A History of Zimbabwe

The first single-volume history of Zimbabwe with detailed coverage from pre-colonial times to the present, this book examines Zimbabwe's pre-colonial, colonial and postcolonial social, economic and political history and relates historical factors and trends to recent developments in the country. Zimbabwe is a country with a rich history, dating from the early San hunter-gatherer societies. The arrival of British imperial rule in 1890 impacted the country tremendously, as the European rulers exploited Zimbabwe's resources, giving rise to a movement of African nationalism and demands for independence. This culminated in the armed conflict of the 1960s and 1970s and independence in 1980. The 1990s were marked by economic decline and the rise of opposition politics. In 1999, Mugabe embarked on a violent land reform program that plunged the nation's economy into a downward spiral, with political violence and human rights violations making Zimbabwe an international pariah state. This book will be useful to those studying Zimbabwean history and those unfamiliar with the country's past.

1. Introduction: Zimbabwe in historical perspective; 2. Early states, c.900–1900; 3. The British conquest state; 4. Colonial economy and society to 1953; 5. The federation years, 1953–63; 6. Nationalist movements to 1965; 7. Udi and African response; 8. Independent Zimbabwe, 1980–2000; 9. The crisis years, 2000–8; 10. Conclusion: Zimbabwe past, present and future prospects.

This book is targeted primarily at students of Zimbabwean history, but will be useful to both scholars of Zimbabwean history and those unfamiliar with the country's past.

Alois S. Mlambo is Head of the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He has published numerous articles on Zimbabwe's social and economic history and has authored and edited several books on Zimbabwe. He is on the advisory board of the Journal of Southern African Studies.