ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

History of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a country in Africa that used to be ruled by different groups of people for thousands of years. These people were called Bantus and they made Zimbabwe their home. They farmed, hunted and lived off the land.

In the 1800s, Europeans arrived in Zimbabwe and started taking control of the land. The British took over in 1890 and named it Rhodesia in honor of a man named Cecil Rhodes. The British brought in lots of people from Europe and Asia to help them farm and mine for resources, like gold and diamonds.

However, the people from Zimbabwe were treated unfairly by the rulers from Europe. They were not allowed to vote or have a say in how the country was run. This was called Apartheid, and it caused a lot of anger and violence in the country.

In the 1960s, a group of people in Zimbabwe decided to fight against this unfair treatment. They formed political parties and started a movement called the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU). They wanted to end the British rule and have Zimbabweans rule their own country.

In 1980, Zimbabwe declared its independence from Britain and became a republic. The first black president of Zimbabwe was Robert Mugabe, who was once imprisoned for demanding independence. He was loved by the people of Zimbabwe at first because he promised to help them and bring democracy to the nation. He nationalized many industries and redistributed land from white farmers to black Zimbabweans in order to reduce poverty.

However, Mugabe became a dictator and began to oppress opposition groups, silence the press, and create economic policies that destroyed the country's economy. His policies of land re-distribution caused a sharp drop in food production and led to chronic food shortages. This caused many people to suffer in poverty.

In 2017, Mugabe was removed from power after 37 years of tyranny. He was replaced by his former deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa promised to bring democracy and improve the economy of Zimbabwe.

Today, Zimbabwe is a country that is trying to find its way. Many people are still living in poverty, and the government is working to improve the economy and establish a strong democracy. The history of Zimbabwe is a complex one, with both triumphs and struggles, but through it all the people of Zimbabwe remain resilient and hopeful for a better future.