History of Zimbabwe

Covering Zimbabwe crisis, politics and currency

History of Zimbabwe is long and riddled with painful periods. The history of the formation of a nation called Zimbabwe dates back to the 1800 with the British settler occupation right through the I Chimurenga, II Chimurenga and the liberation struggle which finally gave birth to Zimbabwe on the 18th of April 1980. You may want to read facts about Zimbabwe for some fast points on Zimbabwe.

From 1980 onwards another chapter in Zimbabwe was opened which in the early 1980s witnessed day light massacre of over 20000 people in the Matebeland region as a tribal conflict. The massacre was government sponsored and lasted for years before the formation of a unity government by ZANU PF and PF ZAPU. The death of these many people became known as the Gukurahundi. A very sad and dark period in Zimbabwe's short history.

Much of 1980 to 1995 was a time of great prosperity for  Zimbabwe people with unmatched economic growth as well as bumper harvests in the fields. Cities in Zimbabwe prospered. It is within this period that Zimbabwe became known as the bread basket of Africa. In fact SADC a regional body entrusted Zimbabwe with regional food security for many years. Since then Zimbabwe turned into a basket case relying on food sponsorship from international donors and governments.

History of Zimbabwe Crisis and Currency

The brief history of Zimbabwe took a sad turn in the year 2000 with the government sanctioned inversion of white owned commercial farms. This also marked the beginning of a terrible protracted political and economic crisis in the country that would last for nearly 10 years with a ray of hope and light only coming in 2009 with the formation of a yet but troubled inclusive government.

The crisis embarrassingly ate into the integrity of the Zimbabwe currency the Zimbabwe dollar. From a value of about Z$1 to US$10 about 1996 the currency fell to millions against major currencies and further to billions and trillions. By this time most countries including Zimbabwe's neighbors would not accept the Zim dollar as foreign exchange. In 1980 the biggest denomination of a Zimbabwe dollar currency was about $20 which at that time was 1 to 1 with the British Pound. In 2008 the biggest denomination was a Z$100 trillion note.

During the period 2000 to 2009 it increasingly became common to find Zim dollar bills strewn on the streets. School children were known to refuse certain bills even though huge in number which in reality were worthless at the shops. To preserve value, fuel companies introduced fuel coupons which were sold in United States Dollars. Government was forced to endorse the sell of fuel in foreign currency after a crippling period of shortages running into years. The government's own fuel company NOCZIM could not source the foreign currency and meet the demand on the ground; apart from the frightening dog eat dog corruption involving senior government ministers. This resulted in liberalization of the energy sector (except electricity) which led to more private players to import fuel.

During the same time in the history of Zimbabwe, millions of young educated professionals in the teaching, medical and manufacturing fields left the country for greener pastures in Europe, America and South Africa. This left a dent on the population of Zimbabwe. Flights to the UK were literally full every day during that time as the UK had no visa regime against its former colony Zimbabwe. Since then stringent regulations have been introduced by British authorities but only after millions had found their way in.

The economy continued to fall very sharply as tourists avoided visiting once a top tourist destination in southern Africa.It because absolutely ridiculous to spend money in Zimbabwe as a tourist as the government fixed the official exchange rate to a level that made a cup of coffee cost as much as US$10.00. Many visitors to the country who unwittingly used credit cards received a shock of their lives on returning home to find bills running into thousands of dollars for a Zimbabwe trip that would ordinarily cost a fraction. Repeated urgent calls to the government to address this issue by tourism and hospitality operators largely went unnoticed. The impact on tourism was devastating.

As business was digesting all these troubles, the government out of political knee-jerk reactions ordered a price slash which saw prices in ALL shops slashed by up to 70%. Hordes of thugs and criminals took to the shopping centers pretending to be government enforcement agencies and looted shops. Paying a fraction of good's worth. This moment of madness in the history of Zimbabwe which lasted months wiped shop shelves clear of any products whatsoever. Many businesses went under never to recover. Unemployment spiked on account of this action.

What followed were months of starvation and hunger amongst the generality of the people save for senior politicians and rulers most of whom own farms and have means to survive. Basic foodstuffs started appearing on the streets whilst food shelves in shops were empty. All hygiene standards were abandoned with meat, milk and fish available on the streets. These were being sold exorbitantly by private individuals in foreign currency.

There were great fears of disease with cholera only appearing some years later on account of  poor city water supplies with parts of cities running dry for years. Capital of Zimbabwe Harare was most hit.

History of Zimbabwe Politics

Since 1980 until about 1990 Zimbabwe remained largely a one-party state. University of Zimbabwe students under the leadership of now President of the MDC splinter party Professor Arthur Mutambara fiercely demonstrated against the government. Their determination was for a multi-party state which gave way to the first credible opposed elections in 1990 were ZANU PF stood against a new party ZUM founded by Edgar Tekere a former ZANU PF senior founding member.

It was only the creation of the MDC in 1999 nearly 20 years after independence which gave ZANU PF a run for its money. Founded on labour movement strength the MDC gave ZANU PF serious headaches by overwhelminly defeating it at the country's first ever referundum in 2001 on a new constitution.

Pressure on ZANU PF steadily increased from MDC receiving temporary relief with the break-up of the party into two when another part of the party with mostly Matebeland senior members left the main party claiming to be the real MDC. However strong popular support remained with the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai which regrouped and continued with its quest to remove the government led by Robert Mugabe.

A highlight of the history of Zimbabwe politics was in March 2008 when Tsvangirai beat Robert Mugabe at the national presidential polls. Even though controversial the state appointed elections organising commission called ZEC said Mr Tsvangirai did not have the required 51% to becoming the President. The results were only released over a month later. In all previous elections results would normally be avaliable in a day or two.

The runoff presidential election which followed on June 27 2009 was a violent one which saw many people lose their lives due to untold cruel human savage which included be-headings and reports of MDC supporters being buried alive. MDC supporters were also reported to burn houses and carry out revenge attacks on ZANU PF supporters. Many of them were arrested.

People especially in rural areas lost limps and live stock to so called ZANU PF militia that operated in hordes and held forced night vigils for villagers. Mr Tsvangirai pulled out of the election sighting violence on the eve of the run-off leaving Robert Mugabe to stand alone. The government went ahead with the election saying it was too late for Mr Tsvangirai to pull out and Robert Mugabe "won" 80% of the vote. Most MDC supporters stayed at home on the day obeying the call from their party leader.

11  February 2009 witnessed the swearing in of Mr Tsvangirai as the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe after a long and painful negotiated settlement which many viewed as flawed. ZANU PF held on to all key ministries save for the ministry of finance which was eventually headed by an outspoken MDC senior legislator Tendai Biti

In October 2009 only 9 months into the inclusive government Mr Tsvangirai announced his party's decision to "disengage" from all contact with ZANU PF in the inclusive government which included cabinet meetings boycott as well as council of ministers meeting boycott.

Many in Zimbabwe feel the only real change will come with the departure of Robert Mugabe whom Western countries have tried in vain to force to resign through sustained media pressure and through sanctions. On his part, ZANU PF is internally disturbed as key powerful hawks take position to replace the 85 year old leader.

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