List of heads of state of Southern Rhodesia
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This is a list of the heads of state of Southern Rhodesia and its successor states from the establishment of self-government in 1923 to independence as the Republic of Zimbabwe in 1980.
Rhodesia was created by emigrated white settlers from Great Britain , who formed the colony of Southern Rhodesia and received self-government from 1923. The British monarch - represented by a governor - was head of state. The South Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith unilaterally declared Rhodesia's independence from Great Britain in 1965; In 1970 the monarchy was formally abolished and the republic was introduced. A president was elected as head of state, the first president being Clifford Dupont . Independent Rhodesia remained largely isolated internationally; In 1978 the black majority took part in the government for the first time and the country was renamed Zimbabwe-Rhodesia . After this attempt to end international isolation and to be recognized failed, the country became independent as the Republic of Zimbabwe in 1980 after a transition period in which Great Britain took over administration again .
| # | image | Name (life data) |
Taking office | End of office | Political party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.svg){kind=small} British Crown Colony of Southern Rhodesia (October 1, 1923 to April 17, 1980)Governor General as representative of the British Crown |
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| 1 |
|
John Chancellor (1870-1952) |
October 1, 1923 | June 15, 1928 | ||
| - |
|
Murray Bisset (1876–1931) interim governor |
June 15, 1928 | November 24, 1928 | ||
| 2 |
|
Cecil Hunter Rodwell (1874-1953) |
November 24, 1928 | May 1, 1934 | ||
| - |
|
Alexander Fraser Russell (1876–1952) interim governor |
May 1, 1934 | January 8, 1935 | ||
| 3 |
|
Herbert Stanley (1872–1955) |
January 8, 1935 | January 8, 1942 | ||
| - |
|
Alexander Fraser Russell (1876–1952) interim governor |
January 8, 1942 | December 10, 1942 | ||
| 4th |
|
Evelyn Baring (1903-1973) |
December 10, 1942 | October 26, 1944 | ||
| - |
|
Robert James Hudson (1885–1963) interim governor |
October 26, 1944 | February 20, 1945 | ||
| 5 |
|
Campbell Tait (1886-1946) |
February 20, 1945 | February 2, 1946 | ||
| - |
|
Alexander Fraser Russell (1876–1952) interim governor |
February 2, 1946 | July 19, 1946 | ||
| - |
|
Robert James Hudson (1885–1963) interim governor |
July 19, 1946 | January 14, 1947 | ||
| 6th |
|
John Noble Kennedy (1893-1970) |
January 14, 1947 | November 21, 1953 | ||
| - |
|
Robert Clarkson Tredgold (1899–1977) interim governor |
November 21, 1953 | November 26, 1954 | ||
| 7th |
|
Peveril William-Powlett (1898–1985) |
November 26, 1954 | December 28, 1959 | ||
| 8th |
|
Humphrey Gibbs (1902-1990) |
December 28, 1959 | November 11, 1965 and June 24, 1969 |
||
| On November 11, 1965, the South Rhodesian government under Ian Smith declared the country's independence from Great Britain. Rhodesia was to become a Commonwealth Realm with Queen Elizabeth II as the nominal head of state. However, the British government did not recognize this and had the Smith government declared deposed. As a result, the Smith government refused to recognize the British governor as the Queen's representative and appointed an "Officer Administering the Government" in his place. Governor Gibbs maintained his claim to governor and continued to reside in Rhodesia until the monarchy was formally abolished in 1969. | ||||||
.svg){kind=small} Independent Rhodesia (1965–1970)Officer Administering the Government as nominal representative of the Crown |
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| - |
|
Clifford Dupont (1905–1978) |
November 11, 1965 | March 2nd 1970 | Rhodesian Front | |
|
Republic of Rhodesia (1970–1979) President |
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| Ian Smith's plan to renegotiate Rhodesia into a Commonwealth Realm failed due to opposition from the British government. In 1969 the monarchy was abolished by referendum and in 1970 Rhodesia was declared a republic. The previous "Officer Administering the Government" was elected as the first President. | ||||||
| 1 |
|
Clifford Dupont (1905–1978) |
April 16, 1970 | December 31, 1975 | Rhodesian Front | |
| - |
|
Henry Everard (1897–1980) Interim President |
December 31, 1975 | January 14, 1976 | Rhodesian Front | |
| 2 |
|
John Wrathall (1913-1978) |
January 14, 1976 | August 31, 1978 | Rhodesian Front | |
| - |
|
Henry Everard (1897–1980) Interim President |
August 31, 1978 | November 1, 1978 | Rhodesian Front | |
| - |
|
Jack William Pithey (1903–1987) Interim President |
November 1, 1978 | March 5th 1979 | Rhodesian Front | |
| - |
|
Henry Everard (1897–1980) Interim President |
March 5th 1979 | June 1, 1979 | Rhodesian Front | |
| - |
 Republic of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia (1979)President |
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| In 1979, representatives of the black majority took part in government for the first time. The Republic of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia also lacked international recognition. | ||||||
| 3 |
|
Josia Zion Gumede (1919–1989) |
June 1, 1979 | December 11, 1979 | United African National Council | |
|
British Crown Colony of Southern Rhodesia (December 12, 1979 to April 17, 1980) Governor General as representative of the British Crown |
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| 9 |
|
Christopher Baron Soames (1920–1987) |
December 11, 1979 | April 18, 1980 |
Conservative Party (Great Britain) |
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