#TodayInHistory: Southern Rhodesia Resumes Self-Government After Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Collapse

The collapse of the federation came amid mounting African nationalist resistance, civil unrest, and a shift in British decolonization policy. While Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland moved swiftly toward independence—becoming Zambia in October 1964 and Malawi in July 1964—Southern Rhodesia chose to maintain white minority rule and reassert internal autonomy.

The events of early January 1964 marked a turning point in the region’s political trajectory. Southern Rhodesia’s decision to operate independently set the stage for its controversial Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965 and a prolonged struggle over majority rule, which would only be resolved with the birth of Zimbabwe in 1980.