Appointment as President of Rhodesia
Wrathall becomes President of Rhodesia after Clifford Dupont leaves office.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1976 in Zimbabwe
Explore 22 historical events and records for Zimbabwe in 1976.
Historical records for Zimbabwe in 1976
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 22 of 22 unique records.
22Unique records
1 of 1Page
21Named events on this page
4Named people on this page
3Places on this page
January
September
Majority Rule Principle Accepted
Smith publicly accepts the principle of transition to majority rule.
Majority Rule Commitment
Smith accepts transition to majority rule within two years.
Transitional Conference Accepted
Smith accepts British proposals for a conference on transitional government.
October
Geneva Conference Opens
Smith attends negotiations on an interim authority and the transfer to majority rule.
Geneva Conference Opens
Smith attends the opening of the Geneva Conference on Rhodesia's political future.
November
Geneva Conference Stalemate
Smith returns home after delegates fail to agree a timetable for independence.
Other events (month unknown)
Coup
The objective of the Patriotic Front was to overthrow the white minority regime of Ian Smith by means of political pressure and military force
Geneva Settlement Conference Begins
Nkomo represented nationalist demands at the Geneva discussions on Rhodesia's transition from minority rule.
Independence of Rhodesia
The Patriotic Front (PF) is originally formed in 1976 as a political and military alliance between ZAPU and ZANU during the war against white minority rule in Zimbabwe (then called Rhodesia)
Independence of Zimbabwe
The Patriotic Front (PF) is originally formed in 1976 as a political and military alliance between ZAPU and ZANU during the war against white minority rule in Zimbabwe (then called Rhodesia)
Patriotic Front
The Patriotic Front (PF) is originally formed in 1976 as a political and military alliance between ZAPU and ZANU during the war against white minority rule in Zimbabwe (then called Rhodesia). The objective of the Patriotic Front was to overthrow the white minority regime of Ian Smith by means of political pressure and military force
Patriotic Front Alliance Formed
Nkomo and Robert Mugabe presented a common negotiating front linking ZAPU and ZANU while preserving their separate organisations.
Patriotic Front Established
Nkomo joins Mugabe in presenting a united Patriotic Front at independence negotiations.
Patriotic Front Formed
Nkomo joins Robert Mugabe in forming the Patriotic Front for independence negotiations.
Patriotic Front Partnership
Mugabe coordinates with Nkomo through the Patriotic Front during settlement talks.
Patriotic Front Strategy
Nkomo supports a Patriotic Front strategy combining negotiation and armed pressure.
ZANLA
ZAPUs military wing is known as Zimbabwe Peoples Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) and ZANUs guerrillas were known as Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA)
ZANU
ZAPUs military wing is known as Zimbabwe Peoples Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) and ZANUs guerrillas were known as Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA). The Patriotic Front (PF) is originally formed in 1976 as a political and military alliance between ZAPU and ZANU during the war against white minority rule in Zimbabwe (then called Rhodesia)
ZANU-PF
The Patriotic Front (PF) is originally formed in 1976 as a political and military alliance between ZAPU and ZANU during the war against white minority rule in Zimbabwe (then called Rhodesia)
ZAPU Leadership
Nkomo leads ZAPU while coordinating its role within the Patriotic Front.
ZIPRA Military Wing
Nkomo's ZAPU operates ZIPRA as its armed wing during the liberation struggle.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.