after taking office as prime minister, abel muzorewa sought to drop "rhodesia" from the country's name. the name "zimbabwe rhodesia" had been criticised by some black politicians like senator chief zephaniah charumbira, who said it implied that zimbabwe was "the son of rhodesia". zanu pf, led by robert mugabe in exile, denounced what it described as "the derogatory name of 'zimbabwe rhodesia'".