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Brittih in south America
Rhodes' British South Africa Company (BSA) gains a British mandate to colonise what becomes Southern Rhodesia. -
pioneer
Pioneer column of white settlers arrives from south at site of future capital Harare. -
BSA
BSA administration ends, the white minority opts for self-government. -
black opposition
Black opposition to colonial rule grows. Emergence in the 1960s of nationalist groups - the Zimbabwe African People's Union (Zapu) and the Zimbabwe African National Union (Zanu). -
Independent
Smith unilaterally declares independence under white minority rule, sparking international outrage and economic sanctions. -
Period: to
The Zimbabwe
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Guerrilla
Guerrilla war against white rule intensifies, with rivals Zanu and Zapu operating out of Zambia and Mozambique. -
Smith
Smith yields to pressure for negotiated settlement. Elections for transitional legislature boycotted by Patriotic Front made up of Zanu and Zapu. New government of Zimbabwe Rhodesia, led by Bishop Abel Muzorewa, fails to gain international recognition. Civil war continues. -
Brithish broke
British-brokered all-party talks at Lancaster House in London lead to a peace agreement and new constitution, which guarantees minority rights -
Veteran pro-independence
Veteran pro-independence leader Robert Mugabe and his Zanu party win British-supervised independence elections. Mugabe is named prime minister and includes Zapu leader Joshua Nkomo in his cabinet. Independence on 18 April is internationally recognised. -
Mugabe
Mugabe sacks Nkomo, accusing him of preparing to overthrow the government. North Korean-trained Fifth Brigade deployed to crush rebellion by pro-Nkomo ex-guerrillas in Midlands and Matabeleland provinces. Government forces are accused of killing thousands of civilians over next few years. -
Ndebele
Ndebele uprising against BSA rule is crushed. -
May
May - Defence Minister Moven Mahachi killed in a car crash - the second minister to die in that way in a month.