Zimbabwe achieves independence from white-minority rule, ending the state formerly known as Rhodesia.
At a Glance
- Date
- 18 April 1980
- Location
- Harare, Zimbabwe
- Key people
- Robert Mugabe
- Category
- Diaspora & Global
- Source
- Independence records (1980) · Britannica
What It Meant Then
It marked another fall of settler-colonial rule in southern Africa.
What It Means Now
Independence Day remains a milestone in the African liberation story.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Zimbabwe Wins Independence.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/zimbabwe-wins-independence/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Zimbabwe Wins Independence. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/zimbabwe-wins-independence/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Zimbabwe Wins Independence.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/zimbabwe-wins-independence/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.