Robert Gabriel Mugabe Biography and Timeline — Page 2

Return from Exile

Mugabe returns to campaign in the British-supervised independence election.

Role range: 1975-1980

Return to Salisbury

Mugabe returns from exile to campaign in the independence election.

Role range: 1980-1987

Independence Election Victory

ZANU-PF wins 57 of the 80 common-roll parliamentary seats.

Role range: 1980-1980

Appointment as Prime Minister

Mugabe is appointed Prime Minister after ZANU-PF's election victory.

Role range: 1980-1987

Appointment as Prime Minister

Mugabe is appointed Prime Minister following the election result.

Role range: 1980-1987

Coalition with ZAPU

Mugabe includes ZAPU representatives in the first independence government.

Role range: 1980-1987

Election Victory Announced

ZANU-PF wins the largest share of seats in the independence election.

Role range: 1980-1987

Formation of First Government

Mugabe begins forming Zimbabwe's first majority-rule government.

Role range: 1980-1987

Constitution of Zimbabwe

After a campaign marked by intimidation from all sides, mistrust from security forces and reports of full ballot boxes found on the road, the Shona majority is decisive in electing Mugabe to head the first Government as Prime Minister

Election

After a campaign marked by intimidation from all sides, mistrust from security forces and reports of full ballot boxes found on the road, the Shona majority is decisive in electing Mugabe to head the first Government as Prime Minister

Election

ZANU allies itself with the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU) in the Patriotic Front (PF), the two parties adopting the names ZANU-PF and PF-ZAPU respectively, but they split after achieving majority rule.

Election

ZANU win 57 out of 80 Common Roll seats in the new Parliament, with the 20 white seats all going to the Rhodesian Front.

Independence and Commonwealth Membership

Mugabe leads Zimbabwe into independence and Commonwealth membership.

Role range: 1980-1987

Independence of Zimbabwe

Mugabe leads the first government of the independent Republic of Zimbabwe.

Role range: 1980-1987

Internationally Recognised Independence

Zimbabwe gains internationally recognised independence under Mugabe's government.

Role range: 1980-1987

Admission to United Nations

Zimbabwe is admitted as a member of the United Nations.

Role range: 1980-1987

Integration of Former Forces

Mugabe's government begins integrating former guerrilla armies into national forces.

Role range: 1980-1987

ZANU-PF Government Formed

Mugabe forms a ZANU-PF-led government following the supervised election.

Role range: 1980-1987

Election

The election is won by Robert Mugabe and ZANU-PF, with Joshua Nkomo and his PF-ZAPU retaining a stronghold in the province of Matabeleland

ZANU-PF

ZANU allies itself with the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU) in the Patriotic Front (PF), the two parties adopting the names ZANU-PF and PF-ZAPU respectively, but they split after achieving majority rule. The election is won by Robert Mugabe and ZANU-PF, with Joshua Nkomo and his PF-ZAPU retaining a stronghold in the province of Matabeleland

ZANU

ZANU allies itself with the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU) in the Patriotic Front (PF), the two parties adopting the names ZANU-PF and PF-ZAPU respectively, but they split after achieving majority rule

Salisbury Renamed Harare

The capital is officially renamed Harare on the second independence anniversary.

Role range: 1980-1987

Fifth Brigade Deployment

Mugabe's government deploys the Fifth Brigade in Matabeleland and the Midlands.

Role range: 1980-1987

Suppression of Armed Dissidents

Government forces conduct operations against armed dissidents and suspected ZAPU supporters.

Role range: 1980-1987

Fifth Brigade Deployed

The government deploys the Fifth Brigade during the Gukurahundi campaign.

Role range: 1980-1987

Flight into Exile

Nkomo leaves Zimbabwe after security forces search for him during the political conflict.

Role range: 1980-1987

Parliamentary Election Victory

ZANU-PF wins a large majority in the first post-independence parliamentary election.

Role range: 1980-1987

Unity Accord Implementation

Mugabe begins implementing the political settlement agreed with Nkomo.

Role range: 1987-2017

Unity Accord Signed

Mugabe signs the Unity Accord with Joshua Nkomo.

Role range: 1980-1987

Unity Accord and Political Settlement

Mugabe concludes the Unity Accord with Nkomo to end the ZANU-ZAPU conflict.

Role range: 1980-1987

ZANU-PF Merger

The Unity Accord provides for ZAPU's incorporation into ZANU-PF.

Role range: 1980-1987

Executive Presidency Established

Constitutional changes abolish the premiership and create an executive presidency.

Role range: 1987-2017

Constitutional Transition to Presidency

Mugabe's final premiership ends as the executive presidency is established.

Role range: 1980-1987

Executive Presidency Amendment

Constitutional changes abolish the office of Prime Minister and establish executive presidency.

Role range: 1980-1987

Election as Executive President

Parliament elects Mugabe as Zimbabwe's executive President.

Role range: 1987-2017

Swearing-In as Executive President

Mugabe is sworn in as executive President after the constitutional change.

Role range: 1987-2017

Sworn In as Executive President

Mugabe assumes the newly strengthened executive presidency.

Role range: 1987-2017

Reserved Parliamentary Seats Abolished

Constitutional changes remove the seats previously reserved for white voters.

Role range: 1987-2017

ZANU

A Unity Accord is signed between the two parties; PF-ZAPU is merged into ZANU-PF, effectively establishing a one-party state dominated Robert Mugabe and ZANU-PF, Joshua Nkomo becomes one of two vice-presidents

ZANU-PF

ZAPU merges into the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF)

Role range: 1980-1987