Zimbabwe

formerly southern rhodesia, rhodesia. a republic in s africa: a former british colony and part of the federation of rhodesia and nyasaland; gained independence 1980. 150,330 sq. mi. (389,362 sq. km).
capital: harare.
the site of stone ruins (great zimbabwe) discovered c1870 in rhodesia, probably built by a bantu people, consisting of three main groups of ruins, and dating between the 9th and 15th centuries a.d.
contemporary examples

where dictators go to die dan ephron august 4, 2011
how i got addicted to africa (and wrote a thriller about it) todd moss september 8, 2014
how i got addicted to africa (and wrote a thriller about it) todd moss september 8, 2014
obama’s shocking cabinet selections leak bruce mccall october 23, 2008
what romney meant to say (part 4) – updated david frum august 1, 2012

historical examples

through south africa henry m. stanley
sacrifice stephen french whitman
the rhodesian gertrude page
the rhodesian gertrude page
elissa h. rider haggard

noun
a country in se africa, formerly a self-governing british colony founded in 1890 by the british south africa company, which administered the country until a self-governing colony was established in 1923; joined with northern rhodesia (now zambia) and nyasaland (now malawi) as the federation of rhodesia and nyasaland from 1953 to 1963; made a unilateral declaration of independence (udi) under the leadership of ian smith in 1965 on the basis of white minority rule; proclaimed a republic in 1970; in 1976 the principle of black majority rule was accepted and in 1978 a transitional government was set up; gained independence under robert mugabe in 1980; effectively a one-party state since 1987; a member of the commonwealth until 2003, when it withdrew as a result of conflict with other members. official language: english. religion: christian majority. currency: zimbabwe dollar. capital: harare. pop: 13 182 908 (2013 est). area: 390 624 sq km (150 820 sq miles) former names (until 1964) southern rhodesia, (1964–79) rhodesia
also great zimbabwe. a ruined fortified settlement in zimbabwe, which at its height, in the 15th century, was probably the capital of an empire covering se africa
zimbabwe [(zim-bahb-way)]

note: a british colony from the end of the nineteenth century to 1965 and then (1965–1980) a renegade state ruled by a white minority, zimbabwe became independent in 1980.