Governor of Southern Rhodesia

Governor of Southern Rhodesia
Flag of the governor from 1952 to 1980
Last in office
The Lord Soames
11 December 1979 – 18 April 1980
StyleHis Excellency The Right Honourable
ResidenceGovernment House, Salisbury (now Harare)
AppointerMonarch of the United Kingdom
Formation1 October 1923
First holderSir John Chancellor
Final holderThe Lord Soames
Abolished18 April 1980

The Governor of Southern Rhodesia was the representative of the British monarch in the self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia from 1923 to 1980. The Governor was appointed by the Crown and acted as the local head of state, receiving instructions from the British Government.

Rhodesia's 1965 Unilateral Declaration of Independence resulted in the Rhodesian government ceasing to recognise the authority of the Governor, and the 1969 Rhodesian constitutional referendum resulted in Rhodesia declaring itself a republic, independent from the British monarchy. Britain still considered the territory its colony and continued to maintain the office, albeit allowing it be vacant from 1969–1979. Following the Lancaster House Agreement the office was filled from December 1979 until April 1980 whereupon Britain formally recognised the territory as the independent republic of Zimbabwe, and the office of Governor was thereafter abolished.


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