Part 4/10:
In 1922, a referendum led the white Rhodesians to reject integration into South Africa and opt for a self-governing colony. The resulting parliamentary system was heavily influenced by harmful racial policies aimed at maintaining a socio-economic hierarchy favoring whites. During the Great Depression and the years following World War II, the Rhodesian economy depended on mining and agricultural labor, both deeply reliant on African workers.
With the advent of self-governance, harsh apartheid-like policies took root under the leadership of figures like Godfrey Huggins, who introduced laws that solidified racial segregation. The Land Apportionment Act segregated land ownership, enforcing racial divisions and economic disparity.