Zimbabwe House, Harare

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Zimbabwe House
Former namesIndependence House
Dzimbahwe
General information
Type Official residence
Address8 Chancellor Avenue
Town or city Harare
Country Zimbabwe
OwnerRepublic of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe House, formerly called Independence House and Dzimbahwe, is an official residence of the President of Zimbabwe in Harare, Zimbabwe. It was built in 1910 as was used as the house of the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, Prime Minister of Rhodesia, Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia and Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. [1]

Contents

Rhodesian history

For most of its existence under Southern Rhodesian administration as home of the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, the building had no official name beyond its address of 8 Chancellor Avenue. [1] It is located opposite Government House where the Governor of Southern Rhodesia resided. [2] The building was renamed "Independence House" following Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence and continued to be used as the residency of the Prime Minister of Rhodesia, Ian Smith. [3]

Following Rhodesia's unrecognised reconstitution as Zimbabwe Rhodesia, Independence House was renamed Dzimbahwe (Shona: House of Chiefs) for the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia, Bishop Abel Muzorewa. [4] [5] The house was almost subjected to a rocket attack by ZANU militants in July 1979 after the house of the local Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria was fired at. The British South Africa Police believed they attacked the Archbishop's house by mistake and were actually targeting either Bishop Muzorewa at Dzimbahwe or the house of the head of the Rhodesian Army, General Peter Walls. [6] [7]

Zimbabwe history

Following the establishment of Zimbabwe, it was used as the house of the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe and renamed "Zimbabwe House". [8] In 1982, the house was attacked by Zimbabwe National Army deserters who shot at it with automatic weaponry and RPGs in an attempt to assassinate Mugabe. [9] As a result, Mugabe instituted a 6pm curfew on all foot and vehicle traffic on Chancellor Avenue which was not removed until 2017. [10] He also increased security by erecting a barbed wire fence manned by armed guards around the property. [11] In 2009, the office of Prime Minister was re-established and the now President Mugabe, offered Zimbabwe House as an official residence to Morgan Tsvangirai but he declined it. Tsvangirai cited the dilapidated state of Zimbabwe House and that he wanted to move his official residence away from being so close to Mugabe. [8]

Related Research Articles

Rhodesia Unrecognised state in Southern Africa (1965–1979)

Rhodesia, officially from 1970 the Republic of Rhodesia, was an unrecognised state in Southern Africa from 1965 to 1979, equivalent in territory to modern Zimbabwe. Rhodesia was the de facto successor state to the British colony of Southern Rhodesia, which had been self-governing since achieving responsible government in 1923. A landlocked nation, Rhodesia was bordered by South Africa to the south, Bechuanaland to the southwest, Zambia to the northwest, and Mozambique to the east. From 1965 to 1978, Rhodesia was one of two independent states on the African continent governed by a white minority of European descent and culture, the other being South Africa.

Ian Smith 20th-century Prime Minister of Rhodesia

Ian Douglas Smith was a Rhodesian politician, farmer, and fighter pilot who served as Prime Minister of Rhodesia from 1964 to 1979. He was the country's first premier not born abroad, and led the predominantly white government that unilaterally declared independence from the United Kingdom in November 1965, following prolonged dispute over the terms. He remained Prime Minister for almost all of the 14 years of international isolation that followed, and oversaw Rhodesia's security forces during most of the Bush War, which pitted the unrecognised administration against communist-backed black nationalist guerrilla groups. Smith, who has been described as personifying white Rhodesia, remains a highly controversial figure—supporters portray him as a man of integrity and vision "who understood the uncomfortable truths of Africa," while his opponents consider him "an unrepentant racist."

Zimbabwe Rhodesia Former unrecognized country

Zimbabwe Rhodesia was an unrecognised state that existed from 1 June 1979 to 11 December 1979. Zimbabwe Rhodesia was preceded by an unrecognised republic named Rhodesia and was briefly followed by the re-established British colony of Southern Rhodesia, which according to British constitutional theory had remained the lawful government in the area after Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) in 1965. About three months later, the re-established colony of Southern Rhodesia was granted internationally recognized independence within the Commonwealth as the Republic of Zimbabwe.

Lancaster House Agreement 1979 ceasefire agreement ending the Rhodesian Bush War

The Lancaster House Agreement, signed on 21 December 1979, declared a ceasefire, ending the Rhodesian Bush War; and directly led to Rhodesia achieving internationally recognised independence as Zimbabwe. It required the imposition of direct British rule, nullifying the Unilateral Declaration of Independence of 1965. British governance would be strictly prescribed to the duration of a proposed election period; after which independence would follow with a newly elected government. Crucially, the political wings of the black nationalist groups ZANU and ZAPU, who had been waging an increasingly violent insurgency, would be permitted to stand candidates in the forthcoming elections. This was however conditional to compliance with the ceasefire and the verified absence of voter intimidation.

Abel Muzorewa

Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa, also commonly referred to as Bishop Muzorewa, served as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia from the Internal Settlement to the Lancaster House Agreement in 1979. A United Methodist Church bishop and nationalist leader, he held office for only a few months.

Prime Minister of Rhodesia

The Prime Minister of Rhodesia was the head of government of Rhodesia. Rhodesia, which had become a self-governing colony of the United Kingdom in 1923, unilaterally declared independence on 11 November 1965, and was thereafter an unrecognized state until 1979. In December 1979, the country came under temporary British control, and in April 1980 the country gained recognized independence as Zimbabwe.

Rhodesian Bush War Civil conflict in Southern Africa

The Rhodesian Bush War—also called the Second Chimurenga as well as the Zimbabwe War of Liberation—was a civil conflict from July 1964 to December 1979 in the unrecognised country of Rhodesia . The conflict pitted three forces against one another: the Rhodesian white minority-led government of Ian Smith ; the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army, the military wing of Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union; and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army of Joshua Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union.

Internal Settlement

The Internal Settlement was an agreement which was signed on 3 March 1978 between Prime Minister of Rhodesia Ian Smith and the moderate African nationalist leaders comprising Bishop Abel Muzorewa, Ndabaningi Sithole and Senator Chief Jeremiah Chirau. After almost 15 years of the Rhodesian Bush War, and under pressure from the sanctions placed on Rhodesia by the international community, and political pressure from South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the Rhodesian government met with some of the internally based moderate African nationalist leaders in order to reach an agreement on the political future for the country.

1980 Southern Rhodesian general election

General elections were held in Southern Rhodesia in February 1980 to elect a government which would govern the country after it was granted internationally recognised independence as Zimbabwe, in accordance with the conclusions of the Lancaster House Agreement. The result was a victory for ZANU, which won 57 of the 100 seats. Its leader, Robert Mugabe became the first Prime Minister of Zimbabwe when the country officially became independent from the United Kingdom in April.

Prime Minister of Zimbabwe

The prime minister of Zimbabwe was a political office in the government of Zimbabwe that existed on two occasions. The first person to hold the position was Robert Mugabe from 1980 to 1987 following independence from the United Kingdom. He took office when Southern Rhodesia became the Republic of Zimbabwe on 18 April 1980. This position was abolished when the constitution was amended in 1987 and Mugabe became president of Zimbabwe, replacing Canaan Banana as the head of state while also remaining the head of government. The office of prime minister was restored in 2009 and held by Morgan Tsvangirai until the position was again abolished by the 2013 Constitution of Zimbabwe.

The history of Rhodesia from 1965 to 1979 covers Rhodesia's time as a state unrecognised by the international community following the predominantly white minority government's Unilateral Declaration of Independence on 11 November 1965. Headed by Prime Minister Ian Smith, the Rhodesian Front remained in government until 1 June 1979, when the country was reconstituted as Zimbabwe Rhodesia.

United States–Zimbabwe relations Diplomatic relations between the United States of America and the Republic of Zimbabwe

United States–Zimbabwe relations are bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and the United States. Both countries share a common history and language as former British colonies.

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Australia–Zimbabwe relations are foreign relations between Australia and Zimbabwe. Both countries have full embassy level diplomatic relations. Australia currently maintains an embassy in Harare, and Zimbabwe maintains an embassy in Canberra.

This article gives an overview of liberal parties in Zimbabwe. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary so that parties labeled themselves as a liberal party.

Zimbabwe and the Commonwealth of Nations History of Zimbabwes relations with the Commonwealth of Nations

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Political history of Zimbabwe

The modern political history of Zimbabwe starts with the arrival of white people to what was dubbed Southern Rhodesia in the 1890s. The country was initially run by an administrator appointed by the British South Africa Company. The prime ministerial role was first created in October 1923, when the country achieved responsible government, with Sir Charles Coghlan as its first Premier. The third Premier, George Mitchell, renamed the post Prime Minister in 1933.

Michael Theodore Hayes Auret was a Zimbabwean farmer, politician, and activist. A devout Catholic, he served as chairman and later director of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe (CCJP) from 1978 until 1999. He also served as a member of Parliament for Harare Central from 2000 to 2003, when he resigned and emigrated to Ireland.

David Smith (Rhodesian politician) Rhodesian/Zimbabwean politician

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State House, formerly known as Government House, is the official residence of the President of Zimbabwe and is located in Harare, Zimbabwe. It was previously used by the Administrator of Southern Rhodesia, Governor of Southern Rhodesia and the Governor-General of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in addition to being occupied by the internationally unrecognised Rhodesian Officer Administering the Government and later President of Rhodesia. It was constructed in 1910 to a design by Detmar Blow in the Cape Dutch revival style.

State House (Bulawayo) Presidential house in Bulawayo

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References

  1. 1 2 Hall, Lee (27 May 1966). "Life". Vol. 60. Time Inc. p. 30. ISSN   0024-3019.Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  2. "Hundreds of Rhodesians, black and white, helping Sir Humphrey pay bills" . The Glens Falls Times. 5 November 1966. Retrieved 19 January 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  3. "RHODESIA: Wedding Day in Salisbury". TIME. 3 April 1978. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  4. "Zimbabwe Rhodesia Awaits London Meeting". New York Times. 12 August 1979. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  5. "Power or Pageantry?". AF Press Clips. Time. 1979. p. 2. ISSN   0747-7740 via United States Department of State.
  6. "Guerrillas attack Archbishop's Salisbury home" . The Guardian. 5 July 1979. Retrieved 19 January 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Rocket attack on Rhodesia site maybe accident" . The Missoulian. 6 July 1979. Retrieved 19 January 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 Tsvangirai, Morgan (2011). At the Deep End. Eye Books. ISBN   9781908646019.
  9. "Mugabe's home attacked" . The Times Argus. 24 June 1982. Retrieved 19 January 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Mnangagwa to lift restrictions on travelling past State House at night". Eyewitness News. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  11. Smith, Ian (2001). Bitter Harvest: The Great Betrayal. Blake Publishing. p. 107. ISBN   1903402050.