1954 Lyttleton Constitution

The 1954 Lyttleton Constitution was a significant political change in Zimbabwe (then Southern Rhodesia), establishing a new legal framework for self-governance. It introduced a partial parliamentary system, allowing limited African participation in government, but still maintained white dominance. The constitution aimed to modernize political institutions and prepare the country for eventual independence, though it upheld racial inequalities. Named after British diplomat Alfred Lyttleton, it marked a step towards self-rule, but real power remained concentrated among the white minority until future reforms.