The Native Reserves
                                                                                The Native Areas
                                                                                The European Area
                                                                                The Undetermined Area
                                                                                The Forest Area
                                                                                The Unassigned Area

(The Native Area is now known as the Native Purchase Area.  'Native Area' as used in the text does not apply to the Native Purchase Area alone, but to the Native Reserves and the Special Native Areas, as well as the N.P.A.s- this is in fact the general meaning of the term nowadays.  Native Reserves were already vested in the Constitution of the Colony before the above Land Apportionment Act was passed).

     The Land Apportionment Act of 1941 retained the above six categories or divisions of land in the Colony, but made certain significant changes:

                 (i)   It enabled the Governor to set aside areas within the Native Areas for the establishment of Native Townships.

                (ii)   It tightened up the rule decreeing that 'no native shall hold or occupy land in the European area' by stating that
                       'no Native shall acquire, lease or occupy land in the European area'.

               (iii)   Similarly, it tightened up the rule about Europeans occupying the Native Areas by replacing the words 'hold or
                       occupy land' with 'acquire, lease or occupy land'.

               (iv)   The Governor was given power to approve on the application of a local authority the establishment of a Native
                       Urban Area within the European Area in which it would be lawful for Africans to occupy land.
 

     Certain amendments were made to the 1941 Act as follows:

       Act No. 14 of 1945, due to the lack of response on the part of local authorities to take up the invitation in (iv) above of the    1941 Act, made it obligatory on municipalities and town management boards to establish Native Urban Areas.  This amendment also made even more precise (ii) and (iii) above by adding a sub-section that:

                   'no owner or occupier of land in the European Area, or his agent shall:

                         (a)   dispose or attempt to dispose of any such land to a native;

                         (b)   lease any such land to a native;

                         (c)    permit, suffer or allow any native to occupy such land.'
 

       Act No. 25 of 1950 designated the previously-called Native Area as Native Purchase Area, and added the Special Native Areas.  The present apportionment of land in Southern Rhodesia is then:

                Under the Constitution                        Native Reserves
                Under the Land Apportionment Act:     Native
                                                                         European Areas
                                                                         Undetermined Areas
                                                                         Forest Areas
                                                                         Unassigned Areas.
 
 

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