The entrance of the British South Africa Company in the 1890s marked the first European impact in Zimbabwe. Cecil Rhodes created the firm in 1889 to colonise the area.
In 1895, the territory was renamed Southern Rhodesia (after Cecil Rhodes) and ruled by the British South Africa Company until 1922, when the European immigrants decided to become a British colony.
In 1953, Britain established the Central African Federation, which included Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), and Nyasaland (Malawi).
Following the Federation's dissolution in 1964, when Zambia and Malawi obtained independence, Ian Smith became Prime Minister of the country (now known as Rhodesia). Smith launched a push for independence from Britain, with the white minority running the country. Independence was announced in 1965, although it was not accepted internationally, resulting in sanctions against the country. This also resulted in a large-scale guerilla struggle in Rhodesia, as well as the establishment of the Zanu and Zapu groups.
Under this pressure, the white minority eventually agreed to multiracial elections in 1980. Robert Mugabe and his Zanu party won the independence elections, with Mugabe becoming Prime Minister and Zimbabwe's independence being proclaimed on April 18, 1980.
