HISTORY WAS MADE IN THE CHINGOLA MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ON MONDAY WHEN 29 YEAR-OLD NACKSON BWANALI LONGWE BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN MAYOR IN NORTHERN RHODESIA.

HE STOOD AGAINST MRS. THERESA GILBERT, THE DEPUTY MAYOR. BOTH LEFT THE ROOM WHILE THE COUNCIL VOTED. THE COUNCIL CONSISTS OF 6 MEMBERS OF MR.KAUNDA'S U.N.I.P. (UNITED NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE PARTY), 5 EUROPEAN INDEPENDENTS AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ASIAN COMMUNITY.

MR.LONGWE DEFEATED MRS. GILBERT BY 7 VOTES TO 3. HE RECEIVED HIS CHAIN OF OFFICE FROM HER, AND WAS THEN SWORN IN BY THE TOWN CLERK.

"THIS IS A GREAT OCCASION FOR ME," HE SAID, "AND AN HISTORIC ONE IN NORTHERN RHODESIA."
MR. LONGWE, A U.N.I.P. COUNCILLOR, IS A COMPANY DIRECTOR. HE GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA WITH A BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE.