Bantu people migrated to the area beginning in the 15th century.

the mashona dominated until the early 19th century, when they were displaced by the Matebele.

Portuguese slave traders from Mozambique were active in Zimbabwe from the 16th century to the mid 19th century.

Mineral conessions were granted to Cecil Rhodes by local rulers in the late 19th century and the region became a British protectorate in 1888.

The United Nations condemned the Smith government and imposed economic sanctions. In May 1968 the U.N. voted to impose a trade embargo on Rhodesia.

An 'iternal settlement' was announced in April 1978 by Smith and 3 major nationalist leaders willing to sit down and discuss the future of their country. Bishop Abel Muzorewa, leader of the United African National Congress. the Reverend Ndabanningi Sithole, former leader of the Zimbabwe African National Union and Chief Jeremiah Chirau.

The settlement was rejected by the Patriotic Front that united ZANU and Joshua Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union .

In December 1987 Mugabe and Nkomo agreed by themselves to merge ZANU and ZAPU forcing a one party state governemnt on the people.

Voters overwhemingly rejected at the polls in February 2000 a new constitution.
This would allow Mugabe 12 more years of despotism and the power to seize rural areas and farmlands without compensasion.
With government appoval and organization unemployed veterans of the early 70's began killing farmers. Immigrant workers from other African countries are now in danger because they work on these farms.

The harvest of tabacco products provides The Republic of Zimbabwe with 30% of it's export earnings.

-Note: In 1996 Reverend Ndonga Sithole, leader of the opposition, Zimbabwe African National Union was arrested and charged with plotting to kill Mugabe.-page 695 New York Times Almanac 2001