Zimbabwe

The struggle

Rhodes's company seized the territory in 1890 and the first chimurenga of 1896–97 was crushed. The settler government declared independence unilaterally in 1965 to prevent majority rule, and ZANU and ZAPU fought a fifteen-year liberation war from bases in Zambia and Mozambique. The Lancaster House agreement ended the war and Zimbabwe became independent on 18 April 1980.

Key people

• Mbuya Nehanda

  1840–1898

  Spirit medium who led the first chimurenga; executed in 1898

• Joshua Nkomo

  1917–1999

  Founded ZAPU and led the nationalist movement from the 1950s

• Robert Mugabe

  1924–2019

  Led ZANU's war and became the first prime minister

• Josiah Tongogara

  1938–1979

  ZANLA commander; died weeks before independence