Which is a former name for the country of Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia, is a landlocked country located in South Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, and Mozambique. The capital and largest city is Harare. The second largest city is Bulawayo. A country of roughly 14 million people, Zimbabwe has 16 official languages, with English, Shona, and Ndebele the most common.

In the 1880s European colonists arrived with Cecil Rhodes British South Africa Company (BSAC). In 1888 Cecil Rhodes obtained a concession for mining rights from King Lobengula of the Ndebele peoples. He presented this concession to persuade the government of the United Kingdom to grant a royal charter to the company over Matabeleland, and its subject states as well. He used armed patrols to quell disorder, encouraged mass British settlement, and maintained control over labor, precious metals, and other mineral resources.

In 1895 the BSAC adopted the name "Rhodesia" for the territory, in honor of Rhodes. In 1898 the region south of the Zambezi River was named "Southern Rhodesia", which later adopted the name Zimbabwe. The region to the north, administered separately, was later termed "Northern Rhodesia" and is present-day Zambia.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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11 Comments

johnbheymann

To be accurate SOUTHERN RHODESIA is the correct answer Speedy .

Brian Reynolds

Rhodesia was split into North & South. Southern Rhodesia was called Zimbabwe and Northern Rhodesia is now called Zambia

earlepg

Glynne Powell, At least the wikipedia article has it as southern Africa. The problem with the article's reference is that it capitalizes the whole thing, Southern Africa.

Iswardew Matai

The BSAC was there for the minerals. But after gaining independence Mr Mugabe colonized and exploited his own people. Leaving the country in a deplorable condition.

Richard G Schwartz

Let's play the name game.

teresab

Nickname now is Zim.

Francie Carlson

believe for a short period it was known as zimbabwe-rhodesia

Lorna Shipton

Kew this as my partner grew up in Rhodesia before the name change, and I used to work with one of Cecil Rhodes descendants.

deborahpmercer

Glynne Powell, You have a point, though the "ern" suffix is often open to debate. I admit it sometimes irks me when people say "The Former East Germany" as if a whole landmark had moved westwards!