Zimbabwe History
Key dates in the history of the former British colony in southern Africa.
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Rhodesian Front party of Prime Minister Ian Smith declares unilateral independence from Britain to entrench white rule. U.N. embargoes fuel and other imported supplies.
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General mobilization of white-led troops to fight guerrilla incursions.
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Commonwealth of Britain and its former colonies convene peace conference in London where all agree Britain will oversee a transition to the first all-race elections. Vote later that year won by Robert Mugabe's party.
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Mugabe becomes prime minister and first black ruler of newly renamed Zimbabwe at independence April 18.
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Mugabe signs unity agreement with rivals after campaign to subjugate minority Ndebele tribe leaves 30,000 dead. Under constitutional change, he becomes president.
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Amid allegations of burgeoning corruption, Mugabe orders unbudgeted pensions for independence war veterans, causing panic in financial markets and crashing the Zimbabwe dollar.
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Movement for Democratic Change founded as biggest challenger to Mugabe's rule since independence.
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In first ballot-box defeat, Mugabe loses constitutional referendum to entrench presidential powers. Often-violent seizures of thousands of white-owned farms begin.
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Mugabe wins presidential vote independent election monitors say was rigged.
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Ruling party passes sweeping security laws and media curbs.
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Ruling party wins parliamentary vote amid alleged massive rigging.
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Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai hospitalized after police declare an opposition-led prayer meeting illegal and brutally disperse opposition supporters. Mugabe declares police have the right to "bash" his opponents. Regional African leaders appoint South African President Thabo Mbeki to mediate.
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Mediation efforts fail. Mugabe declares March 29 election for first combined presidential, parliamentary and local council polls.
STORY: Fast Facts: Zimbabwe
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Mugabe faced the toughest challenge yet to his 28-year rule as voters, while wary of potential ballot rigging, went to the polls. Running against Mugabe was chief opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, 55, who narrowly lost disputed 2002 elections, and former ruling party loyalist and Finance Minister Simba Makoni, 58.
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Official election returns showed President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party had lost its parliamentary majority. Morgan Tsvangirai wins first round of presidential poll by clear margin, but Mugabe refuses to admit defeat. A runoff between Mugabe and Tsvangirai was expected.
STORY: Fast Facts: Zimbabwe
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Police detained Tsvangirai after his convoy was stopped at a roadblock. Tsvangirai and a group of about 14 party officials were being detained at a police station in Lupane, north of Bulawayo. He was later released.
STORY: Fast Facts: Zimbabwe
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A mob believed loyal to Mugabe assaults a convoy of U.S. and British diplomats, beating a local staffer. The government orders aid groups to halt operations indefinitely.
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Tsvangirai detained briefly while campaigning near Bulawayo.
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Zimbabwe's No. 2 opposition official, MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti, arrested at Harare airport upon returning from South Africa. Tsvangirai detained by police twice briefly while campaigning in the south.
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Biti formally charged with treason, which can carry the death penalty.
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Tsvangirai, unwilling to ask his supporters to risk their lives on his behalf, withdrew his bid for the presidency and pleaded with the international community to intervene in what he called a "violent sham" of an election. The announcement he was dropping out of the violence-riddled presidential runoff came after thousands of militants loyal to President Robert Mugabe prevented opposition supporters from gathering for its main campaign rally.
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Presidential run-off election is held. Tsvangirai's name remains on the ballot even though he withdrew from the race. Residents say they were forced to vote by threats of violence or arson from the Mugabe supporters.
Photos: Runoff In Zimbabwe
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Mugabe is sworn in for a sixth term as president moments after election officials declared he had won the runoff election. Tsvangirai and many African and other world leaders call the runoff a sham. Results show more than 2 million votes for Mugabe, 233,000 for Tsvangirai, and 131,000 defaced or spoiled votes.
STORY: Fast Facts: Zimbabwe
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Mugabe and Tsvangirai agree to share power but a key stumbling block — how the two rivals would divide responsibilities and who would have the most authority — remains.
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South Africa's President Theo Mbeki announces he has mediated a power-sharing deal between Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Mbeki did not offer details, but said the agreement would be signed Sept. 15. Tsvangirai also told reporters the parties "have got a deal."
STORY: Fast Facts: Zimbabwe
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Mugabe and Tsvangirai sign the power-sharing deal that calls for Mugabe to remain president and Tsvangirai to become prime minister.
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Tsvangirai agrees to join a unity government and resolve outstanding issues later.
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Credits:
CBS/AP
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