Science Fair Project Encyclopedia Federation of Rhodesia and
Nyasaland The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was a short-
lived, semi-independent state in southern Africa which existed
from 1953 to the end of 1963, comprised of the former British
colony of Southern Rhodesia and the Northern Rhodesia and
Nyasaland protectorates. It was also known by the alternative
title of Central African Federation (CAF). The Federation was
established 1 August 1953. The goal was to create a middle way
between the newly independent and socialist black independent
states and the white-dominated governments of South Africa,
Angola, and Mozambique. Ultimately the Federation foundered
because the black African nationalists wanted a greater share of
power than the white dominated settler population was willing to
concede. Sir Godfrey Martin Huggins was prime minister from 1953
to 1956 followed by Sir Roy Welensky from 1956 to the
Federation's dissolution. The Federation collapsed (officially
on 31 December 1963), when Northern