This thesis examines the historical and political geography of rural development in the Zambia/Malawi and the Zambia/Mozambique frontier zone. It is considered that political authority affects an more than any other authority. To bring the above consideration into perspective, Chapter I is devoted to the examination of the broad stages in political development which, contemporary African states have undergone. In Section I the concept of a frontier zone under the pre-colonial context with respect to the Chewa and Ngoni political systems is examined so as to provide a general understanding of the interrelationships between the two ethnic groups and how these interrelationships contributed towards the politics of rural development between 1900 and 1979. Section II (Chapters IV and V) examine the imposition of colonial rule over the Chewa and Ngoni. The Pre-colonial ethnic coherence's and their impact on subsequent colonial policies such as land alienation and the imposition of taxation are analysed. Chapter VI provides the patterns and channels of African resistance to colonial policies. Chewa, Nygoni and other forms of discontent are examined. In this direction ethnicity is seen to be a major linking factor among the ordinary men and women in their opposition to colonial rule. That ethnicity plays an important role in formulating political interrelationships between the ordinary people and the central government is demonstrated by the regularity of movements across the international boundary between Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique which is transcended by the Chewa, and Nygoni. Chapters VII to X are devoted to examining the evolution of planned rural development by the colonial government which sought to impose the development process indirectly through the traditional rulers. However, in view of its piecemeal nature, this strategy generated African hostility. This resulted into the springing up of Of nationalist movements which campaigned for political independence from colonial rule. Section III (Chapters XI and XII) mainly deals with efforts that are being made during the post-Independence period, However, in view of the periodic changes in government political and economic policies between the three countries under discussion vis-a-vis their frontier areas there has been a tendency among-people within the frontier areas to move to areas where rural development is perceived. to be taking place. Furthermore ethnic transcendence within this region facilitates movements across the international boundaries. This is well illustrated in Chapter XII which shows the general tendency for people to move from border areas to areas where rural development is perceived to taking place. In terms of national political development the desire on the part of the central government to create unified nation's behind former colonial but now national boundaries is constantly being frustrated-by peripheral ethnic polities which transcend into Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. It is this dimension which creates reluctance on the part of the central government to invest economic, infra - structure within peripheral regions. The above situation has facilitated rural-urban migration and the evolution of multi-ethnic regional political pressure groups which demand political decentralization. The involvement of multi-ethnic regional political pressure groups which demand political decentralization revives the influence of chiefs which the nationalist government is trying to reduce. Hence in the end it is only political tolerance within the three countries and international co-operation which can bring about the development of this frontier zone. Chapter XIII attempts at achieving some level of general theoretical appraisal on the prospects of the region under discussion.