Zimbabwe History

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Huge ruins in Zimbabwe allude to the developed society that existed here in southern Africa between the 9th and 13th centuries. The Portuguese were followed by the British and the region became a British protectorate in 1888. Two years later, Salisbury (Harare) was established and the area of Zambia and Zimbabwe was named Rhodesia. Partitioned into Southern and Northern parts in 1923, the North became a British colony while the South became a self-governing, white-ruled state in the British Empire.

The white settlers enjoyed great prosperity, while the native peoples had little say and reaped few, if any, of the economic benefits. In 1961, Southern Rhodesia promulgated a constitution that protected the white minority. Four years later, independence was declared, although the British government viewed the act as invalid and illegal. The United Nations, too, rejected the independence of Rhodesia under the white-led government of Ian Smith, and proceeded to impose sanctions and later, a trade embargo.

It was not until years later that guerrilla warfare and unabated world pressure led to the establishment of a representative government. But the country has known little stability since and the economy has continued to deteriorate as the political situation remains uncertain.

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Zimbabwe Tourism