Zimbabwe Rhodesia: Map & History
Zimbabwe Rhodesia, alternatively known as Zimbabwe-Rhodesia, also informally known as Zimbabwe or Rhodesia, was a short-lived sovereign state that existed from 1 June 1979 to 18 April 1980, though it lacked international recognition.
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Zimbabwe Rhodesia, alternatively known as Zimbabwe-Rhodesia, also informally known as Zimbabwe or Rhodesia, was a short-lived sovereign state that existed from 1 June 1979 to 18 April 1980, though it lacked international recognition. Zimbabwe Rhodesia was preceded by another state named the Republic of Rhodesia and was briefly under a British-supervised transitional government sometimes referred to as a reestablished Southern Rhodesia, which according to British constitutional theory had remained the lawful government in the area after Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) in 1965. Following the 1980 Southern Rhodesian general election, the country was granted internationally-recognised independence within the Commonwealth as the Republic of Zimbabwe.
Modern Countries Once Part of Zimbabwe Rhodesia
At its mapped extent, Zimbabwe Rhodesia covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Zimbabwe Rhodesia's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Zimbabwe Rhodesia in Depth
Government of Zimbabwe Rhodesia
Zimbabwe Rhodesia's short-lived government was elected prior to the creation of the state, with the 1979 Rhodesian general election, the first in which a majority of elected representatives were black. Adapting the constitution of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI), Zimbabwe Rhodesia was governed by a prime minister and Cabinet chosen from the majority party in a 100-member House of Assembly. A 40-member Senate acted as the upper House, and both together chose a figurehead President in whose name the government was conducted.
Of the 100 members of the House of Assembly, 72 were "common roll" members for whom the electorate was every adult citizen. All of these members were black Africans.
Background
Under pressure from the international community, an "Internal Settlement" was drawn up between the Smith administration of Rhodesia and moderate African nationalist parties. Meanwhile, the government continued to battle armed resistance from the Patriotic Front, a coalition of two African Leadership parties: the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU) and the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU). The liberation war was a proxy conflict between the West and East.
The "Internal Settlement", signed in March 1978, led to the creation of an interim government in which Africans were included in leading positions for the first time, while creating an independent civil service, judiciary, police force, and army.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Zimbabwe Rhodesia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Zimbabwe Rhodesia: Key Facts
| Capital | Harare |
|---|---|
| Official language | English |
| Currency | Rhodesian dollar |
| Founded | 1 June 1979 |
| Dissolved | 12 December 1979 |
Preceded by
Succeeded by
- Southern Rhodesia
Facts from Wikidata Q890120 (CC0).
Zimbabwe Rhodesia Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 392,765 km² in 1980 CE.
Zimbabwe Rhodesia: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Zimbabwe Rhodesia exist?
Zimbabwe Rhodesia is dated to 1979 CE – 1982 CE, in the Industrial era.
What was the capital of Zimbabwe Rhodesia?
The capital of Zimbabwe Rhodesia was Salisbury.
How large was Zimbabwe Rhodesia at its peak?
At its peak in 1980 Zimbabwe Rhodesia covered about 392,765 km².
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