Rhodesia, officially from 1970 the Republic of Rhodesia, is a country in Southern Africa that was founded in 1965. Rhodesia is the successor state to the British colony of Southern Rhodesia, which had been self-governing since achieving responsible government in 1923. A landlocked nation, Rhodesia is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia to the northwest, and Mozambique to the east.
Rhodesia's largest cities is Salisbury and Bulawayo. From 1965 to 1978, 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. Prior to 1970, the unicameral Rhodesian 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 Rhodesian Parliament, with a House of Assembly and a Senate. Rhodesia observed the Westminster system inherited from the United Kingdom, with the President of Rhodesia acting as ceremonial head of state, while a Prime Minister headed the Cabinet of Rhodesia as head of government.