Zimbabwe timeline

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This is my own timeline of historical events so it is a personal choice of what I consider of historical significance. The timeline begins pre 200 AD and ends in 2016. If you have any suggestions for additions, or corrections please let me know.   

Zimbabwe timeline

  
Pre 200 ADZimbabwe is populated by groups of San hunter-gatherers whose legacy is the thousands of Stone-Age rock-art friezes so prevalent in the granite areas. 
  
200 - 400 ADBantu speakers arrive in the north east and settle in the Nyanga uplands and lowlands at the beginning of what is often called the Iron Age.
  
700 - 900 ADBantu speakers (Kalanga) settle in the Shashe-Limpopo area centred on Mapungubwe and trade gold, ivory and copper with Arab-Swahili merchants on the indian Ocean coast. The Kingdom of Mapungunwe enjoys its greatest prosperity between 1250 - 1450 AD.
  
1000 ADShona people from the Kingdom of Mapungubwe settle on the Zimbabwe plateau and begin building on the site of Great Zimbabwe. Although the site had been occupied probably from 300 AD construction of stone walls and buildings only began about 1000. By 1220 AD most construction was complete and the Kingdom of Zimbabwe kept large herds of cattle and controlled the gold and ivory trade with the east coast receiving in return beads, cotton goods and imported ceramics.
  
1400'sGradually the economic and political power of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe began to wane within the first few decades of the 1400's. possible causes include political instability and soil degradation due to livestock farming or climate change, declining gold production and trade compared to sites further north. About 1430 Nyatsimba Mutota marched north from Great Zimbabwe and defeated the Tonga and Tavara tribes with his army and established his dynasty at Chitakochangonya Hill. These newly conquered lands would become the Kingdom of Mutapa. By 1450, Great Zimbabwe had been largely abandoned. 
  
1450The Kingdom of Mutapa, or Mwenemutara from the Shona "Mwene we Mutapa," or Munhumutapa, are descendants of the inhabitants of Great Zimbabwea who established a new capital 350 km north of Great Zimbabwe at Zvongombe by the Zambezi River. Mutota's successor and conquering those who resisted such as the kingdom of the Manyika and the coastal states of Kiteve and Madanda to become the premier Shona state in the region.
  
1450 - 1683A second Kingdom of Butua arises in what is now south-western Zimbabwe and is governed by the Torwa Dynasty with its capital at Khami near Bulawayo with subsidiary Chiefdoms at Nalatale, Danangombe and Zinjanja.
  
1515The Portuguese controlled Sofala and Kilwa on the Indian Ocean east coast by this time and gradually they penetrated the interior to expand their trading network initially working alongside the Arab-Swahili merchants who had long dominated the trade.  One of the Portuguese explorers, António Fernandes, travelled through most all the Shona lands, including the Kingdom of Mutapa between 1511 and 1516. Much information Fernandes gained was recorded and sent to the King of Portugal by the Portuguese historian João de Barros who noted that Great Zimbabwe was an ancient capital city built of stones of marvellous size without the use of mortar and Vicente Pegado, Captain of the Portuguese Garrison of Sofala noted that "the natives of the country call these edifices Symbaoe, which according to their language signifies 'court'"
  
1561The Portuguese Jesuit missionary, Gonçalo da Silveira, S.J managed to make his way to the Mutapa's court and baptized him and a large number of his subjects who converted to Christianity. The Arab-Swahil,i Muslim merchants in the capital recognised the challenge and persuaded the Mutapa to have Silveira strangled in his hut.His killing provided the excuse the Portuguese needed to penetrate the interior and take control of the gold mines and ivory routes. In 1568 an armed expedition under Francisco Barreto was launched to exact revenge. They only managed to get as far as the upper Zambezi before malaria decimated the force and the surviving Portuguese returned to Sena in 1572.
  
1580's The Portuguese begin to establish trading posts (Feiras) within the Mutapa state at Dambarare, Luanze (Ruhanje) Bukuto, Massapa, Manyija, Angwe (Ongoe) Piringani and Maramuca and their purpose was to dominate the gold trade. Each typically had a Captain, a Priest and a small permanent community living in several brick built fortified houses surrounded by earth walls and ditches. Massapa  was near Mount Darwin where the Mutapa had their capital and Dambarare was near Jumbo Mine at Mazowe.
  
1599Dominican Churches are built at the Feiras at Luanze and Massapa after the Portuguese help Mutapa Rusere to defeat the Zimba Chief Chikanda.
  
1607Political infighting with the kingdom and withholding of tribute by vassal states leads to Mutapa Rusere ceding all gold mines to the Portuguese after they drive out insurgents led by Matuzianye from Mutapa territory.
  
1629 - 1663Mutapa Rusere's army attacks the Feiras at Massapa and Luanze, but the Portuguese join with an army of Batonga to defeat Rusere's force and after he formally formally surrenders the Portuguese then install their own chosen candidate Mutapa Manuza. He like Mutapa Rusere cedes the Portuguese control over all the gold mines in the interior until 1663.
  
1664 - 1684The Torwa Kingdom of Batua has come to be dominated by the Rozvi "the destroyers" whose wealth built upon their great herds of cattle, transforms them into a regional power and they progressively challenge Mutapa authority gaining dominance of the goldmines from the Portuguese in 1664.  In 1684 Changamire Dombo's forces defeated those of Mutapa Kamharapasu Mukombwe at the Battle of Mahungwe. When Mukombwe died in 1692, there is a succession crisis with alternative candidates backed by the Portuguese and Changamire Dombo. 
  
1693From 1692 until 1694, Mutapa Mwenemutapa Nyakambira rules, but is killed in a battle with the Portuguese who then placed Nyamaende Mhande on the throne as their puppet. In support of his candidate, Changamire Dombo then destroys the Portuguese Feira of Dembarare and slaughters the Portuguese traders and dependants which forces all the Portuguese to leave Zimbabwe.
  
1695In 1695, Changamire Dombo invades the gold-producing Kingdom of Manyika and destroys the Portuguese feira at Masikwesi. This gives him complete control of all gold-producing territory from Butwa to Manyika and succeeding Mutapa as the premier Shona kingdom in the region. 
  
1712The Portuguese have managed to keep a small garrison at the Mutapa capital, but in 1712 yet another claimant to the Mutapa throne invites the Rozvi to put him back on the throne and defeat the Portuguese which they achieve. The new Mutapa Samatambira Nyamhandu I becomes a Rozvi vassal, while the defeated Mutapa is forced to retreat to Chidama in Mozambique.
  
1723The Kingdom of Mutapa has lost nearly all its former territory to the Rozvi and Mutapa Nyatsusu moved his capital near to Tete. On his death in 1740, Mutapa Dehwe Mapunzagutu takes power with Portuguese support.
  
1759Another civil war starts when the Mutapa dies, but the winners inherited an even more reduced area. Mutapas continued to rule, nominally independent of Portugal, until 1917 when Mambo Chioko was killed in a battle against the Portuguese. 
  
1821The Zulu General Mzilikazi of the Khumalo clan rebeled against King Shaka and created his own clan, the amaNdebele, who escaped 800 kilometres northwards into what is now Gauteng near Pretoria creating a period of widespread devastation and disruption known as the Mfecane 'the crushing.'
  
1836After clashes with the Voortrekkers the amaNdebele are defeated and driven northward across the Limpopo River into Botswana and then move north into Zambia; but their cattle are devastated by tsetse-fly.
  
1840The amaNdebele move south into modern day Zimbabwe and the Rozwi Empire, along with the other Shona states, are conquered by them and reduced to vassaldom.
 
No news was heard from Mzilikazi during his wanderings and the amaNdebele settled near Esigodini believed he was dead and choose his young heir Nkulumane as successor. On his return Mzilikazi sentenced his son and all those chiefs who had chosen him thrown to their death over a steep cliff on a hill now called Ntabazinduna (hill of the chiefs). However it is likely that Nkulumane was not killed with the chiefs, but was sent back to the Zulu Kingdom. On his way through Bakwena territory in the Northwestern Province near Rustenburg he assisted the Bakwena by leading his impi in a battle in which the neighbouring chief was killed by Nkulumane himself and was then persuaded by the Bakwena to settle with them until his death in 1883.
 
After resuming his role as chief, Mzilikazi made his capital 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) distant from Ntabazinduna and named it ko-Bulawayo (place of slaughter" with the amaNdebee organised into military kraals. Shaka's capital was also called Bulawayo.
  
1855Victoria Falls discovered on 17 November and named by David Livingstone
  
1859London missionary Society at Inyathi (formerly Inyati) founded by Robert Moffat.
  
1867Adam Renders the first European to see Great Zimbabwe
  
1868September - death of Mzilikazi
  
1870After defeating the rebellious Zwangendaba regiment who disputed Lobengula's right to be King, because his mother was a Swazi, the coronation of Lobengula takes place at Mhlanhlandlela from January to March 1870.
Hope Fountain Mission founded by JB Thomson, although Rev. Helm and his wife who came in 1875 are better known.
  
1871Karl Mauch, often mistakenly idendified as the first to See Great Zimbabwe visits the site and attributes an ancient origin.
Thomas Baines negotiates a mineral concession with Lobengula.
  
 February - Lobengula signs the Moffat Treaty with Great Britain
1888October - Lobengula signs the 25 year Rudd Concession, an agreement that granted mineral rights to the British South African Company
  
1889October - Royal Charter granted to the British South Africa Company (BSAC) Initially granted for a period of 25 years, it was extended for another 10 years and expired in 1924. This enables the BSAC to exploit the Rudd Concession.
  
1890July - Pioneer Column crosses the Shashe River at Fort Tuli
 September - hoisting of the Union Jack at Fort Salisbury which is named after the then British Prime Minister, the third Marquess of Salisbury.
  
1891May - battle of the Chua Hills and capture of Fort Macequece
British Protectorate declared over Bechuanaland (Botswana) Matabeleland and Mashonaland 
June - Anglo-Portuguese Agreement and Boundary Convention signed
Fort Hill re-sited at Old Umtali
  
1892September - line constuction on the Beira and Mashonaland and Rhodesia Railways from Fontesvilla on the Pungwe River flats.
  
1893October - Outbreak of the Matabele War; Salisbury (now Harare) and Fort Victoria (Masvingo) Columns converge on Bulawayo which is reached on 4 November after battles at Shangani River (Bonko) on 24 October and Bembezi (Egodade) on 3 November.
  
1894Death of Lobengula 
  
1895The Jameson raid (29 Dec -  2 Jan 1896) was a bungled attempt by Dr Jameson and BSAP and Bechuanaland troopers to overturn the South African Republic (Transvaal) in an uprising supported by British mine workers on the Witswatersrand. It's swift failure resulted in the resignation of Rhodes and Beit from the BSAC, although they are reappointed Directors in 1898
  
1896March - the Matabele Rebellion, or First Umvukela began
June - the Mashona Rebellion, or First Chimurenga began
August - Rhodes holds the First Indaba with amaNdebele Chiefs in the Matobo Hills.
  
1897Salisbury and Bulawayo have their own self elected Municipalities 
 October - Mashona Rebellion, or First Chimurenga ends
 November - railway reached Bulawayo through Bechuanaland (now Botswana)
  
1898February - the railway reached Umtali (now Mutare) after six years, construction was delayed by difficult terrain and conditions caused by swamps, malaria, tsetse-fly, lion and mountains.
  
1899Legislative Council for Southern Rhodesia established
May - the railway reaches Salisbury
  
1902March - death of Cecil Rhodes and burial in the Matobo Hills
October - Bulawayo linked with Salisbury (now Harare) by railway after delays caused by the Anglo-Boer War
  
1905September - opening of the Victoria Falls Bridge across the Zambezi River.
  
1914August - outbreak of World War I leads to many Europeans and Africans enlisting and after initial training being posted to Europe and East Africa and only returning after war end on 11 November 1918
  
1922October - a referendum is held where voters are given the option of establishing responsible government or joining the Union of South Africa - 59% vote in favour of responsible government 
  
1923October - Southern Rhodesia became a self-governing British Colony
  
1924After first elections to the Legislative Assembly, Sir Charles Coghlan becomes the first Prime Minister
  
1927Following the death of Sir Charles Coghlan, Howard Moffat, son of John Moffat and grandson of Robert Moffat was second Prime Minister until 1933.
  
1930Moffat's Government passed the 1930 land apportionment Act which laid out the pattern of land allocation and ownership and is largely viewed as responsible for the land disputes during land reform in Zimbabwe from 2000.
  
1933Southern Rhodesian government purchased the mineral rights of the country from the BSAC.
Following an election Godfrey Huggins succeeds as Prime Minister
  
1935Salisbury becomes a city
  
1939September - World War II begins and many Europeans and Africans enlist to fight in Europe and North Africa.  
  
1940Bulawayo becomes a city.
The Rhodesian Air Training Group is established to train pilots and air-crew for the Royal Air Force. Eventually over 10,000 were trained (7% of the total between 1940 - 1945) which proved a huge stimulus to the economy. Elementary Flying Schools were established at Belvedere, Mount Hampden, Guinea Fowl, Induna and more advanced Service Flying training Schools at Cranborne, Kumalo, Induna, Heany and Thornhill
  
1945End of World War II signals the return of many ex-Sevicemen.
  
1946Godfrey Huggins re-elected as Prime Minister and remained in office and from 1953 - 1956 was the Prime Minister of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland as the making him the longest serving Prime Minister in British Commonwealth history.
  
1947April - Royal Visit to Southern Rhodesia by King George VI and his family
  
1952June - The Legislative Assembly tables a white paper on the proposed Federation of Rhodesia (Northern and Southern) and Nyasaland (now Malawi)
  
1953April - a Referendum held on the proposed Federation with the majority voting in favour. 
Garfield Todd elected Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia and Godfrey Huggins of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
  
1955Construction of the Kariba Dam project begins 
Railway from Rhodesia to Lourenço Marques (now Maputo) in Mozambique opened.
  
1956Sir Roy Welensky succeeds Godfrey Huggins (Lord Malvern) as Federal Prime Minister
Salisbury international airport opens
  
1957Edgar Whitehead replaces Garfield Todd as leader of the ruling United Rhodesia Party
  
1958Edgar Whitehead is defeated in a by-election.
The United Rhodesia Party merges with the Federal Party to form the United Federal Party (UFP) and an election is called which the UFP win by a narrow majority
  
1959Civil disturbances in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) and Nyasaland (Malawi) result in troops and police being sent from Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) to assist local security services. 
  
1960May - Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother opens the Kariba hydrolectric project
  
1961July - A referendum on new Constitutional proposals leads to a majority in favour of acceptance
  
1962April - Federal Election in which the UFP win the majority of seats. 
Nyasaland (Malawi) is allowed to break away from the Federation.
Dec - Southern Rhodesia election results in the Rhodesian Front (RF) winning the majority of seats from the UFP (35 vs 29) and Winston Field is elected Prime Minister.
  
1963June - the British Government announce any territory is allowed to break away from the Federation 
Dec - the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland comes to an end on the 31st.
 Northern Rhodesia becomes Zambia / Southern Rhodesia becomes Rhodesia
  
1964Ian Smith succeeds Winston Field as Prime Minister.
Southern Rhodesia becomes Rhodesia.
Nov - a referendum held on the 5th on the question of Rhodesian Independence results in the majority of qualified voters in favour.
  
1965May - RF wins all 'A' roll seats.
July - Independence negotiations begin.
London talks break down because Independence based on 1961 Constitution is not acceptable to Britain.
British Prime Minister Harold Wilson flies to Salisbury to discuss Rhodesian Independence.
Nov - Unilateral declaration of Independence (UDI) made on 11th; Clifford Dupont is appointed officer Administering the Government.
Britain declares this action illegal and bans trade with Rhodesia.
  
1966British and Rhodesian Prime Ministers meet on HMS Tiger to discuss settling the dispute.
The United Nations imposed selected mandatory sanctions on Rhodesia.
  
1967June - Lord Allport comes to Rhodesia to try to break the deadlock.
Nov - British Commonwealth Secretary-General Arnold Smith has talks with Ian Smith
  
1968May - The United Nations imposed selected mandatory comprehensive sanctions on Rhodesia.
Oct - British and Rhodesian Prime Ministers meet on HMS Tiger for new talks to settle the dispute.
  
1969June - a referendum on a new constitution to decide if Rhodesia should become a Republic. 
June - Sir Humphrey Gibbs resigns as Governor of Rhodesia.
Nov - the new constitution becomes law.
  
1970March - Rhodesia declares itself a Republic.
April - RF win the General Election with Ian Smith as Prime Minister.
April - Clifford Dupont sworn in as Rhodesia's first President.
May - Rhodesia's first Republican Parliament opens.
  
1971June - Lord Goodman arrives for talks.
Nov - The British Foreign Secretary, Sir Alec Douglas-Home arrives to discuss settlement proposals.
Nov - Ian Smith and Sir Alec Douglas-Home sign an agreement for settlement proposals 
  
1972Jan - Pearce Commission arrives to carry out a test of acceptability for the settlement proposals.
May - the Pearce Commission finds the setllement terms are not acceptable to the broad majority of people in Rhodesia.
  
1973Guerrilla war against white rule intensifies, with rivals Zanu and Zapu operating out of Zambia and Mozambique.
  
1977Prime Minister Smith began to make plans to establish a new government with a majority of black leaders.
  
1978Smith 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.
  
1979British-brokered all-party talks at Lancaster House in London lead to a peace agreement and new constitution, which guarantees minority rights.
April: Election resulted in a majority of black leaders
April: Abel T. Muzorewa became the first black Prime Minister
31 May: Zimbabwe proclaimed independence
1 June: The nation of Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia, was formed
  
1980 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 and Rhodesia's name was officially changed to Zimbabwe
Canaan Banana becomes first President and serves until 1987 when he is succeeded by Mugabe
  
1982Salisbury's name changes to Harare.
 Mugabe sacks Nkomo, accusing him of preparing to overthrow the government.
 North Korean-trained Fifth Brigade is deployed to crush rebellion by pro-Nkomo ex-guerrillas in Midlands and Matabeleland provinces. Government forces are accused of killing at least 20,000 civilians among the Ndebele community between 1983 and 1987 in an operation called Gukurahundi.
  
1987Mugabe and Nkomo merge their parties to form Zanu-PF, ending the violence in Matabeleland.
Mugabe changes constitution, becomes executive President.
  
1991The Commonwealth adopts the Harare Declaration at its summit in Zimbabwe, reaffirming its aims of fostering international peace and security, democracy, freedom of the individual and equal rights for all.
  
1998Zimbabwe's economic crisis continues accompanied by riots and strikes.
  
1999The economic crisis persists; Zimbabwe's military involvement in DR Congo's civil war becomes increasingly unpopular.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formed under Morgan Tsvangirai from members of the broad coalition of civic society groups and individuals to campaign for a "No" vote in the 2000 constitutional referendum. 
  
2000February - In a referendum President Mugabe suffers defeat and Zimbabwe voters rejected a new constitution.
Squatters seize hundreds of white-owned farms in an ongoing and violent campaign organised and orchestrated by government to reclaim what they say was stolen by settlers.
June - Parliamentary elections: Zanu-PF narrowly fights off a challenge from the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Morgan Tsvangirai, but loses its power to change the constitution.
  
2001The Finance Minister Simba Makoni publicly acknowledges economic crisis, saying foreign reserves have run out and warning of serious food shortages. Most western donors, including the World Bank and the IMF, have cut aid because of President Mugabe's land seizure programme.
  
2002February - Zimbabwe Parliament passes a law limiting media freedom. The European Union imposes sanctions on Zimbabwe and pulls out its election observers after the EU team leader is expelled.
March - Mugabe is re-elected in presidential elections condemned as seriously flawed by the opposition and foreign observers. Commonwealth suspends Zimbabwe from its councils for a year after concluding that elections were marred by high levels of violence.
April - State of disaster declared as worsening food shortages threaten famine.
June - 45-day countdown for some 2,900 white farmers to leave their land begins, under terms of a land-acquisition law passed in May.
  
2003March - Widely-observed general strike is followed by arrests and beatings.
June - Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai is arrested twice during a week of opposition protests. He is charged with treason, adding to an existing treason charge from 2002 over an alleged plot to kill President Mugabe.
December - Zimbabwe pulls out of Commonwealth after organisation decides to extend suspension of the country indefinitely.
  
2004October - Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is acquitted of treason charges relating to an alleged plot to kill President Mugabe. He faces a separate treason charge.
  
 Jan - The US labels Zimbabwe as one of the world's six "outposts of tyranny". Zimbabwe rejects the statement.
 March - Ruling Zanu-PF party wins two-thirds of the votes in parliamentary polls. Main opposition party says election was rigged against it.
2005May - Tens of thousands of shanty dwellings and illegal street stalls are destroyed as part of a "clean-up" programme called operation Murambatsvina. The UN estimates about 700,000 people are left without homes.
 August - Prosecutors drop remaining treason charges against opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
 November - Ruling Zanu-PF party wins an overwhelming majority of seats in a newly-created upper house of parliament, the Senate.
 The opposition MDC splits over its leader's decision to boycott the poll.
  
2006May - The economy suffers from hyper-inflation, galloping prices increases make the Zimbabwe currency worthless.
September - Riot police disrupt a planned demonstration against the government's handling of the economic crisis. Union leaders are taken into custody and later hospitalised, allegedly after being tortured.
December - The ruling ZANU-PF party approves a plan to move presidential polls from 2008 to 2010, effectively extending President Mugabe's rule by two years.
The Discovery of the Marange diamond fields in 2006 prompted a scramble by thousands of illegal miners; in 2007 they were removed by the Zimbabwe National Army who mined the diamonds with the aid of Chinese expertise and billions of dollars of potential Treasury receipts have been lost. Questions remain over who has benefited from the new-found wealth generated by the sale of Marange diamonds.
  
 Feb - Rallies, demonstrations are initially banned for three months and the ban is then extended.
2007March - Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is hospitalised after his arrest at a rally, other gatherings are dispersed by riot police.
 May - Nationwide power cuts for up to 20 hours a day.
 June - Ruling ZANU-PF and opposition MDC hold preliminary talks in South Africa.
  
2008March - Presidential and parliamentary elections. Opposition MDC claims victory.
May - Electoral body says Tsvangirai won most votes in presidential poll, but not enough to avoid a run-off against Mugabe.
June - Run-off goes ahead and Mugabe is declared winner after Tsvangirai pulled out days before poll, complaining of intimidation.
Aug - China vetos a UN Security Council resolution to impose saanctions, but the EU, US widen sanctions against Zimbabwe's leaders.
Sept - a power-sharing agreement ended months of deadlock over the disputed 2008 election result with Mugabe retaining the Presidency and Tsvangirai the Prime Minister.
Dec - Zimbabwe declares national emergency over a cholera epidemic and the collapse of its health care system.
  
 Jan - Government adopts multi-currency system to try stem hyperinflation.
 Feb - Tsvangirai is sworn in as Prime Minister, after protracted talks over formation of government.
2009Apr - Retail prices start to fall after years of hyperinflation.
 June - Constitutional review begins.
 Sept - A year after power-sharing deal, MDC remains frustrated and alleges persecution and violence against members.
 Oct - Arrival of EU and US delegations signals a thaw in foreign relations. Mugabe calls forr a new start to relations, but targeted sanctions remain.
  
2010March - New "indigenisation" law forces foreign-owned businesses to sell majority stake to locals.
Sept - Tsvangirai alleges ruling party instigating violence at public consultations on new constitution.
Dec - Ruling Zanu-PF party nominates President Mugabe who has ruled the country for 39 years since independence as their candidate for next presidential race.
  
 Feb - EU eases sanctions on Zimbabwe and removes 35 of President Mugabe's supporters from a list of people whose assets had been frozen.
2011March - Prime Minister Tsvangirai says unity government rendered impotent by ZANU-PF violence and disregard for power-sharing deal.
 August - General Solomon Mujuru, one of the country's most senior politicians, dies in a mysterious house fire.
 December - President Mugabe says he will run in the next elections and condemns the current power-sharing government.
  
 Feb - European Union lifts sanctions on some prominent Zimbabweans, but retains the travel restrictions and the freeze on the assets of President Mugabe.
2012Constitutional Select Committee completes draft of new constitution, but ZANU-PF and MDC continue to quarrel about the details.
 April - In the run-up to elections, political violence increases and the MDC complains its rallies have repeatedly been shut down.
 October - Civil rights activists say repressive structures instrumental in the 2008 electoral violence are being reactivated.
  
 Jan - President Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai reach a deal over a new draft constitution.
 March - New constitution approved by an overwhelming majority in a referendum. Future presidents will be limited to two five-year terms.
2013July - Presidential and parliamentary elections. President Mugabe gains a seventh term in office and his Zanu-PF party three-quarters of the seats in Parliament. The opposition MDC dismisses the polls as a fraud.
 August - USA states it will not lift all sanctions on Zimbabwe unless there are further political reforms in the country.
 Sept - The MDC boycotts the opening of Parliament in protest at what it says was a rigged election.
 Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai threatens to pull out of unity government because of violence against his party's members.
  
2014Feb - Zimbabwe marks President Mugabe's 90th birthday after he returns from medical treatment in Singapore.
August - Grace Mugabe, the president's wife and a political novice, is unexpectedly nominated as the next leader of the governing Zanu-PF's Women's League, fuelling speculation that she is manoeuvering to succeed her husband.
Dec - President Mugabe sacks Vice-President Joyce Mujuru and seven other ministers after accusing them of being involved in a plot to kill him. Ms Mujuru denies the allegation, but is later expelled from the ZANU-PF party.
ZANU-PF consolidates power; but economy remains in dire straits
  
2015Jan - President Mugabe is chosen as chairman of the African Union for the year.
Mar - Zimbabwe at crossroads as Indigenisation law stops investment and growth
June - Central Bank formally phases out the Zimbabwe dollar, formalising the multi-currency system introduced to counter hyper-inflation.
  
 June - Economy continues to sink as Mugabe succession battle rages on.
2016August - Police disperse protestors near Parliament with placards reading 'President Mugabe must go'.
August - The War Veterans' Association which in 2000 violently backed the land seizure program, withdraws support for President Mugabe.
 Oct - Mugabe scuttles re-engagement talks whilst Chinese officials insist on leadership change.

 

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Category: 
Historic
Province: 
Mashonaland Central