history of Zimbabwe

Images

Map of Zimbabwe showing its national boundaries, major cities, and neighboring countries including Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Malawi. The capital city, Harare, is marked near the northeast, with other cities such as Bulawayo, Mutare, and Gweru labeled. An inset locator map in the top left corner shows Zimbabwe's position within southern Africa.

Map of Southern Africa highlighting the principal peoples present from the 17th to mid-19th century, with names of groups such as San, Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana, Herero, and others labeled across the region. Major rivers, lakes, plateaus, and select towns are shown, along with some physical features and archaeological sites. Modern political boundaries are outlined for reference.

Map of colonial southern Africa from 1884 to 1905, using color codes to show territories controlled by Britain, Portugal, and Germany at different times. The map highlights British-controlled areas in orange, Portuguese-controlled areas in purple, German-controlled areas in green, and disputed regions in red, with boundaries and key colonial regions labeled. Major features include German South West Africa, German East Africa, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Colony, and the Orange Free State.

Colonization of Africa: Maps, Timeline, Decolonization, & Independence

Antique map from 1902 showing central Africa with colonial territories labeled as Kamerun, French Kongo, Kongo Free State, Portuguese West Africa, British East Africa, German East Africa, East Africa, and Rhodesia. The map details rivers, cities, and borders of the era, with an inset map of Madagascar in the lower right corner.

Rhodesian leader Ian Smith

Morgan Richard Tsvangirai in a suit and tie, looking to the side with his hand near his chin, against a blue background with partial event text visible.

history of Zimbabwe: Media

Images

Zimbabwe

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of Zimbabwe showing its national boundaries, major cities, and neighboring countries including Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Malawi. The capital city, Harare, is marked near the northeast, with other cities such as Bulawayo, Mutare, and Gweru labeled. An inset locator map in the top left corner shows Zimbabwe's position within southern Africa.

Zimbabwe

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Great Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe

Aerial view of the ruins of Great Zimbabwe.

ZEFA

Map of Southern Africa highlighting the principal peoples present from the 17th to mid-19th century, with names of groups such as San, Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana, Herero, and others labeled across the region. Major rivers, lakes, plateaus, and select towns are shown, along with some physical features and archaeological sites. Modern political boundaries are outlined for reference.

Principal peoples of Southern Africa, 17th to mid-19th century

Map showing the approximate locations of the principal peoples of Southern Africa...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of colonial southern Africa from 1884 to 1905, using color codes to show territories controlled by Britain, Portugal, and Germany at different times. The map highlights British-controlled areas in orange, Portuguese-controlled areas in purple, German-controlled areas in green, and disputed regions in red, with boundaries and key colonial regions labeled. Major features include German South West Africa, German East Africa, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Colony, and the Orange Free State.

Colonial Southern Africa, 1884–1905

European penetration into Southern Africa in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Antique map from 1902 showing central Africa with colonial territories labeled as Kamerun, French Kongo, Kongo Free State, Portuguese West Africa, British East Africa, German East Africa, East Africa, and Rhodesia. The map details rivers, cities, and borders of the era, with an inset map of Madagascar in the lower right corner.

Rhodesia, c. 1902

Map of Central Africa, showing most of Rhodesia (part of which is now Zimbabwe) from...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Rhodesian leader Ian Smith

Rhodesian leader Ian Smith

Marion Kaplan

Joshua Nkomo

Joshua Nkomo

Joshua Nkomo, 1979.

© Fred Mott—Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Morgan Richard Tsvangirai in a suit and tie, looking to the side with his hand near his chin, against a blue background with partial event text visible.

Morgan Tsvangirai

Morgan Tsvangirai.

© Johannes Simon/Getty Images

President Robert Mugabe wearing a patterned green suit and cap speaks passionately at a podium with multiple microphones during a ZANU PF rally in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Robert Mugabe

Pres. Robert Mugabe speaking at a campaign rally, 2013.

© Simphiwe Nkwali—Sunday Times/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Emmerson Mnangagwa, president of Zimbabwe, wearing a suit and a scarf with Zimbabwean flag colors, speaks at the COP26 UN Climate Summit in Glasgow.

Emmerson Mnangagwa

Zimbabwean Pres. Emmerson Mnangagwa speaking at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference...

© Adrian Dennis—POOL/AFP/Getty Images

Nelson Chamisa speaks at a press conference, standing at a podium with microphones, in front of a large yellow campaign poster featuring his portrait in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Nelson Chamisa

Nelson Chamisa, the leader of Zimbabwe's main opposition party, the Citizens Coalition...

© Mkhululi Thobela—Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Interactives

Colonization of Africa: Maps, Timeline, Decolonization, & Independence

Colonization of Africa: Maps, Timeline, Decolonization, & Independence

Learn about the colonization of Africa, the process of decolonization that led to...

© Encyclopaedia Britannica