he name of Rhodesia was officially proclaimed in May 1895. An alternative name suggested at the time was Zambesia. From the turn of the century until 1923 the Chartered Company also administered Northern Rhodesia which is now the Republic of Zambia.

hodesia with a land area of 150 333 square miles lies some 15º - 20º south of the Equator. It consists of a central plateau with eastern highlands which enjoy a climate attractive to Europeans. About one-third of the country’s area is low veld which is sub-tropical but some of this area has now been reclaimed for cultivation. Rhodesia is a land-locked territory lying between the Zambezi and the Limpopo rivers and is about half again as big as the United Kingdom. It is largely an agricultural country but possesses immense mineral resources still to be developed and, with the exception of South Africa, is the most industrially advanced country in Africa. Over six million acres are reserved for national parks and game reserves.

he main towns were laid out at the turn of the century. Salisbury is the largest with a population of 435 000 of whom 105 500 are European. Bulawayo is the hub of the railways, with a total population of 281 000 including 52 400 Europeans. Some towns are built round industries, such as Wankie, the centre of the coal-mining industry, and Que Que, the headquarters of the iron and steel industries. The cities and towns are adjoined by well-planned African suburbs known as townships. Once outside the towns there is everywhere an enormous sense of space.

he African population consists of numerous tribes of which the Mashona and the Matabele, traditional enemies, are the most important. The main vernacular languages are Shona and Sindebele, but there is also a variety of other dialects. The 1965 census showed that the African population numbered a little more than 4,000,000 which compares with the 400,000 living in the country when the British occupation began in 1890.

he European population is of predominantly British stock but with a large minority coming from South Africa. In 1965 there were 224,000 white Rhodesians, many of whom had arrived in the country between 1947 and 1953. In addition there were 8000 Asians and 13,000 coloured people living in the country.