1980 – Last Day of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia
Last Day of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia
17 April 1980
Zimbabwe regained its independence from the United Kingdom on 17 April 1980.
Canaan Banana, a Methodist minister and theologian, became the first President of Zimbabwe on 18 April 1980. He stepped down in 1987 so that Robert Mugabe, who reformed the presidency from ceremonial office into an executive one, could succeed him. Banana then worked as an Organisation of African Unity diplomat and also taught at the University of Zimbabwe.
