Chapter 120: Mwanza Shipyard
On January 3, 1868, in the Great Lakes District near Mwanza, Ernst recognized the significance of advanced ships for developing the Great Lakes, especially Lake Victoria, which covered a vast area with good navigation capabilities. To support this development, East Africa needed better ships than the canoes used by indigenous people.
Lake Victoria was home to over a thousand islands, many suitable for habitation by indigenous people who primarily relied on fishing. However, the East African colonial government aimed for "zeroing," meaning the elimination of indigenous populations living on islands.
To achieve these goals and develop the Great Lakes, East Africa needed its own internal lake forces and ships. Robust ships were necessary for transportation, clearing indigenous populations from islands, and ensuring safety.
Ernst saw two potential sources of meat for East Africa: livestock development and freshwater fishery resources. Given the time required for livestock development, he decided to prioritize exploiting the abundant fishery resources in East Africa's inland lakes, including the Great Lakes, Lake Soren, Lake Malawi, and Lake Turkana. These resources could meet the meat needs of the colony.
While the ocean offered rich fishing grounds along East Africa's coast, the current conditions in the colony couldn't support large-scale fishing. Fishing boats needed to be sizable to ensure safety at sea, and the equipment was beyond what the colony could provide. Therefore, freshwater lakes were a more immediate and practical source of meat.
Ernst's plan involved building several small shipyards on these inland lakes, beginning with one on Lake Victoria in Mwanza. The shipyard would produce ships for fishing, improving transportation efficiency and enabling the development of the region.
Mwanza was strategically chosen for the shipyard's location. It would connect two vital cities: Mwanza (capital of the Great Lakes region) and Kisumu (capital of Western Kenya). The ships produced at this shipyard would be essential for linking these two cities and fostering the development of the Great Lakes region.
Additionally, controlling the indigenous populations living on the islands of the Great Lakes was part of the colonial government's agenda. Building a shipyard in Mwanza was a strategic move to achieve this goal.
The shipyard would have both land-based facilities and dockyards. Workers, under the guidance of Rob Lee and a German technician, cleared land along the coast, felled trees, and prepared the site for construction. The shipyard would utilize the region's abundant forest resources for building ship hulls.
Most materials for ship construction would be sourced locally, with only essential equipment and parts imported from Europe. The ships built at the Mwanza shipyard were of moderate size and did not require particularly advanced technology.
One notable feature was the engine used in these boats, designed by Berlin Energy Power Company. It was a small, petroleum-powered engine, making these boats faster and more efficient than traditional vessels. Although they required imported oil for fuel, they could also be manually powered by oars if needed.
In addition to these engine-powered boats, the shipyard primarily produced traditional wooden fishing boats. Speedboats equipped with engines would be used to establish lake troops (water troops), while traditional boats would serve local fishermen in Mwanza and Kisumu.
Mwanza and Kisumu were positioned as essential cities for East Africa's development. The local environment could support a larger population, and the rich natural resources, including fisheries, made these cities vital for growth. The Mwanza Shipyard would play a key role in supplying ships to meet the needs of these growing cities and advancing the development of the Great Lakes region.