Department
HeadquartersSalisbury

The Ministry of Agriculture was a cabinet ministry of the government of Rhodesia. It was responsible for overseeing the nation's agricultural development.

The Ministry of Agriculture was established during the colonial period of Southern Rhodesia. It retained the same structure when Rhodesia unilaterally declared independence in 1965. The Ministry of Agriculture employed more black Africans than any other branches of the Rhodesian civil service.[1] Many black Africans served as Ministry of Agriculture extension officers and conservation officials.[1] The ministry also published the Rhodesian Agricultural Journal.

The ministry was led by the minister of agriculture, who was appointed by prime minister. The first minister of agriculture following the UDI was the Duke of Montrose, and the last was Mark Partridge.[2] In 1979, Rhodesia became Zimbabwe Rhodesia as part of the Internal Settlement. In 1980 Zimbabwe gained its independence and the ministry was succeeded by the Ministry of Agriculture of Zimbabwe.

List of ministers

For subsequent holders after 1979, see Government of Zimbabwe Rhodesia and Ministry of Agriculture (Zimbabwe).

Agriculture

№ Name Took office Left office Political party Prime Minister Title
1 William Muter Leggate 1 October 1923 2 February 1925 Rhodesia Party Sir Charles Coghlan Minister of Agriculture and Lands
2 John Wallace Downie 2 February 1925 2 September 1927
2 September 1927 17 October 1927 Howard Moffat
3 Osmond Charteris du Port 17 October 1927 29 September 1928
4 Robert Alexander Fletcher 29 September 1928 19 May 1932
5 George Mitchell 19 May 1932 5 July 1933 Minister of Mines and Agriculture
5 July 1933 12 September 1933 George Mitchell
6 Charles Spearman Jobling 12 September 1933 14 November 1934 Reform Party Sir Godfrey Huggins Minister of Agriculture
7 Frank Ernest Harris 24 August 1934 14 November 1934
– 14 November 1934 7 May 1946 United Rhodesia Party Minister of Agriculture and Lands
8 Patrick Bissett Fletcher 7 May 1946 8 March 1951
9 John Moore Caldicott 8 March 1951 7 September 1953
7 September 1953 5 February 1954 United Federal Party Garfield Todd
– Patrick Bissett Fletcher 24 December 1953 5 February 1954
5 February 1954 5 February 1954 Minister of Agriculture
European agriculture responsibility of the Federation, 1954–1962 (see list)
10 Herbert Jack Quinton 24 September 1962 17 December 1962 United Federal Party Edgar Whitehead Minister of Agriculture
11 The Duke of Montrose 17 December 1962 14 April 1964 Rhodesian Front Winston Field
14 April 1964 22 May 1964 Ian Smith Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources
22 May 1964 31 December 1966 Minister of Agriculture
12 George Rudland 31 December 1966 1968
13 David Colville Smith 1968 1976
14 Rollo Hayman 1976 1977
15 Mark Partridge 1977 1 June 1979
− Joel Mandaza
(co-minister) 		27 December 1978 1 June 1979 Zimbabwe African National Union

Irrigation/water development

№ Name Took office Left office Political party Prime Minister Title
1 Geoffrey Ellman-Brown 5 February 1954 6 August 1954 United Federal Party Garfield Todd Minister of Roads and Irrigation
6 August 1954 4 October 1954 Minister of Irrigation
2 Patrick Bissett Fletcher 4 October 1954 17 January 1958
3 Eric Drew Palmer 17 January 1958 17 February 1958
– Geoffrey Ellman-Brown 17 February 1958 11 June 1958 Edgar Whitehead
4 Rubidge Stumbles 11 June 1958 24 September 1962 Minister of Roads, Irrigation and Lands
– Geoffrey Ellman-Brown 24 September 1962 17 December 1962 Minister of Irrigation
5 William Harper 17 December 1962 15 February 1963 Rhodesian Front Winston Field
15 February 1963 14 April 1964 Minister of Water Development
5 Arthur Philip van Heerden 14 April 1964 1973 Ian Smith
6 Jack Mussett 1973 1977
7 Mark Partridge 1977 1 June 1979
− Aaron Mgutshini
(co-minister) 		27 December 1978 1 June 1979 Zimbabwe United People's Organisation

Native agriculture/marketing

№ Name Took office Left office Political party Prime Minister Title
1 Ralph Drew Palmer 17 January 1958 17 February 1958 United Federal Party Garfield Todd Minister of Native Agriculture and Marketing

References

  1. ^ a b Weinrich, A. K. H. (1973). Black and White Elites in Rural Rhodesia. Manchester University Press. p. 177. ISBN 9780719005336.
  2. ^ F. M. G. Willson and G. C. Passmore. "Holders of Administrative and Ministerial Office 1894-1964" (PDF). University of Zimbabwe Library. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2020.


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