How did rhodesia get its name?

The name Rhodesia was derived from Cecil Rhodes, a British imperialist and businessman who founded the British South Africa Company (BSAC) in 1889. The BSAC was granted a royal charter by Queen Victoria to administer and develop the region now known as Zimbabwe and Zambia, which was then known as Southern Zambezia. Rhodes and his company played a key role in the colonization and exploitation of the region, and the name Rhodesia was adopted in honor of him. The name was officially used for the self-governing British colony of Southern Rhodesia from 1923 until 1980, when the country gained independence and adopted the name Zimbabwe.