Zimbabwe: Tension over election results - timeline
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Timeline
- May 2008 Officials announce that a second round of presidential elections will be held in June, as Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had not won by an outright majority.
- April 2008 The official results of presidential elections held in March are not released.
- March 2008 Presidential and legislative elections are held.
- February 2008. Opposition candidates announce that they will stand against President Robert Mugabe in presidential elections.
- January 2008. Elections are called, ignoring opposition calls for further reforms to be undertaken first.
- December 2007. Ian Smith, who as prime minister, unilaterally declared independence in an attempt to preserve white minority rule, dies.
- October 2007. Charges against opposition activists arrested between March and May during a brutal government crackdown are dropped.
- September 2007. Wages are frozen and shortages of bread are reported; a controversial Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Bill, which aimed to ensure that black Zimbabweans owned at least 51 per cent of shares in foreign-owned business, is passed by the lower house of the legislature.
- June 2007. Several junior army officers are arrested and charged with treason over a plot to overthrow the government.
- May 2007. Human rights groups claim that hundreds of opposition activists have been arrested, abducted, or tortured in a co-ordinated government crackdown.
- April 2007. A national strike is called by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), but support is limited.
- March 2007. Hundreds of riot police violently crush an attempt by opposition protesters to hold a "prayer meeting".
- February 2007. The police impose a three-month ban on political rallies and protests.
- January 2007. Reports claim that the government had relaxed its controversial land reform programme and was poised to allow hundreds of white farmers to return to their land.
- September 2006. Riot police halt a nationwide protest by trade unionists, called to demand economic and political reforms. Leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), which had organised the demonstrations, are arrested and in some cases beaten.
- May 2006. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) confirms that the inflation rate had in April crossed the 1,000 per cent threshold, the highest in the world.
- April 2006. Dispossessed white farmers are invited to lease farms back from the government following huge drops in food production.
- March 2006. The security forces claim to have foiled a plot to overthrow President Robert Mugabe in a coup.
- February 2006. The main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), splits into two factions.
- December 2005. The UN emergency relief co-ordinator describes Zimbabwe as being in a state of "meltdown", pointing to "the AIDS pandemic, the food insecurity, the total collapse in social services".
- July 2005. The executive director of UN-HABITAT claims that the government's controversial slum clearance programme is a "catastrophic injustice" and urges international action to stop a "humanitarian crisis of immense proportions". The Zimbabwean minister of foreign affairs rejects the findings as hostile and biased.
- June 2005. The government continues with a mass bulldozing of shanty towns and the arrest of illegal black market traders in a slum clearance programme. Riot police fight running battles with protesters opposing the clearances. President Mugabe claims the clearances are "well-received by the majority of our people" and new housing and business premises would be provided.
- April 2005. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) accuses the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) of "massive fraud" in legislative elections held in March.
- March 2005. The ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), led by President Robert Mugabe, wins elections held on March 31.
- January 2005. Members of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) who criticised Mugabe's decisions are arrested or forced to resign.
- October 2004. Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), is cleared of treason charges. The government condemns the acquittal.
- September 2004. President Robert Mugabe announces that the government intends to seize half the shareholdings of all the mining companies in Zimbabwe.
- June 2004. The government announces that it intends to nationalise "all productive farmland" in Zimbabwe.
- April 2004. A leading international lawyer calls for President Robert Mugabe to be brought to trial for state-sponsored torture, murder, and rape.
- October 2003. The police arrest some of the country's highest-ranking trade union leaders and dozens of other people suspected of organising an anti-government demonstration. The arrests are made as trade unionists across the country tried to stage a peaceful protest against high taxes and soaring prices caused by the country's economic crisis.
- June 2003. The main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), organises a week of nationwide strikes and demonstrations in what it termed a "final push" to force President Robert Mugabe to step down. The government mobilises tanks and troops in the main cities in preparation for the protests.
- April 2003. The vice president of the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), is arrested for allegedly breaking security laws by helping to organise an MDC-led "mass action" in March. Reports indicated that the government had responded to the MDC "mass action" by carrying out a wave of arrests of opposition supporters.
- March 2003. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leads a "mass action" general strike to force Mugabe's government to reform or leave office. The authorities describe the protest as an "act of terrorism".
- February 2003. The trial for treason of the country's main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), opens. Tsvangirai and two other senior MDC figures are accused of plotting to kill President Robert Mugabe. The three opposition figures had been formally charged in March 2002 and had pleaded not guilty.
- November 2002. A report by the Danish group Physicians for Human Rights alleges that the government is withholding food from opposition supporters and prolonging the current food crisis in order to maintain its grip on power.
- September 2002. The House of Assembly passes an amendment to the 1992 Land Acquisition Act permitting the government to evict white farmers in seven days, as opposed to the 90 days. President Robert Mugabe at the UN World Summit on Sustainable Development attacks the EU "smart" sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe in February, saying "We don't mind having sanctions banning us from Europe. We are not Europeans. So [UK Prime Minister] Blair keep your England and let us keep our Zimbabwe." In another speech to the summit, Namibian President Sam Nujoma accuses Blair of a "colonial" attitude to Zimbabwe, suggesting that the crisis was "created by the British".
- June 2002. Following the issuing of an order by President Robert Mugabe some 2,900 white farmers, whose farms had been earmarked to be seized, became legally obliged to cease working the land as of June 25. Those who continued to farm in defiance of the order faced prison terms of up to two years.
- April 2002. President Mugabe declares a "state of disaster" as worsening food shortages threaten starvation in many parts of the country.
- March 2002. President Robert Mugabe is sworn in for another six-year term following his victory in highly controversial elections.
- February 2002. EU foreign ministers agree to impose "smart sanctions" on Zimbabwe immediately after Zimbabwe refuses to accredit the head of the EU election observer mission.
- January 2002. The House of Assembly (the unicameral legislature) passes two of three controversial bills reportedly designed to silence opposition to, and criticism of, President Robert Mugabe in the forthcoming presidential elections. Under the new laws, journalists face imprisonment for "spreading malicious rumours or publishing information likely to cause alarm and despondency".
- November 2001. The government issues a decree aimed at speeding its controversial land reform programme. Under the decree, any farm issued with a "notice of acquisition" would become state property immediately.
- October 2001. The Supreme Court, dominated by recent appointees of President Robert Mugabe, issues an interim order reversing all previous rulings in order to allow the government to proceed with its fast-track land reform programme.
- August 2001. Unrest spreads through northern Zimbabwe as white farmers and their families flee attacks by groups of black "war veterans".
- July 2001. The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) organises a national strike in protest at the government's decision to raise fuel prices. The minister of finance expresses concern over the state of the country's food stocks. The government announces that the Supreme Court will be expanded from five to eight judges.
- May 2001. It is reported that senior army officers in Zimbabwe had secretly warned the South African government that they might launch a coup against President Robert Mugabe if the growing political and economic crisis resulted in rioting. The Zimbabwean officers are said to believe that the looming failure of the maize crop would create a food crisis in the country and lead to food riots, and the military would be expected to side with the civilian police to shore up Mugabe's government.
- April 2001. War veterans and ZANU-PF activists unleash a wave of attacks on businesses and industries deemed to support the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
- December 2000. The Supreme Court directs President Robert Mugabe to produce a workable land reform programme within six months, calling on him to protect white farmers whose land was being occupied by black squatters. Mugabe accuses the UK of "new, incipient colonialism" and of sponsoring the "violent" main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
- November 2000. The Supreme Court declares that the government's compulsory "fast-track" seizure of white-owned farms is illegal and accordingly orders the government to remove squatters on white-owned farms.
- October 2000. Food riots break out after price increases of up to 30% for bread, maize, sugar, and soft drinks. President Mugabe threatens to put the former Prime Minister of Rhodesia Ian Smith on trial for murder and genocide as part of a general revocation of the national racial reconciliation policy which had been agreed at independence in 1980. Mugabe claims that the policy should be scrapped because of white attempts to destabilise Zimbabwe with the help of the UK and the USA.
- September 2000. A hand grenade is thrown into the headquarters of the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Intelligence officers and detectives accompanied by armed police subsequently raid three of the MDC's offices, including its headquarters and arrest four party officials. Armed police evict hundreds of squatters from five white-owned farms.
- August 2000. President Robert Mugabe extends the government's compulsory land redistribution programme from 804 to 3,041 white-owned farms, about two-thirds of the total. The first evictions of black squatters on white-owned farms begins.
- July 2000. The president of the mainly white Commercial Farmers' Union (CFU) claims that there had been "a major resurgence of farm invasions", with 50 white farmers being threatened with death.
- June 2000. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) makes significant gains in the general election, especially in Ndebele-speaking areas. The government issues a list of 804 white-owned farms to be seized and redistributed without compensation. The list includes farms owned by former Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith.
- February 2000. Thousands of black protesters led by former veterans of the 1970s guerrilla war against the white minority regime illegally occupy 30 white-owned farms, claiming that they were seizing back land illegally appropriated by white settlers during colonial rule.
- March 1996. Robert Mugabe is re-elected as president, but is the only candidate in the election. Turnout is exceptionally low.
- March 1992. A controversial Land Acquisition Bill is approved by the House of Assembly. The bill allows for the compulsory purchase of white-owned land and its redistribution to black families.
- March 1990. Mugabe is elected president in direct elections.
- December 1987. A reconciliation agreement between Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) and Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) is signed. Mugabe is elected president of Zimbabwe.
- February 1982. Joshua Nkomo is dismissed from the cabinet, after being accused of plotting to overthrow Mugabe in a coup. The government in turn is accused of conducting a campaign of genocide against the Ndebele-speaking people, prompting civil strife between supporters of Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) and Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU).
- June 1981. The government announces its intention to redistribute such assets as land and other natural resources.
- April 1980. Zimbabwe gains full independence. Robert Mugabe, leader of the Zimbabwe African National Union (Patriotic Front) party, ZANU (PF), which had won multiracial elections, becomes prime minister.
- September 1979. British-brokered all-party talks at Lancaster House in London lead to a peace agreement and new constitution, which guarantees minority rights.
- April 1972. Mass demonstrations against white minority rule are staged. A guerrilla campaign against the white regime intensifies.
- November 1965. Prime Minister Ian Smith issues a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) under white minority rule. The UDI is met with international outrage and sanctions are imposed on the country.
- December 1964. A referendum proposing independence under the terms of the 1961 constitution receives huge support amongst white voters. Most black voters abstain, and activists express opposition to independence under white minority rule.
- October 1961. The new UK-proposed constitution is rejected as discriminatory by Joshua Nkomo, of the African National Democratic Party.
- February 1961. Joshua Nkomo, of the African National Democratic Party, asserts his opposition to the UK's proposals for a new constitution for Southern Rhodesia.
- April 1953. The UK authorities agree to make Southern Rhodesia part of the Central African Federation, along with Northern Rhodesia (later Zambia) and Nyasaland (later Malawi).
- June 1951. A conference concerning UK colonial administration recommends the formation of a Closer Association of Central African Territories.
- 1930s. Southern Rhodesia is part of the British Empire.
