Zimbabwe was part of what was formerly Rhodesia: Northern Rhodesia gained independence from colonialism in 1964 and became Zambia. Southern Rhodesia was renamed the republic of Rhodesia.
In Zambia a reported 58% are said to live below the poverty line, over 40% living in extreme poverty. In Zimbabwe 72% of the country is said to live in chronic poverty.
Until 1966, according to reports, Rhodesia was said to be very affluent, tobacco being its major source of income. This changed when international sanctions meant that any country that traded with Rhodesia was earmarked:
The first white settlers came to Rhodesia in 1890 organised by Cecil Rhodes, a colonial who had made his fortune in South African diamonds. Lands north of South Africa were allocated to Rhodes and the British South Africa Company by a royal decree that was modelled on that of the British East India Company. This was a decree identifying Zimbabwe as a corporate colony. Called a corporate charter, the agreement distinguished the two parties as either suzeraine or vassal. One of the first directors of the British South Africa Company was James Hamilton who was a duke of Abercorn in the peerage of Ireland.
Cecil Rhodes annexed the area originally called Zambesia and renamed it Rhodesia after himself. He was prime minister in South Africa from 1890-1896 during which time he developed British imperial policies including legislation preventing indigenous people from owning more than 10% of the land, which would have resulted in many displaced people.
Rhodes’ pioneering column met with protest and resistance. A force used to annex Mashonaland in what is now Zimbabwe. This took 3 months: Colonial policies in Mashonaland were to included Hut tax, a tax payable per household which amounted to free labour. Mercanaries were each allocated a 3000 acre farm.
In 1922 the decree concerning the British South Africa Company in Zimbabwe came to an end. The UK government gave 30,000 or so colonials the choice of a union with South Africa or becoming a self-governing colony. They chose self governance. This lead to the crown selling the rights to govern Zimbabwe to colonials for the sum of two million pounds, which rendered Zimbabwe a self-governing British colony.
During the 1950s, political inequality lead to a wave of nationalism, particularly in the urban areas. The movement called for the right to vote for all, but was made illegal by the authorities, and central figures were jailed.
During the sixties there are reports of severe unemployment and skilled jobs being reserved for whites. Some churches have complained of attempts by government to outlaw interracial congregations. Racial conflict and lack of civil rights lead to the Zimbabwen war of Liberation (1964-79). The British government under Harold Wilson, didn’t want to send troops but announced a full range of sanctions which has lead to extreme poverty and isolation.
Robert Mugabe worked as a school teacher. He was sent to prison in 1964 for criticising the government. On release, in 1974, he became leader of ZANU, the Zimbabwe African National Union and played a part in the Zimbabwen war of Liberation.
In 1979 there was a ceasefire under the condition that black Zimbabwen nationalists were allowed to stand for election. Robert Mugabe’s government (ZANU) won and during his term he expanded health care and education. However criticism and opposing views from ZAPU and the Ndebele people lead to many deaths.
Internationally, he sent troops to the second Congo war and chaired the Non-Aligned Movement, a group of countries that are not formally aligned to any major power. The NAM constitute the largest group of states worldwide apart from the united nations. He was also active in the OAU, the Organisation of African Unity which made trade partners, and the African Union which replaced the OAU and is made up of 55 countries on the continent of Africa with the exception of those areas possessed by the crown.
Mugabe pursued decolonisation, at first peacefully, then encouraging violence.
Robert Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe from 1980-2017, serving as prime minister from 1980-87 and as president from 1987-2017. He identified as a Marxist-Leninist. This being the dictatorship of the proleteriat, a state of affairs where the working class hold political power.
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