Happy Independence Day Zimbabwe

“An elephant's tusks are never too heavy for it” - Zimbabwean Proverb

(Zimbabwe Flag (1980-Present))

Zimbabwe is located in southern Africa.

(Map of where Zimbabwe is located)

Its capital is Harare. Harare is also its largest city. The official language is English. The country is 150,871 square miles. Zimbabwe is 94.5% African, 5% European and 0.5% Asian. 80% of the population practice Christianity, 11% practice indigenous religions, 1% practice Islam, and 7% are atheists. The total population is 12,973,808. The climate is tropical in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is a Dominant party Presidential Republic.

(Harare, Zimbabwe’s Capital)

Zimbabwean cuisine consists of cornmeal, porridge and beef.

(Zimbabwean cuisine)

Traditional arts in Zimbabwe include pottery, basketry, textiles, jewellery and carving.

(Zimbabwean art)

Zimbabwe’s most popular sport is soccer. Zimbabwe’s national soccer team is the Warriors.

(Zimbabwe’s soccer team)

In the 10th century the Zimbabwean plateau became the centre of subsequent Shona states.

(Children of the Shona people)

Trade with Arab merchants helped  develop the Kingdom of Mapungubwe. The Kingdom of Mapungubwe was the first in a series of sophisticated trade states developed in Zimbabwe.

In 1300 the kingdom of Zimbabwe expanded upon Mapungubwe's stone architecture.

(Mapungubwe architecture)

In 1450 the Mutapa kingdom took control in Zimbabwe. The Mutapa kingdom is renowned for their trade routes. The Portuguese tried to monopolise these trade routes which led to the collapse of the kingdom in the 1600’s. The Rozvi Empire took control and kicked the Portuguese out of Zimbabwe.

(Rozvi people)

In 1838 the Ndebele took control of Zimbabwe. In 1880 the British company, British South Africa Company, came into Zimbabwe. In 1888 Cecil Rhodes owner of the British South Africa Company obtained a concession for mining rights in Zimbabwe.

(Cecil Rhodes in Zimbabwe)

In 1893 the British defeated the Ndebele. In 1895 the British named the territory Rhodesia in honor of Cecil Rhodes. In 1896 the Ndebele rebelled against the British.

(A drawing of the British invading Rhodesia)

The Ndebele was led by Mlimo. Mlimo was later assassinated. Southern Rhodesia was annexed by the United Kingdom on September 12th 1923.

(Southern Rhodesia flag (1923-1964))

Southern Rhodesia became a self governing British colony. Southern Rhodesia contributed more per capita to both the First and Second World Wars than any other part of the British Empire, including Britain. Minority rule was in place in Southern Rhodesia. In 1964 Southern Rhodesia dropped the “Southern” part to its name and issued a Unilateral Declaration of Independence.

(Rhodesia flag (1964-1968))

After the Unilateral Declaration of Independence the British government petitioned the United Nations for sanctions against Rhodesia. In 1966 a trade embargo was imposed upon Rhodesia. A guerrilla war started against Rhodesia’s predominantly White government. Joshua Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) and Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) started the war against the government.

(Robert Mugabe (Left) and Joshua Nkomo (Right))

ZAPU was supported by the Soviet Union. ZANU was supported by the People’s Republic of China. In 1979 elections were held with the United African National Council (UANC) carrying a majority of parliamentary seats in Rhodesia. In June of 1979 Rhodesia’s name was changed to Zimbabwe Rhodesia.

(Zimbabwe Rhodesia flag (1979-1979))

In August of 1979 the British government invited Muzorewa, Mugabe, and Nkomo to participate in a constitutional conference. In December of 1979 the guerrilla war ended. Trade embargos were then lifted from Zimbabwe Rhodesia. On April 18th, 1980 Zimbabwe became independent.

(Zimbabwe flag (1980-Present))

Robert Mugabe became the country’s 1st prime minister and head of government. After the election of Mugabe opposition erupted around Matabeleland. The Matabele unrest led to what has become known as Gukurahundi. A North Korean trained elite unit that reported directly to the Zimbabwean Prime Minister, entered Matabeleland and massacred thousands of civilians accused of supporting "dissidents". It ended in 1987.

(Pictures of the Gukurahundi)

In 1990 Mugabe and the ZANU-PF party won the elections again. In 1996, civil servants, nurses, and junior doctors went on strike over salary issues. In 1997, 25% of the population had been infected by HIV. In 2000, the government pressed ahead with its Fast Track Land Reform program, where a policy involving compulsory land acquisition aimed at redistributing land from the minority white population to the majority black population.

(Zimbabwean farmers)

In 2002, the nation was suspended from the Commonwealth of Nations due to the reckless farm seizures and election tampering. In 2005 the government initiated "Operation Murambatsvina", an effort to crack down on illegal markets and slums emerging in towns and cities. In 2008 Zimbabwe reached crisis proportions in the areas of living standards, public health and various basic affairs. In 2011 living conditions improved in Zimbabwe. In 2013 the Vice-President John Nkomo died of cancer. Also in 2013 a new constitution was approved curtailing presidential powers, and providing a bill of rights to broaden civil liberties. Mugabe was re elected in 2013 as well. In 2014 the Zimbabwe Constitutional Court ruled several major repressive laws unconstitutional. In 2016 nation wide protests were held regarding economic collapse of the country.

(Zimbabwe constitutional court)

Today marks the 37th anniversary of Zimbabwe’s independence and we would all like to say happy independence day Zimbabwe.

Videos of Zimbabwe independence

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVzJpSzYlyM  “Rhodesia - Zimbabwe Independence 1980”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G22vnqYCPTI  “Bob Marley Zimbabwe Independence 1980”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkOnLUphKDQ  “PRESIDENT MUGABE SNAILING IN FOR ZIMBABWE @37 INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATIONS”