Rhodesia - Moving Towards Zimbabwe, 1979
On December 11th 1979 the Zimbabwe-Rhodesian government handed power back to the British until democratic elections could take place.
In June an Internal Settlement had been signed between the white administration of Rhodesia and moderate African nationalist parties, not involved in the Rhodesian Bush War, leading to the end of white minority government.
Zimbabwe’s first elections took place in March 1980 and Britain ceremonially granted Zimbabwe independence on April 11th 1980. Robert Mugabe’s ZANU party won a majority with 57 seats, while Johsua Nkomo’s ZAPU party won 27.
