1896:The Matabele and Shona tribes unite in rebellion. The first Chimurenga (war of liberation) is extinguished by the end of the year and the settlers entrench themselves. 1923:Company rule comes to an end. Rhodesia becomes a self-governing British colony. 1953:Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) and Nyasaland (Malawi) are joined in a commonwealth federation of southern African British territories. 1964:Rising black nationalism across the continent sees the break up of federation and independence for Malawi and Zambia. Only white Rhodesia remains under British rule. And it has seen the writing on the wall. 1965:UDI. Unilateral Declaration of Independence by Ian Smith, leader of the minority Rhodesian Front and Rhodesia's Prime Minister. 1966:The coalescence of the second Chimurenga led by the Matabele, Joshua Nkomo and the Shona, Robert Mugabe. 1980:A protracted civil war finally secures independence. Robert Mugabe becomes Prime Minister. Canaan Banana becomes President. 1981-1985:Matabeleland purge by Mugabe's North Korean-trained Fifth Brigade. 1996:Government health service on brink of collapse. Zimbabwe is an effective one party state. Mugabe is returned to power on a thirty percent voter turnout. 1998:Widespread riots amid involvement in the war in Congo, a depreciating currency and rampant inflation. Conditions remain unsettled. Copyright © 2002 Laurianne Claase. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the permission of the author is prohibited. | 
