Former name of Zimbabwe (8)
I believe the answer is:
rhodesia
'former name of zimbabwe' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for rhodesia that I've seen before include "former republic" , "place once overseen by Smith" , "Previous name of Zimbabwe" , "Former British colonial territory in Africa, now Zambia and Zimbabwe" , "country that declared independence" .)