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The National Democratic Party (NDP) was a socialist African nationalist political party in Southern Rhodesia that was active from 1 January 1960 to 9 December 1961. The party was founded by Joshua Nkomo with the objective of achieving greater rights for the African majority of the country, but it was banned by the white minority government just a year into its existence. Ten days after the NDP was banned, Nkomo founded the Zimbabwe African People's Union.

History

On 1 January 1960, the National Democratic Party replaced the Southern Rhodesia African National Congress (SRANC), Chikerema and Nyandoro became members while still detained, and Nkomo came on as president on 28 November 1960. The NDP was an ideologically identical organisation to SRANC, although rural organising was nearly impossible after the Native Affairs Amendment Act.

References

1. "RHODESIA ENJOINS AFRICANS' PARTY; National Democratic Heads Arrested -- Violence Flares". New York Times. 1961-12-10.
2. "Chiume and Nkomo to Tour U.S." Africa Today. 6.4 (1959): 2
3. Sibanda, Eliakim M. "The Zimbabwe African People's Union 1961–87: A Political History of Insurgency in Southern Rhodesia." 1st ed. Asmara, ERITREA: Africa World Press, Inc. (2005): pp. 52–53

• 1960 establishments in Southern Rhodesia
• 1961 disestablishments in Southern Rhodesia
• African and Black nationalist parties in Africa
• Political parties established in 1960
• Political parties disestablished in 1961
• Socialist parties in Zimbabwe