Article Author: Queen Martha Namonje

Imposing head tax on males from age of 18, not females, pioneered diverse leadership experiences for Zambian male youths between 1924 and 1964. This paper explores labour migration, taxation and its effects on the African male youths. The migration of male youths from rural parts of Zambia due to abusive colonial policies had many implications on the Zambian male youths who were striving hard to earn a living, pay taxes and provide modern necessities to their families. In the 1920s, the demand for labour in Zambia expanded following the development of copper mining. Some migrants found work in the mines and on the estates in Zimbabwe or South Africa. Thus, the discussion also investigated the sources of money to pay tax by male youths. The majority of these male youths were single. The discussion also described the broader socio-economic and cultural consequences for African male youths split life styles, because some were married but they left their families in the village. The paper further shows that these conflicting life styles prepared male youths to lead anticolonial struggles. As a result, on attaining independence in 1964, Zambia created the Zambia National Youth Service in recognition of the van guard political roles of male youths, not girls or women, played as a result of involvement in labour migration and wage employment generally. Besides review of primary and secondary sources, data was collected through the use of some qualitative research methods. A case study design was employed on a population comprising of life histories, ten interviewees of which, five traditional leaders and five political leaders. Further data came from using purposive sampling and an open-ended questionnaire.

Keywords: Labour Migration; Tax; Independence; Colonial administration; Migrants

Article Review Status: Published

Pages: 22-40

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