Rhodesia

This article is about the unrecognised state that existed from 1965 to 1979. For the colony that immediately preceded it, see Rhodesia (1964–1965). For the earlier colony, see Southern Rhodesia. For the historical region, see Rhodesia (region). For other uses, see Rhodesia (disambiguation).

Rhodesia (1965–1970) Republic of Rhodesia (1970–1979)
1965–1979
Flag (1968–1979) Coat of arms
Motto: Sit Nomine Digna (Latin) May she be worthy of the name
Anthem: "God Save the Queen" (1965–1970) "Rise, O Voices of Rhodesia" (1974–1979)
Status	Unrecognised state
Capital and largest city	Salisbury
Official languages	English (de facto)
Other languages	Shona Northern Ndebele
Ethnic groups (1969)	93.09% Black 6.49% White 0.47% Coloured/Asian
Demonym	Rhodesian
Government	Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy (1965–1970) Unitary parliamentary republic (1970–1979)
Queen
• 1965–1970	Elizabeth II
President
• 1970–1975	Clifford Dupont
• 1975–1976	Henry Everard (acting)
• 1976–1978	John Wrathall
• 1978	Henry Everard (acting)
• 1978–1979	Jack Pithey (acting)
• 1979	Henry Everard (acting)
Prime Minister
• 1965–1979	Ian Smith
Legislature	Legislative Assembly (until 1970) Parliament (from 1970)
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	House of Assembly
Historical era	Cold War and decolonisation of Africa
• Declared	11 November 1965
• Republic	2 March 1970
• Internal Settlement	3 March 1978
• Zimbabwe Rhodesia	1 June 1979
Area
• Total	390,580 km2 (150,800 sq mi)
Population
• 1978 census	6,930,000
Currency	Rhodesian pound (1964–1970) Rhodesian dollar (1970–1980)
Time zone	UTC+2 (CAT)
ISO 3166 code	RH
Preceded by Succeeded by Rhodesia Zimbabwe Rhodesia
Today part of	Zimbabwe

Rhodesia, officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970 onwards, was an unrecognised state in Southern Africa that existed from 1965 to 1979. Rhodesia was the de facto successor to the self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia following its unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) from the United Kingdom in 1965. Throughout this fourteen-year period, Rhodesia faced internal conflict and political unrest. Following the Lancaster House Agreement in 1979 and general elections held under a universal suffrage in 1980, the territory finally gained de jure independence and international recognition as the Republic of Zimbabwe.

The rapid decolonisation of Africa in the late 1950s and early 1960s alarmed a significant proportion of Southern Rhodesia's white population. In an effort to delay the transition to black majority rule, the white Southern Rhodesian cabinet issued a unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965. The new nation, renamed Rhodesia, initially sought recognition as an autonomous realm within the Commonwealth of Nations, but reconstituted itself as a republic in 1970. Following the UDI, the United Nations Security Council passed resolution 216 which called upon all states to deny recognition and assistance to Rhodesia. Two far-left African nationalist parties, the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) and Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), launched an armed insurgency against the government after the UDI, sparking the Rhodesian Bush War. Growing war weariness, diplomatic pressure, and an extensive trade embargo imposed by the United Nations prompted Rhodesian prime minister Ian Smith to concede to majority rule in 1978. However, elections and a multiracial provisional government, with Smith succeeded by the moderate Abel Muzorewa, failed to appease international critics or halt the war. By December 1979, Muzorewa had secured an agreement with ZAPU and ZANU, allowing Rhodesia, now known as Zimbabwe-Rhodesia, to briefly revert to colonial status pending new elections under British supervision. ZANU secured an electoral victory in the 1980 general elections, and the country received internationally recognised independence as Zimbabwe.

A landlocked nation, Rhodesia was bordered by Botswana (Bechuanaland: British protectorate until 1966) to the southwest, Mozambique (as a Portuguese province until 1975) to the east, South Africa to the south, and Zambia (Northern Rhodesia until 1964) to the northwest. From 1965 to 1979, Rhodesia was one of two independent states on the African continent governed by a white minority of European descent and culture, the other being South Africa. Rhodesia's largest cities were Salisbury (its capital city, now known as Harare) and Bulawayo. Prior to 1970, the unicameral Legislative Assembly was predominantly white, with a small number of seats reserved for black representatives. Following the declaration of a republic in 1970, this was replaced by a bicameral Parliament, with a House of Assembly and a Senate. The bicameral system was retained in Zimbabwe after 1980. Aside from its racial franchise, Rhodesia observed a Westminster system inherited from the United Kingdom, with a president acting as ceremonial head of state, while a prime minister headed the Cabinet as head of government.