1980s in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe regained its independence from the United Kingdom on April 17, 1980. Canaan Banana, a Methodist minister and theologian, became the first President of Zimbabwe on April 18.

On February 17, 1982 the government of Zimbabwe accused Joshua Nkomo, leader and founder of the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union, of plotting a coup d'état, and dismissed him from the cabinet.

The Gukurahundi (also known as the "Matabeleland genocide") began in 1983. More than 300,000 youths signed up for service in the Youth Brigade.

Prime Minister Robert Mugabe (ZANU) and Joshua Nkomo (ZAPU) signed a Unity Accord on December 22, giving the ZAPU leader a place in the government, freeing dissidents, and bringing a formal end to violence of the Gukurahundi. Mugabe became the new President of Zimbabwe after reforming the constitution on December 31, 1987, abolishing the position of Prime Minister.

Morgan Tsvangirai was elected Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions in 1988.

Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) merged with Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) under the name Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) on December 19, 1989.