Since the twelfth century present-day Zimbabwe is under control of Mashonaland. This powerful state becomes a Portuguese vasal in 1628, but their position is taken over by the Barotse. In 1827 the Matabele tribe conquers Mashonaland and founds the state of Matabeleland. In 1888, Cecil Rhodes obtained a concession for mineral rights from local chiefs. Later that year, the area that became Southern and Northern Rhodesia was proclaimed a British sphere of influence. The British South Africa Company was chartered in 1889 and the settlement of Salisbury (now Harare, the capital) is established in 1890. In 1895 the territory was formally named Rhodesia after Cecil Rhodes under the British South Africa Company's administration. Between 1890 and 1989 Britain seizes control over Matabeleland and Mashonaland and in 1898 they are united as Southern Rhodesia.

Southern Rhodesia's white settlements are given the choice of being incorporated into the Union of South Africa or becoming a separate entity within the British Empire. The settlers reject incorporation. Southern Rhodesia becomes in 1923 a British colony in 1923 with self-government for the whites, with its own legislature, civil service, armed forces and police. The first premier is since 1923 Charles Patrick John Goghlan of the Rhodesian Reform Party (RP). He is succeeded in 1927 by Howard Unwin Moffat. After some interim prime ministers Godfrey Martin Huggins becomes prime minister for the RP and since 1934 for the United Rhodesian Party (URP). He governs until 1953, the moment he leaves the URP and joins the Federal Party. He becomes prime minister of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. This federation flourishes economically, but it is opposed by the African population, who fear they will not be able to achieve self-government with the federal structure dominated by White Southern Rhodesians. As prime minister of Southern Rhodesia he is succeeded by R.S. Garfield Todd of the URP. In 1957 the URP and the FP merge into the UFP. Its leader Edgar Cuthbert Fremantle Whitehead becomes prime minister in 1958. In 1962 the Dominion Party (DP) wins the elections and Winston Joseph Field becomes prime minister. Southern Rhodesia remains of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, but when Northern Rhodesia secedes from the federation the separate status is restored in 1963. He is succeeded in 1964 by Ian Douglas Smith of the Rhodesian Front (RF), successor of the DP.

Smith leads his party to an overwhelming victory in the 1965 elections, winning all 50 of the first roll seats and demoralizing the more moderate white opposition. He declares in 1965 the unilateral independence as Rhodesia. Both Britain and the United Nations consider this declaration unconstitutional and illegal. The British Government imposes sanctions on Rhodesia and requests other nations to do the same. Non-whites have no entrance to government. The Rhodesian government declares the country a republic in 1970. Resistance is organized in the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU) and the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU). After a long civil war a period of transition starts in 1979. The area is renamed Zimbabwe Rhodesia. After a victory at the 1979 elections, Abel T. Muzorewa of the United African National Congress (UANC) becomes prime minister in a transition government. Zimbabwe Rhodesia returns to colonial status.

Zimbabwe Rhodesia becomes an independent republic in 1980 as Zimbabwe (since 1971 named Republic of Zimbabwe). Robert Mugabe wins the 1980 elections with his ZANU and he becomes prime minister. When the leader of ZAPU, Joseph Nkomo and his closest aides are expelled from the government, ZAPU militants start a rebellion against the government. Since 1987 Zimbabwe is a presidential republic and Mugabe becomes presitdent. He merges his ZANU with the ZAPU in 1989 into the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). Elections in 1990 result in overwhelming victory for Mugabe and his party. However the voter turnout is low and the campaign is not free and fair although the actual balloting is. Not satisfied with a de facto one-party state, Mugabe calls the ZANU-PF central committee to support the creation of a de jure one-party state in 1990 and lost.

Beginning in 1999, Zimbabwe experiences a period of considerable political and economic upheaval. Opposition to Mugabe grows quickly, in part due to worsening economic and human rights conditions. Oppositional forces rally in the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Parliamentary elections held in 2000 are marred by localized violence and claims of electoral irregularities and government intimidation of opposition supporters. Nonetheless, the MDC succeeds in capturing 57 of 120 seats in parliament. Local and international human rights monitors note a marked increase in human rights abuses since 2000. Presidential elections in 2002, in which Mugabe emerged victorious, are marred by disenfranchisement of urban voters, violent intimidation against opposition supporters, intimidation of the independent press and the judiciary and other irregularities. The intimidation of opposition supporters, political dissenters, the press and the judiciary continues post-election.