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The reborn Prince Hechingen of the Swabian branch of the Hohenzollern family perceives the unfolding situation in Europe, where war is imminent. Europe cannot afford to delay. The strategy involves establishing a presence in East Africa, fostering immigration and development, and laying the foundations for agriculture. This gradual approach leverages the crisis to expedite the process of industrialization

African Entrepreneurship History

Chapter 43: Administrative Divisions

As the East African colonies experienced a significant influx of immigrants, the need for organized administrative divisions became apparent. The existing administrative structure was chaotic, making it challenging to manage the growing population effectively. To address this issue, Ernst decided to re-plan the administrative governance system for the colonies.

The new administrative divisions were designed to facilitate better management and more accurate statistics. The highest-level administrative unit was the Binhai District, with its capital in the first town, which also served as the seat of the highest colonial governing body.

The colonies were divided into ten large regional administrative areas, each with its own capital and specific focus. These regions included the Upper Coastal Area, Middle Coastal Area, Lower Coastal Area, East Lake Malawi Area, Upper Lake Malawi Area, Central Highlands Region, Northern Highlands Region, Savannah Region, Great Lakes Region, and Solon Region.

In addition to these regional divisions, cities were established in places suitable for population gathering, and villages served as the most basic administrative units. Notably, there were no county-level administrative units; instead, towns similar to the German region structure were used.

Security teams were formed in each village to protect against potential tribal invasions, as some indigenous tribes had not been entirely encircled and suppressed. The security teams were responsible for the safety of the village and its residents.

The new administrative plan would serve as a transitional structure, with future adjustments expected as the East African colony expanded beyond Tanganyika. Areas like the central coastal region, lower coastal area, and East Malawi Lake area were not yet under control but were considered future expansion targets.

The story then shifts to Longka Village, situated in the Upper Coastal Area. Liu Damao, a Chinese immigrant, arrived at Longka Village from North China, fleeing a drought and land loss due to a local landlord. He was assigned to Longka Village in the East African colony, where he joined other immigrants in developing the land.

With the guidance of the German village head, Liu Damao and fellow villagers improved the agricultural infrastructure by building canals, waterwheels, and farmland. The fertile soil and favorable climate contributed to successful crop growth.

The immigrants' basic needs were provided by the colony, but they were required to meet production quotas. Failure to meet these quotas would result in reduced food rations or punishments. German supervisors oversaw the work, and Chinese security forces patrolled the area to ensure safety.

The chapter concludes with an East African colony expedition team heading south to explore and expand into the Central Binhai and Lower Binhai areas, which had previously been neglected due to the focus on western inland expansion.