Rhodesia | region, south-central Africa | Britannica.com region, south-central Africa Africa Rhodesia, region, south-central Africa, now divided into Zimbabwe in the south and Zambia in the north. Named after British colonial administrator Cecil Rhodes , it was administered by the British South Africa Company in the 19th century and exploited mostly for its gold, copper, and coal deposits. In 1911 it was divided into Northern and Southern Rhodesia (present-day Zambia and Zimbabwe, respectively); Southern Rhodesia became a self-governing British colony (1923) and Northern Rhodesia a British protectorate (1924). They joined with Nyasaland to become the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (1953–63). See also Malawi . From 1964 to 1979, Rhodesia was the name used by the former Southern Rhodesia , first as a British colony (1964–65), then as a self-declared independent country without international recognition (1965–79). Learn More in these related articles: Malawi landlocked country in southeastern Africa.

A country endowed with spectacular highlands and extensive lakes, it occupies a narrow, curving strip of land along the East African Rift Valley. Lake Nyasa, known in Malawi as Lake Malawi, accounts for more than one-fifth of the country’s total... Zimbabwe landlocked country of southern Africa. It shares a 125-mile (200-kilometre) border on the south with the Republic of South Africa and is bounded on the southwest and west by Botswana, on the north by Zambia, and on the northeast and east by Mozambique. The capital is Harare (formerly called... Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article! Contact our editors with your feedback. MEDIA FOR: You have successfully emailed this. Error when sending the email. Try again later. Edit Mode Submit Tips For Editing We welcome suggested improvements to any of our articles. You can make it easier for us to review and, hopefully, publish your contribution by keeping a few points in mind. Encyclopædia Britannica articles are written in a neutral objective tone for a general audience. You may find it helpful to search within the site to see how similar or related subjects are covered.

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Close Date Published: March 24, 2009 URL: Access Date: January 18, 2017 Share Northern Rhodesia (Zambia pre-independence) This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website Northern Rhodesia (Zambia pre-independence) Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Background The pre-colonial history of what was to become Northern Rhodesia at the end of the 19th century is fragmentary and based largely on tribal oral tradition. Later early European explorers, such as Dr Lacarda who led an expedition to Lake Miveru in 1789, and later Dr David Livingstone who traveled from Bechuanaland through Barotseland to Luanda in 1853 and returned to Mozambique in 1855, also gave account of what they had seen and found. In 1899 the British South Africa Company received a Royal Charter which empowered it to exercise complete administrative control over what became known as Southern Rhodesia and Northern Bechuanaland. From this date onwards the Company extended its activities across the Zambezi River into what became known as Northern Rhodesia.

The Company exercised complete administrative and legislative control over the territory until 1923 when it surrendered its buildings, assets and all its land and other monopolistic rights, other than mineral rights, in return for a cash payment from the British Government. In 1924 the Office of Governor of Northern Rhodesia was created and executive and legislative councils were established in the territory which became a British Protectorate. There were progressive constitutional developments in the composition of these two bodies before and during the period of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland , of which Northern Rhodesia became a constituent member on 3 September 1953. Following the dissolution of the Federation on 31 December 1963, a new constitution came into effect in January 1964 giving the territory internal self-government. On 24 October 1964 Northern Rhodesia became the independent state of Zambia. Bruce Berry, 18 Jan 2004 Northern Rhodesia (1910 - 1924) Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) had its own coat of arms. It was separated in 1910 from the rest of Rhodesia. I don't know when the arms were adopted.

Anyway, the scant visual evidence I have suggests that Northern Rhodesia, like Southern Rhodesia , just used its shield on the blue ensign, despite being a 'pure' colony without the self governing status of Southern Rhodesia. Stuart Notholt, 11 February 1996 Stuart asks when the coat of arms of Northern Rhodesia was adopted. I don't know if it is definitive, but the Oct. 1917 National Geographic depicts the badge of RHODESIA as a blue field, with a golden lion grasping an elephant's tusk in it's right paw and the letters B.S.A.C (for Cecil Rhodes' British South Africa Company ) William Grimes-Wyatt, 11 February 1996 Before 1924 the arms of the British South Africa Company (BSAC) were also used as the arms of Northern Rhodesia. Bruce Berry, 1998-02-09 The flag badge described for Northern Rhodesia under the year 1910 is simply the crest of the British South Africa Company. Northern Rhodesia was separated administratively from Southern Rhodesia in 1910, but both territories remained under control of the BSA Company.

Only in 1924, when the BSA Company ceased to be the political power, did Northern Rhodesia formally become a British protectorate (and Southern Rhodesia a Crown Colony). The BSAC continued to function in land development, and was only wound up some years later. The BSAC not only controlled the countries now called Zimbabwe and Zambia , but also had substantial power over Bechuanaland Protectorate, controlling it through the police there. The British Government was at one stage quite anxious to hand Bechuanaland over to the BSAC, but later had second thoughts following the Jameson Raid. However, the BSA Police undertook the capture of the Caprivi Strip from Germany in 1915 and occupied the strip until 1918, if not later. Despite this empire-building, the BSAC abdicated part of its responsibility in the late 19th century, handing over the administration of North-Eastern Rhodesia (the northern part of present-day Zambia) to the British Central Africa Protectorate . The result was some interesting confusion in postage stamp issues! Getting back to the BSA Police: this force retained its name right through to Zimbabwean independence, when major changes were forced through.

Despite being a police force, it had the status of being the premier regiment and the senior service in Rhodesia, always taking pride of place in any parade. Mike Oettle, 21 Dec 2001 Northern Rhodesia (1924 - 1939) The image of North Rhodesia is the one with the badge adopted 1939. But I believe that previously, between 1924 and 1939 was used another badge or shield. Is this correct? Jaume Ollé, 26 June 1998 It appears then that there were no formal arms between 1924 and 1939 although the new arms were in use from 1927. Bruce Berry, 29 June 1998 The Colonial Office wrote to the Government of Northern Rhodesia in 1938 about the flag of the colony and were told that the badge, granted in 1928, had never been used on any flag as the government operated no launches and there was no opportunity for the Governor to embark in a vessel. The sole use of the badge was as part of the design of the Public Seal.

Presumably the badge was used on a flag after 1943 when Governors were directed to use their defaced Union Jack on land instead of the Union Jack. Public Record Office CO 323/1575/16. David Prothero, 26 Jan 2001 Northern Rhodesia (1939 - 1953) image by Clay Moss, 08 Aug 2004 A locally-formed committee consulted the deputy leader of the Mint, the Governor Sir Herbert Stanley, an heraldic artist at the Royal Navy base in Simonstown (near Cape Town) and the result was a design which was adopted in 1927. The design signifies a fish eagle of the Zambezi and most other rivers of Northern Rhodesia and water rushing over the rock of the Victoria Falls. The heraldic description is: Sable six palets wavy Argent on a Chief Azure an eagle reguardant wings expanded Or holding in the talons a Fish of the second. The Government of the Colony accepted that this design be used as a shield on the Public Seal of the Territory in 1927.

It received the approval of the King in 1930 and was formally granted to Northern Rhodesia by Royal Warrant on 16 August 1939. As far as I my memory serves me the Northern Rhodesia flag was a Fish Eagle (Nkwazi) with a fish in its claws depicted flying over the Victoria Falls. When independence came I believe it was decided to take away the fish as it was felt that it portrayed the grasp of colonialism on the masses. Steve Stephenson , 23 November 1999 The comment on the fish held in the claws of the fish eagle in the arms of Northern Rhodesia seems to me to be an inspired example of radical political hogwash. That's a reflection on the African nationalist politicians who produced the garbage, not on the vexillologist who quoted it! I recall hearing at the time that people were complaining about the "dead fish". What both comments betray is an abysmal ignorance regarding the symbolism involved. The African fish eagle is very similar to the American bald eagle - not only do they belong to the same genus, but they are almost identically colored.

The only significant difference between them, and one which is easily portrayed in heraldic art, is the fish eagle's habit of catching fish. The allegedly dead fish is in fact freshly caught - so freshly caught that carefully observation of any video portraying this act of predation will reveal that the fish is wriggling as it is carried away. The net result of Zambia's removal of the fish when it converted the eagle in the chief (of the protectorate's arms) to a crest (in the arms of the republic) is that there is no longer any distinguishing mark to identify this bird as an African fish eagle, and it might as well be a symbol of the USA. So much for African independence! Mike Oettle, 21 Dec 2001 image by Clay Moss, 10 June 2005 image by Clay Moss, 10 June 2005 Red ensign versions, although "unofficial", saw notable usage. It appears that two such versions existed, one with the shield on a disc and one without. I have seen two such period pieces. One is obviously American-made while the other is a mystery. Clay Moss, 10 June 2005.

Northern Rhodesia (1953 - 1963) - constituent territory of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland image by Clay Moss, 10 Sept 2005 Northern Rhodesia joined with neighbouring Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland to form the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in September 1953. The Federation flew a blue ensign with the shield from the Federal Arms in the fly. Elements from the shield of the arms of each of the constituent territories formed the Federal shield, with the palets wavy being from the Northern Rhodesia arms. The Federation was dissolved on 31 December 1963, with each of the constituent territories becoming separate political entities. Northern Rhodesia subsequently attained independence as the Republic of Zambia in October 1964. Bruce Berry, 9 February 1998 Colonial Governor - Northern Rhodesia image by Clay Moss, 02 June 2005 Northern Rhodesia was administered by the British South Africa Company before becoming a British Protectorate in 1924.

The flag of the Governor of Northern Rhodesia was a British Union Flag charged in the centre, on a white roundel, with the Arms granted to the Protectorate on 16 August 1939, namely "Sable, six palets wavy Argent, on a Chief Azure an Eagle reguardant wings expanded Or holding in its talons a Fish of the Second". In common with other flags used by British Colonial Governors, the Arms were within a green garland of laurel. This flag continued to be used by the Governor of Northern Rhodesia when the Protectorate became one of the constituent territories of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland between 1953 and 1963, and ceased to be used once Northern Rhodesia gained independence on 24 October 1964 as the Republic of Zambia. Bruce Berry, 20 Jan 2003 Northern Rhodesia Meaning - YouTube Northern Rhodesia Meaning Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later.

Published on May 1, 2015 Video shows what Northern Rhodesia means. A former name of what is now Zambia, from 1911 to 1964.. Northern Rhodesia Meaning. How to pronounce, definition audio dictionary. How to say Northern Rhodesia. Powered by MaryTTS, Wiktionary Category HISTORY OF ZAMBIA HISTORY OF ZAMBIA Enjoy the Famous Daily Barotse and Kololo: 19th century The African tribes living in the region between the Zambezi and Lake Tanganyika are first reached by outsiders in 1798. In that year a Portuguese trading party, pushing north from Tete on the Zambezi, reaches the capital of a chief near Lake Mweru. Half a century later this is the region which Livingstone explores, from his journey down the Zambezi in 1855 to his death near Lake Bangweulu in 1873 . By this time the most important African kingdom is in Barotseland, now known as the Western Province of Zambia.

During the 19th century there has been protracted warfare between the Barotse tribes in this area (subsequently known as the Lozi) and the Kololo, intruders from the south. The Kololo reach the Zambezi during the 1820s, after being pushed north from their homeland in south Africa by the aggressive Zulu expansion of this period. Their leader is Sebetwane, who in 1838 conquers the Barotse. He rules them peacefully and greatly impresses Livingstone, who meets him briefly in 1851. After Sebetwane's death the Barotse recover control of their territory. It is their ruler, Lewanika, who in 1890 negotiates with a new intruder from south of the Zambezi - Cecil Rhodes . They reach an agreement which suits both parties. Lewanika, impressed by the way his neighbour in Bechuanaland has acquired British protection, wants the same for himself - while for Rhodes this step forms part of a long-held ambition.

Cecil Rhodes: 1871-1891 In the last quarter of the 19th century the driving force behind British colonial expansion in Africa is Cecil Rhodes. He arrives in Kimberley at the age of eighteen in 1871, the very year in which rich diamond-bearing lodes are discovered there. He makes his first successful career as an entrepreneur, buying out the claims of other prospectors in the region. In the late 1880s he applies these same techniques to the gold fields discovered in the Transvaal . By the end of the decade his two companies, De Beers Consolidated Mines and Gold Fields of South Africa, dominate the already immensely valuable South African export of diamonds and gold. Rhodes is now rich beyond the reach of everyday imagination, but he wants this wealth for a very specific purpose. It is needed to fulfil his dream of establishing British colonies north of the Transvaal, as the first step towards his ultimate grand vision - a continuous strip of British empire from the Cape to the mouth of the Nile.

The terms of incorporation of both Rhodes's mining companies include clauses allowing them to invest in northern expansion, and in 1889 he forms the British South Africa Company to fulfil this precise purpose. Established with a royal charter, its brief is to extend British rule into central Africa without involving the British government in new responsibility or expense. The first step north towards the Zambezi has considerable urgency in the late 1880s. It is known that the Boers of the Transvaal are interested in extending their territory in this direction. In the developing scramble for Africa the Portuguese could easily press west from Mozambique. So could the Germans, who by an agreement of 1886 have been allowed Tanganyika as a sphere of interest. Rhodes has been preparing his campaign some years before the founding of the British South Africa Company in 1889. In 1885 he persuades the British government to secure Bechuanaland , which will be his springboard for the push north. And in 1888 he wins a valuable concession from Lobengula, whose kingdom is immediately north of the Transvaal.

Lobengula is the son of Mzilikazi , the leader of the Ndebele who established a new kingdom (in present-day Zimbabwe) after being driven north by the Boers in 1837. Fifty years later, in 1888, Lobengula grants Rhodes the mining rights in part of his territory (there are reports of gold) in return for 1000 rifles, an armed steamship for use on the Zambezi and a monthly rent of ï¿½100. With these arrangements satisfactorily achieved, Rhodes sends the first party of colonists north from Bechuanaland in 1890. In September they settle on the site which today is Harare and begin prospecting for gold. In support of Rhodes's scheme, the government declares the area a British protectorate in 1891. The growth of the Rhodesias: 1890-1900 The population of settlers rapidly increases in the territory adminstered by Rhodes's British South Africa Company. There are as many as 1500 Europeans in the region by 1892. More soon follow, thanks partly to developments in transport.

The railway from the Cape has reached Kimberley in 1885, at a fortuitous time just before the start of Rhodes's ambitious venture (one of the stated aims of his company is to extend the line north to the Zambezi). Trains reach Bulawayo as early as 1896. Victoria Falls is the northern terminus by 1904. Meanwhile the territory has been given a name in honour of its colonial founder. From 1895 the region up to the Zambezi is known as Rhodesia. During the early 1890s the company has considerable difficulty in maintaining its presence in these new territories. Lobengula himself tries to maintain peace with the British, but many of his tribe are eager to expel the intruders. The issue comes to a head when Leander Jameson, administering the region for Rhodes, finds a pretext in 1893 for war against Lobengula . With five Maxim machine guns, Jameson easily fights his way into Lobengula's kraal at Bulawayo. Lobengula flees, bringing to an end the Ndebele kingdom established by his father.

There is a strong tribal uprising against the British in 1896-7, but thereafter Rhodes's company brings the entire region up to the Zambezi under full control. But Rhodes has ambitions far beyond the Zambezi. In 1890 he arrives in Barotseland (the western region of modern Zambia) to secure a treaty with Lewanika, the paramount chief of the region. With this achieved, Rhodes comes to a new agreement in 1891 with the British government. His company will administer the area from the Zambezi up to Lake Tanganyika (the present-day Zambia). From 1900 the territory is divided into two protectorates, Northwestern and Northeastern Rhodesia, each of them separately administered by Rhodes's company. In 1911 they are merged as Northern Rhodesia, with the colony's first capital at Livingstone (appropriately named, since it is near Victoria Falls ). Northern Rhodesia: 1911-1953 Northern Rhodesia proves an unexpectedly rich province owing to the discovery of minerals.

Lead and zinc are found in 1902 at Broken Hill (now Kabwe), and the first hint of vast wealth is revealed in 1909 on the border between Northern Rhodesia and the Belgian Congo. This region, later known as the Copper Belt, turns out to contain the world's largest reserves of copper outside the American continent. In 1924 the British South Africa Company hands over the administration of Northern Rhodesia to the British government, but the company is allowed to retain the mineral rights in the colony. The Copper Belt brings increased European involvement in Northern Rhodesia, where efforts to encourage agricultural settlement have been largely unsuccessful. In 1911, when the two parts of the region are merged as Northern Rhodesia, there are about 1500 Europeans in the company's territory. In 1924, when Northern Rhodesia becomes a crown protectorate and exploitation of the Copper Belt begins, there are some 4000. By the early 1950s there are about 40,000 - nearly all of them involved with copper. Although the Europeans represent less than 2% of the population, the political system of Northern Rhodesia is based on white supremacy.

And the settlers hope to keep it that way. By the 1950s the political future of all African colonies is under intense discussion. Among the European population of the two regions first settled by Rhodes's company there is a general assumption that sooner or later Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia will merge to form a single independent nation. But this is resisted by the Africans, now beginning to find a political voice. Black opposition is strongest in the northern colony, with its much smaller white minority. Here, from the African point of view, the danger of union seems all too evident. Northern Rhodesia will be overshadowed by the strong European culture of Rhodesia, postponing perhaps indefinitely the ideal of independence under black majority rule. Federation: 1953-1963 Confronted with conflicting demands, and aware of its responsibilities for Nyasaland as well as the two Rhodesias, the British government imposes in 1953 an awkward compromise in the form of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. This is to be a self-governing colony, with its own assembly and prime minister (first Lord Malvern, and from 1956 Roy Welensky).

The intention is to derive the greatest economic benefit from the larger unit while minimizing political tension between the three parts of the federation, each of which retains its existing local government. The federated colonies are at differing stages in their political development. All they have in common is an almost complete absence of any African voice in the political process. Rhodesia has been a self-governing colony for three decades, but with no African suffrage (a tiny 'B roll' of African voters is added to the electorate in 1957). Northern Rhodesia has a legislative council with, since 1948, two seats reserved for African members. At the time of federation there are no Africans on Nyasaland's legislative council. Two years later, in 1955, places are found for five members. The intended economic benefits materialize during the early years of the federation, helped by a world rise in copper prices, but this is not enough to stifle increasing political unrest - particularly as British colonies elsewhere in Africa win independence (beginning with Ghana in 1957). In the early 1960s African politicians in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland win increasing power in their legislative councils.

The pressure grows to break up the federation. In March 1963, by which time all three colonies are demanding independence, the British government finally concedes. The federation is formally dissolved on 31 December 1963. The steps towards independence: to1964 In retrospect the progress towards independence in Northern Rhodesia (achieved in 1964 under the new name of Zambia) can be seen to span nearly twenty years. The first African political party is the African National Congress, formed in 1948 by members of welfare societies established during World War II in mining communities and rural districts. Ten years later, under the federal government of 1953-63, the demands of the ANC are too timid for a radical younger generation, determined by now to achieve an independent African state. Kenneth Kaunda leads a group which in 1958 splits from the ANC and founds the Zambia African National Congress. Kaunda deploys this organization in a campaign of civil disobedience against the prevailing policy of federation. His activities soon land him in gaol. While he is there, a new and more militant party is formed - UNIP, or the United National Independence Party.

When Kaunda is released from prison, in January 1960, he is elected president of UNIP. In a wave of enthusiasm the new party acquires 300,000 members within six months - causing it, and Kaunda as its leader, to be recognized by the British authorities as the main political voice of Northern Rhodesia's African population. When a conference on the future of Northern Rhodesia is held in London, in December 1960, Kaunda and other UNIP leaders are prominent among the African delegation. They emerge with agreement on a political process scheduled to lead towards independence. In elections in October 1962 UNIP emerges as the party with the largest number of seats in the legislative council (fifteen out of thirty-seven). In coalition with the ANC, the African members now have control of the Northern Rhodesian council. But they face strong opposition from the federal government in Salisbury and, initially, from the white population of Northern Rhodesia. During 1963 Kaunda works patiently to reassure his European opponents that their interests will be respected in an independent African state.

Early in 1964, after the dissolution of the federation, elections are held on the basis of universal adult suffrage. UNIP wins a clear majority and receives some 30% of the European votes. Kaunda, taking charge as executive president of the new nation (independent from October 1964), begins a career of almost three decades in that position. Kaunda: 1964 - 1991 In the early years of independence Zambia's economy flourishes. The mineral rights of the British South Africa Company now accrue to the state. And copper prices rise dramatically, largely because of the needs of the Vietnam War. But the economy takes a serious downturn during the 1970s. There is a major collapse in the price of copper in 1975, while the cost of imported oil soars. Even more significant is the damage caused by Zambia's proximity to Rhodesia. With the declaration of UDI by Ian Smith, in 1965, Zambia becomes the frontline state in Africa's struggle against this act of white supremacy.

Kaunda takes a lead in opposing the Smith regime - a stance which includes offering safe havens to guerrilla forces operating across the borders against Rhodesia, but which also invites armed retaliation by Rhodesian forces. Even more significant is the economic consequence of being a land-locked neighbour of a nation which the international community is trying to isolate, after the imposition of UN sanctions on Rhodesia in 1968. Rhodesia has in the past been Zambia's main trading partner. It has also been the route by which Zambia's copper travels to the sea at Beira. Now an expensive railway link has to be constructed, with a massive Chinese loan, to the distant port of Dar es Salaam. These difficulties cause Kaunda to impose a state of emergency. With regular renewals by parliament, this evolves gradually into a state of normality. Kaunda's rule becomes increasingly authoritarian. Political opponents are harassed. In 1973 a new constitution turns Zambia into a one-party state. By the late 1980s the economy is in such a decrepit state that there are food riots in several towns. Finally, in 1991, the national assembly withdraws the ban on political parties other than UNIP.

Multiparty elections are held in October of this year. Their startling result gives Kaunda and Zambia undeniable credit, rare in Africa at this time, for high electoral standards. Chiluba: from1991 In the 1991 elections Kaunda's party, UNIP, is left with less than one sixth of the seats in the national assembly. A massive majority (125 out of the 150 seats) is won by MMD, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy. The MMP candidate, the trades union leader Frederick Chiluba, easily defeats Kaunda in the race for the presidency. The 1990s remain a time of great difficulty for Zambia. Copper suffers a further decline in value. Efforts to reform the bloated civil service inherited from Kaunda are painful and not entirely successful. And the MMP begins to lose its early reputation for a serious commitment to democracy and human rights. This is seen in particular in the continuing career of Kenneth Kaunda, who makes it plain that he hopes to regain his presidency. Strenuous efforts are made to prevent his standing against Chiluba.

Before the 1996 presidential election an amendment is added to the constitution requiring candidates to have parents who were native Zambians (Kaunda's were born in Malawi). In 1997 an opposition rally is fired on by police and Kaunda is slightly wounded. Later in the same year he is accused of having abetted an abortive military coup. He is placed under house arrest, but is released in June 1998 when all charges are withdrawn. In November 1999 Kaunda's son Wezi, prominent in UNIP, is assassinated (why or by whom is not known). Meanwhile in 1996 Chiluba is re-elected to the presidency for the second of the two consecutive terms allowed in the constitution. And the MMP increases its majority from 125 to 127 seats in the national assembly. Rhodesia | Define Rhodesia at Dictionary.com Rhodesia noun 1. (as Southern Rhodesia, ) a former British colony in S Africa: declared independence 1965; name changed to Zimbabwe, 1979. 2.

a historical region in S Africa that comprised the British territories of Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) and Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Related forms Examples from the Web for Rhodesia Expand Contemporary Examples He sought out the remnants of Siam in Thailand, and Rhodesia in Zimbabwe, and Leningrad in St. Petersburg. The Avenger E. Phillips Oppenheim What, in the name of fortune, is the good of going to Rhodesia? The Rhodesian Gertrude Page He had been in Rhodesia, poking about in some ancient ruins there, and—oh, my garden flower! An African Adventure Isaac F. Marcosson If she could anyhow win her father's consent, she would go with him on his trip to Rhodesia. British Dictionary definitions for Rhodesia Expand a former name (1964–79) for Zimbabwe Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd.

1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Rhodesia [(roh-dee-zhuh)] Former name of Zimbabwe , a nation in southeastern Africa . Note: Rhodesia was named for Cecil Rhodes, the English industrialist whose British South Africa Company colonized the region at the end of the nineteenth century. He also founded the Rhodes Scholarships for study at Oxford University. The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. The Fall of Rhodesia The Fall of Rhodesia Why did the white minority rule end in today’s Zimbabwe? By Tor G. Jakobsen, NTNU Today’s southern African country of Zimbabwe, now infamous for its land invasions, state repression, and erratic rule by its de facto dictator Robert Mugabe was until 1980 a country with white minority rule.

However, economic sanctions and guerilla warfare led to the transformation of power from the whites to the majority blacks, which in the recent decade meant a mass eviction of white farmers and also their exodus from the country as a whole. In 1965 Rhodesia, led by its leader Ian Smith, declared independence from United Kingdom. The country was run by a minority of approximately a quarter million whites, who had both the political and economic power. This illegal declaration of independence led to economic sanctions against the new country, first from the United Kingdom, later from the United Nations. 1972 saw the beginning of a seven year long guerilla war between black nationalists and the Rhodesian security forces. The sanctions continued and the political pressure against Rhodesia increased as the 1970s progressed. Negotiations concerning a transformation to majority rule came about in 1976, and the first multiracial elections took place in 1979, an election where the guerilla factions ZANU and ZAPU were banned from participating. After renewed pressure from the UK and the US a new election was held in 1980, this time including the two guerilla factions.

Robert Mugabe (ZANU) won an overwhelming victory, and Rhodesia had now changed its name to Zimbabwe. Southern Rhodesia Executive Council, Salisbury 1933 History In 1891 the area which was to become known as Rhodesia came under the administration of the British South-Africa Company (BSAC), and thousands of white settlers poured into the region. When the reign of the BSAC ended, the settlers chose to create Southern Rhodesia rather than to join the newly formed South African Union to the south. Southern Rhodesia became a colony under British administration; however the settlers soon developed a tradition of self-rule with little interference from the UK. In 1936 and 1941 the agricultural land was divided between the blacks and the white settlers. The white minority received most of the fertile land. After a short union with the colonies of Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) and Nyasaland (Malawi), Southern Rhodesia changed its name to Rhodesia, and kept its status as a self-governing colony under the umbrella of the British Commonwealth. Negotiations regarding full independence took place between Rhodesia and the United Kingdom, where the British insisted that independence had to mean majority rule.

Trekking in Rhodesia Rhodesian Front and the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) Rhodesian Front was founded in 1962 as a union of several smaller parties and groups on the right side of the Rhodesian political spectrum. From 1962 and onwards the Rhodesian Front won all elections with a solid margin, and in 1964 Ian Smith became leader of the party. Rhodesian Front sought to preserve the white minority rule in the foreseeable future, something that was against the tide juxtaposed with events in other parts of the African continent. According to Ian Smith the British showed signs of wanting to get rid of their colonial problems without concern of the white Africans. A referendum was thus held in November 1964, where 56 percent of the Rhodesians voted for independence from Britain. On November 11 1965 Ian Smith’s regime declared their Unilateral Declaration of Independence. Rhodesia was now an independent state. British Prime Minister visits Rhodesia in 1960 Reactions to the declaration of independence The British government reacted with disbelief to Ian Smith’s declaration of independence.

In a speech to Parliament on the day of the declaration Prime Minister Wilson (Labour) stated that the Rhodesian succession was regarded as illegal. He considered it to be a rebellion against the crown and the constitution. Smith’s government was to be regarded as private persons, without any right of legal authority in Rhodesia. The Soviet reaction was somewhat different than that of the British. The Soviet government highlighted the racist aspect of Smith’s regime and its suppression of the people of Zimbabwe. Its leader Brezhnev also lay blame on the British for allowing the racist regime of Rhodesia to gain military and economic power. Ian Douglas Smith (1919–2007), Rhodesian prime minister Sanctions Britain’s policy of 1965 was to not accept the regime in Salisbury (the capital of Rhodesia, today known as Harare). The export of weapons to Rhodesia came to a halt, British export of capital was banned, and the purchase of Rhodesian tobacco, the country’s main export, stopped. Oil was however not included in the first sanctions. The goal of the sanctions was to undermine the stability of the Rhodesian currency, something which failed.

Britain’s continued to favor economic sanctions rather than use of military force, and regarded Rhodesia as a British responsibility.Some of the goals of the sanctions were to put Rhodesia’s economy under pressure, create dissatisfaction within its population, and thus pressure Ian Smith to negotiate an acceptable (to the British) solution. The United Kingdom’s decision not to use military force against Ian Smith’s regime meant that a change of course had the come from within Rhodesia, motivated by external economic pressure. The goal of the pressure was that one in Rhodesia should experience a fall in real wages and a rise in unemployment and inflation. This should again lead to a massive emigration of white Rhodesians, which would undermine the country’s socio-economic structure or at least create enough dissatisfaction among the white part of the population that they would reconsider their support to both Smith and the Rhodesian Front. Violent rebellion was not wished for by the British; the reasons were part humanitarian and part the Marxist ideology of several African freedom fighters. However, there were ways to dodge the sanctions.

The most important factor here was the fact that South Africa, Portugal (which held Mozambique and Angola), and South-West Africa (held by South Africa) did not participate in the sanctions, and functioned as transit countries for the transport of good to and from Rhodesia. Other countries maintained trade relations with Rhodesia, despite the countries’ official stances. This was true for states like Japan, West-Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium. The effect of the sanctions Rhodesia had a strong economy, and experienced a trade surplus every year from 1965–75, with the exception of the drought year 1968 as well as 1971. Businessmen who traded with Rhodesia were often cooperative. Rhodesia was a reliable trading partner, and good terms of trade was often reason enough to disregard the UN sanctions. Anti-Rhodesian organizations often uncovered regular sanction busting activities, and forced the Rhodesians and their trading partners to find new trading routes. The sanctions were probably more an annoyance than destructive with regard to Rhodesian trade. The late oil blockade had the same characteristics: irritating, yet not devastating.

Oil accounted for a mere 27 percent of Rhodesian power usage, and the boycott could be bypassed by importing oil through Mozambique and South Africa. The Rhodesian product that was hardest hit by the sanctions was tobacco. One can say that the sanctions alone could not break Smith’s regime, even though they were a strain on the Rhodesians. The white population In 1970 the population statistics showed that there lived 228,296 Europeans, 15,154 colored (of mixed origin), and 8965 Asians in Rhodesia. The black African population numbered 4,846,930. In other words, there were 21 times more blacks than whites in Rhodesia, and half of the blacks were under 15 years old. Thus, the future demographic trend seemed pretty clear: the share of whites would further decrease compared to the number of blacks. Further, around 30 percent of the white population had dual citizenship or were citizens of another country.

Half of the whites could not trace their family history further back than to the Second World War, and during the 1960s Rhodesia had a net white emigration of 42,000. The lion’s share of Rhodesians was of British background, however there were substantial Boer, Jewish, and Greek minorities within the white population. Despite all this, the general spirit amongst the whites was optimistic, and the Rhodesians were relatively firm in line with the Rhodesian Front and supported the founding of the Rhodesian Republic. There were several explanations to this. The start of the 1970s saw great economic growth, and the threat from terrorists was small as the government seemingly controlled the black African population. After the breakup with the United Kingdom in 1965, Rhodesia was by world opinion regarded as a “rebel” state and did not achieve international recognition, something that could contribute to strengthening the unity of the white population. To immigrate to Rhodesia could to a certain degree be seen as an acceptance of the country’s politics, a country whose white population was remarkable firmly behind their leader Ian Smith and the Rhodesian Front.

Despite gloomy prospects the country had in 1970 survived five years of independence. The economic sanctions were not felt as hard as expected, in part thanks to neighboring South Africa and the Portuguese Mozambique. The Rhodesians entered the 1970s with optimism. Cecil J. Rhodes (1853–1902), the mining magnate who gave his name to Rhodesia The Rhodesian Bush War The Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and the Zimbabwe Africans People’s Union (ZAPU) were to become the two leading freedom or nationalist movements for the black population of Rhodesia. By the late 1960s they started targeting white Rhodesians. Robert Mugabe became leader of ZANU in 1969, and 1972 saw the starting point of ZANUs guerilla campaign against the minority government in North-East Rhodesia. Mugabe’s ZANU fought mainly in Eastern Rhodesia, and made use of bases in Mozambique. They received support from China, yet still lacked food, clothing, and weapons.

ZAPU, which was led by Joshua Nkomo, fought in Western Rhodesia, made use of bases in Zambia (former Northern Rhodesia), and received support from the Soviet Union. The nationalist organizations ZANU and ZAPU received support from communist countries due to their shared ideology. The Marxist ideology suited the African nationalism in Rhodesia, as it did in several other African countries. One fought against a small capitalist elite which owned most of the arable land, and who represented capitalist export oriented farming. The black Africans were the proletarians, and the whites controlled the means of production. Thus, the blacks struggle for majority rule was easily combined with Marxist ideology. The Bush War In December 1972 the guerilla offensive set of with an attack on a white farmer family. Even though there were no casualties, this event marked a change in ZANU tactics. Other attacks followed and the government soon realized that it faced a larger guerilla threat than the smaller skirmishes that had taken place in the 1960s. As a countermove against ZANU’s offensive in the northeast, the Rhodesian forces started their operation “Hurricane”.

Government forces regained control over the area, and the guerilla threat seemed to be avoided for the time being. There was a rise in international oil prices in 1973, something which also affected the Rhodesian economy. Even more important, in 1974 Portugal gave up their two colonies Mozambique and Angola (the former directly bordering Rhodesia). The new leaders of these countries were both Marxist, and the nationalist organizations now received support from Rhodesia’s neighboring countries. The whole power balance of southern Africa had been altered. The white bastion of Portuguese Angola and Mozambique, Rhodesia, South-West Africa, and South Africa had lost two of its members. South Africa wished to achieve a détente with the newly formed states, and Rhodesia thus became a thorn in the eye of South African foreign policy. The situation had now been dramatically changed for the minority government of Rhodesia compared to the more optimistic years following the foundation of the republic. The country had all of a sudden two more hostile neighbors, and the relationship with South Africa had cooled. Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique became more involved in the war when guerilla activities spread into their territories.

There was also a fear that the East and the West would interfere in the conflict and that it would get a Cold War dimension. Why did Rhodesia experience guerilla warfare? Well, there were many factors behind the unrest. The black Africans lacked both economic and political influence, and there was also a wish for true democracy. In 1970 the mean income of blacks was 10 times lower than the corresponding white mean income. Another explanatory variable was the wave of Marxism that swept over the African continent. Knowledge of Marxist ideology and political and supply-wise support from the Soviet Union and China helped initiate the guerilla war. A third factor was a wish for power and influence by the two strong rebel leaders, Nkomo and Mugabe. Military service Because Rhodesia had a small white population and relatively few blacks joined the country’s armed forces, the war had a large effect on the daily life of the common Rhodesian. A white Rhodesian could be six weeks on duty and six weeks back home and so on. This could go on for years, and naturally had an impact on many Rhodesian families. Refusing military service was not accepted and was punished with imprisonment.

When the guerilla war commenced in 1972, the security forces (the army and air force) consisted of 4700 personnel, with a reserve of 10,000. The security forces mainly consisted of white Rhodesians. The British South Africa Police, which was a paramilitary organization, consisted of 8000 men, of which three quarters were black Rhodesians. Also, one had 35,000 police reserves, of which three quarters were white. In other words, for a white Rhodesian the likelihood of experiencing combat as the 1970s progressed was indeed large. Dodging military service, if one was fit for duty, became increasingly difficult. Rhodesian soldiers on patrol With the increase in guerilla attacks in 1976 it became obvious that a regular armed forces of about 6000 personnel (1400 were foreigners, so-called “soldiers of fortune”) was not enough to manage a full-scale warfare. Thus, the private sector had to be somewhat neglected as the military had top priority. No white male 17-year olds were allowed to leave Rhodesia to study.

Conscription was now in effect also for ages 38–50, however this was somewhat modified in 1977. According to government statistics there were at least 20,350 war-related deaths in Rhodesia between December 1972 and December 1979: 468 white civilians, 1361 members of the security forces, 10,450 terrorists, and 7790 black civilians. Even though the numbers for the black civilians is possibly underestimated, and a fair share of guerilla fighters were killed in battles in the neighboring countries, the white population was hardest hit by the war if one takes into account their total numbers. The Rhodesian Bush War was a gruesome war where atrocities, torture, and murder of civilians was common place on both sides. The “freedom fighters” had terrorized the rural population, butchered accused traitors, and massacred innocent civilians. The “defenders of Western Civilization” abused prisoners, killed civilians, and burned villages. The warfare had placed the economy and peoples feeling of personal security under pressure.

The Turning Point In 1976 the warfare intensified, and now also included skirmishes between security forces from Rhodesia and neighboring Mozambique. After a Rhodesian aerial attack in Mozambique, the border was closed between the two countries. This meant that Rhodesia lost two important railroad lines which accounted for about half of Rhodesia’s transport of goods. Both export and import now had to be transported along the only two railroad lines into South Africa. These were subject to massive sabotage operations in 1976. The tourist industry had now become a target for guerilla attacks, and border skirmishes with forces from Zambia and Mozambique had become commonplace. However, the real turning point took place in West-Germany in June 1976, where the U.S. foreign minister Henry Kissinger met the South African Prime Minister John Vorster. The United States put South Africa under pressure, and the South Africans thus pressured Ian Smith to agree to a deal orchestrated by Kissinger. The essence of the deal was that majority rule was to be put into place within two years. Ian Smith later described this as a betrayal by South Africa.

He had previously ensured the Rhodesians that South Africa would not succumb to American pressures, as Rhodesia and South Africa had a common understanding between them that they were the defenders of Western Civilization in the region. Rhodesia was dependent on South Africa, their only ally, and the government’s perception was that they had been sold out, especially by Prime Minister Vorster, and had no other alternative than to accept Kissinger’s package. It became clear that transformation to majority rule was inevitable. It was now a goal for the Rhodesians that the more moderate nationalists came to power rather than Nkomo or Mugabe. One no longer fought to keep a white rule in the foreseeable future, but rather to get an acceptable black rule that could possibly preserve the essence of the Rhodesian civilization. Another goal for the whites was not to lose their economic privileges even though their political power would vanish. Emigration The guerilla warfare meant higher taxes for the white population. Almost the whole white male population between 18 and 50 years was affected by different forms of military or police service. The society as a whole felt the lack of skilled workers, as emigration increased drastically from 1973 and onwards.

An uncertain future, lack of possibilities, and the burdensome military call-ups were the main reasons that many white Rhodesians chose to leave the country. In the period 1960–72 there was a relatively large immigration and emigration of whites to and from Rhodesia, but from 1973 emigration rose sharply. In 1974 and 75 there was a net immigration of whites, however this was due to the around 20,000 Portuguese refugees that arrived from Angola and Mozambique. In 1976 there was a net emigration of 7072 whites. More than 1000 whites left the country each month. These are very large numbers as the white population at the time lay between 200–250,000. When Mozambique got their independence in 1975 and South Africa became less supportive of Rhodesia, the sanctions became more difficult to cope with. The situation worsened due to the escalation of the guerilla war and the following mass emigration of white Rhodesians. All of these were causes of the fall of Rhodesia.

However, it was not the economic sanctions alone, or the Rhodesian Bush War alone that causes the downfall of Smith’s government. It was rather the interplay between them, and especially the direct political pressure from the USA and South Africa which paved the road for majority rule. Further reading Godwin, Peter & Ian Hancock (1993). Rhodesians Never Die: The Impact of War and Political Change on White Rhodesia, c. 1970–1980. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 11 Responses to The Fall of Rhodesia NN Where was Rhodesia located? What is it called today? - Quora Quora Written Oct 2, 2015 Rhodesia was an earlier name for the country now called Zimbabwe. It was named after Cecil Rhodes, who was a British imperialist and colonist. He is not well loved by native Africans, which is why they changed the name. Many centuries ago, there was a prosperous kingdom in southern Africa called the Kingdom of Zimbabwe ( ), whose capital was within the borders of the present day Republic of Zimbabwe. When Zimbabwe's government was taken over by native Africans, they chose to use this older name instead.

Written Oct 5, 2015 The geographical the term ‘Rhodesia’ referred to a region generally comprising the areas that are today Zambia and Zimbabwe. Zambia was called Northern Rhodesia and Zimbabwe Southern Rhodesia. Between 1953 and 1963 the two were part of the three countries that formed the federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. After the federation Northern Rhodesia became independent, introduced majority rule and was named Zambia. However Southern Rhodesia was renamed the Republic of Rhodesia. In 1979 Southern Rhodesia was named Zimbabwe-Rhodesia during the transition to majority rule. It was renamed Zimbabwe at independence in 1980. Therefore Rhodesia refers today not only to Zimbabwe but also to Zambia. 321 Views Grant Leishman , I am an entrepreneur with 7 startups under my belt. Currently my focus is in advertising and media and particularly S... Rhodesia was on the. Or therm border of South Africa and is now called Zimbabwe. The full history is well explained on Wikipedia.

265 Views Northern Rhodesia - definition of Northern Rhodesia by The Free Dictionary Northern Rhodesia - definition of Northern Rhodesia by The Free Dictionary Related to Northern Rhodesia: Southern Rhodesia Northern Rhodesia (Placename) the former name (until 1964) of Zambia Zam•bi•a (ˈzæm bi ə) n. a republic in S central Africa: formerly a British protectorate; gained independence 1964. 11,163,160; 290,586 sq. mi. (752,614 sq. km). Cap.: Lusaka. Formerly, Northern Rhodesia. Zam′bi•an, adj., n. ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: Noun 1.

Northern Rhodesia - a republic in central Africa; formerly controlled by Great Britain and called Northern Rhodesia until it gained independence within the commonwealth in 1964 capital of Zambia , Lusaka - the capital and largest city of Zambia Africa - the second largest continent; located to the south of Europe and bordered to the west by the South Atlantic and to the east by the Indian Ocean Victoria Falls , Victoria - a waterfall in the Zambezi River on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia; diminishes seasonally Zambezi , Zambezi River - an African river; flows into the Indian Ocean Cewa , Chewa , Chichewa - a member of the Bantu-speaking people of Malawi and eastern Zambia and northern Zimbabwe Zambian - a native or inhabitant of Zambia Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content .

Link to this page: ON THIS DAY Australia - New Zealand - Barbados - Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) - Belgium - Poland - Canada - Republic of Ireland - Czechoslovakia (Czech Republic and Slovakia - South Africa - France - Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) - Jamaica - United Kingdom - Newfoundland (now part of Canada) - United States of America Nun better than Sr Sarah, 100, as she enjoys big day His father Alec emigrated in 1927 to the then Northern Rhodesia, where he worked as a doctor, a politician, a lawyer and a newspaper publisher. SPREAD OF STATE; PIECE MISSION AFRICAN LEADER'S SCOTS ROOTS; Son of Carluke jam-maker becomes interim president of Zambia Brought up on a cattle farm in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) in a strict household headed by his father, a rancher.

I'm a good writer, not a good father; After 34 bestselling books AUTHORWILBUR Smith tells Hannah Stephenson he's too busy to have regrets PROFILE The British colonial administrators in Nyasaland (Malawi), Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), Uganda, Kenya, and Zanzibar cooperated to undermine the work of the organization.

Question: Northern Rhodesia is now known by what name?
Answer: Zambia