Vote: the instrument and symbol of a freeman’s power to make a fool of himself and a wreck of his country.
(Ambrose Bierce)
The widespread disaffection palpable during the visit of the Imperial Family was still boiling, when the Middle Africans were summoned to cast the ballot in the provincial elections on Sunday, September 24th, 1933. Generally, there was a massive turnout as Plenipotentiary von Schnee’s preparations had taken great care to facilitate voting even in remote rural areas and hardly accessible jungle environments.
Already before the elections, it had been obvious that forming provincial governments might become an onerous task – as socialists and religious parties found it difficult to work together – and because the religious parties did not like to co-operate between each other.
In Groß-Togoland, the religious parties won the majority of seats in the new provincial parliament. The Protestant BMC (Bund Mittelafrikanischer Christen – Union of Middle African Christians) won 25 of the 59 seats, the Catholic AKU (Afrikanische Katholiken-Union – Union of African Catholics) 9 and the Jewish PG (Partei Gottes – God’s Party) 1. The moderate SDPMA (Sozial-Demokratische Partei Mittelafrikas – Middle African Social-Democratic Party) obtained 17 seats, while 7 seats went to independent candidates.
After seemingly endless negotiations and debates, BMC, PG and five independent representatives formed the government.
In Südwestafrika, the provincial parliament had 27 seats, of which the HP (Herero-Partei – Herero Party) won 9, the OB (Owambo-Bund– Ovambo Union) 5, and the NNU (Neue-Nama-Union – New Nama Union) 1. The SDPMA got 7 seats and the VBS (Volksbund-Südwest – the party of the German colonists) 2. The remaining three seats went to independent candidates.
Here, HP and OB quickly agreed to form a coalition government.
In Oberkamerun, there were 63 seats in the provincial parliament. The radical-socialist RNP (Rote Neger-Partei – Red Negro Party) won 4 of them, the SDPMA 29, the BMC 17, the AKU 3 and the PG 1. The BBB (Bamileke-Bamu-Bund – Union of the Bamileke and Bamu Tribes) got 7 seats, and 2 went to independent candidates.
SDPMA and RNP joined forces and formed the government.
In Unterkamerun, the provincial parliament had 77 seats. The RNP won 16, the SDPMA 35, the BMC 12, the AKU 2, while 12 seats went to independent candidates.
In this province, the SDPMA and five independent representatives agreed to form the government.
In Ubangi-Schari, the provincial parliament had 49 seats. The RNP got 2, the SDPMA 29, the BMC 9, and 9 were won by independent candidates.
A clear case, as the SDPMA alone was strong enough to furnish the government.
In Nordwestkongo, the provincial parliament had 77 seats. The SDPMA gained 26, the BMC 14, the AKU 4, and the PG 2. The BP (Bakongo-Partei – the party of the local Congo tribes) won 19 seats, while 12 seats went to independent candidates.
The BP, allied with BMC, PG and five independent deputies formed the government.
In Zentralkongo, there were 67 seats to be distributed. The RNP gained 5, the SDPMA 23, the BMC 5, the AKU 17, and the BP 13, while 4 were won by independent candidates.
SDPMA and BP formed the government.
In Südkongo, 73 seats were up for election. The RNP scored 14, the SDPMA 28, the BMC 2, the AKU 19, and the BP 7, while independent candidates took 3.
SDPMA and RNP formed the government.
The Tabora provincial parliament had 77 seats. The RNP won 9, the SDPMA 35, the BMC 10, the AKU 7, the SV (Sukuma-Volksunion - union of the Sukuma tribes) 8, and another 8 went to independent candidates.
SDPMA and SV agreed to form the government.
The Ostküste (east coast) provincial parliament hat 73 seats, of which the RNP won 13, the SDPMA 31, the BMC 8, the AKU 7, the PG 2, and the ML (Makonde-Liga – league of the Makonde tribe) 4, while 8 were taken by independent candidates.
SDPMA and RNP formed the government.
Thus, in seven out of 10 provinces, the SDPMA provided the provincial first minister, while two provinces had tribal first ministers, and one province a religious premier.
(Ambrose Bierce)
The widespread disaffection palpable during the visit of the Imperial Family was still boiling, when the Middle Africans were summoned to cast the ballot in the provincial elections on Sunday, September 24th, 1933. Generally, there was a massive turnout as Plenipotentiary von Schnee’s preparations had taken great care to facilitate voting even in remote rural areas and hardly accessible jungle environments.
Already before the elections, it had been obvious that forming provincial governments might become an onerous task – as socialists and religious parties found it difficult to work together – and because the religious parties did not like to co-operate between each other.
In Groß-Togoland, the religious parties won the majority of seats in the new provincial parliament. The Protestant BMC (Bund Mittelafrikanischer Christen – Union of Middle African Christians) won 25 of the 59 seats, the Catholic AKU (Afrikanische Katholiken-Union – Union of African Catholics) 9 and the Jewish PG (Partei Gottes – God’s Party) 1. The moderate SDPMA (Sozial-Demokratische Partei Mittelafrikas – Middle African Social-Democratic Party) obtained 17 seats, while 7 seats went to independent candidates.
After seemingly endless negotiations and debates, BMC, PG and five independent representatives formed the government.
In Südwestafrika, the provincial parliament had 27 seats, of which the HP (Herero-Partei – Herero Party) won 9, the OB (Owambo-Bund– Ovambo Union) 5, and the NNU (Neue-Nama-Union – New Nama Union) 1. The SDPMA got 7 seats and the VBS (Volksbund-Südwest – the party of the German colonists) 2. The remaining three seats went to independent candidates.
Here, HP and OB quickly agreed to form a coalition government.
In Oberkamerun, there were 63 seats in the provincial parliament. The radical-socialist RNP (Rote Neger-Partei – Red Negro Party) won 4 of them, the SDPMA 29, the BMC 17, the AKU 3 and the PG 1. The BBB (Bamileke-Bamu-Bund – Union of the Bamileke and Bamu Tribes) got 7 seats, and 2 went to independent candidates.
SDPMA and RNP joined forces and formed the government.
In Unterkamerun, the provincial parliament had 77 seats. The RNP won 16, the SDPMA 35, the BMC 12, the AKU 2, while 12 seats went to independent candidates.
In this province, the SDPMA and five independent representatives agreed to form the government.
In Ubangi-Schari, the provincial parliament had 49 seats. The RNP got 2, the SDPMA 29, the BMC 9, and 9 were won by independent candidates.
A clear case, as the SDPMA alone was strong enough to furnish the government.
In Nordwestkongo, the provincial parliament had 77 seats. The SDPMA gained 26, the BMC 14, the AKU 4, and the PG 2. The BP (Bakongo-Partei – the party of the local Congo tribes) won 19 seats, while 12 seats went to independent candidates.
The BP, allied with BMC, PG and five independent deputies formed the government.
In Zentralkongo, there were 67 seats to be distributed. The RNP gained 5, the SDPMA 23, the BMC 5, the AKU 17, and the BP 13, while 4 were won by independent candidates.
SDPMA and BP formed the government.
In Südkongo, 73 seats were up for election. The RNP scored 14, the SDPMA 28, the BMC 2, the AKU 19, and the BP 7, while independent candidates took 3.
SDPMA and RNP formed the government.
The Tabora provincial parliament had 77 seats. The RNP won 9, the SDPMA 35, the BMC 10, the AKU 7, the SV (Sukuma-Volksunion - union of the Sukuma tribes) 8, and another 8 went to independent candidates.
SDPMA and SV agreed to form the government.
The Ostküste (east coast) provincial parliament hat 73 seats, of which the RNP won 13, the SDPMA 31, the BMC 8, the AKU 7, the PG 2, and the ML (Makonde-Liga – league of the Makonde tribe) 4, while 8 were taken by independent candidates.
SDPMA and RNP formed the government.
Thus, in seven out of 10 provinces, the SDPMA provided the provincial first minister, while two provinces had tribal first ministers, and one province a religious premier.