This document establishes the legal framework for the transition of Southern Rhodesia to the independent Republic of Zimbabwe. The text serves as the primary constitutional instrument issued by the British government to formalize the end of colonial rule and the establishment of a sovereign state. It outlines the foundational legal structures, executive powers, and legislative mandates required for the new nation to function upon its independence in 1980.

Legal scholars and historians view this document as a foundational primary source for understanding the constitutional birth of Zimbabwe. Readers often note the highly technical and dense nature of the legislative prose contained within the order.