United Kingdom–Zimbabwe relations

United Kingdom–Zimbabwe relations

United Kingdom	Zimbabwe

United Kingdom-Zimbabwe relations are the bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe. The United Kingdom maintains an Embassy in Harare and Zimbabwe has an Embassy in London.

History

Rhodesia

As part of the Scramble for Africa what is now Zimbabwe was colonised by the British Empire. The area was named Rhodesia after the British mining magnate Cecil Rhodes. The area was under the control British South Africa Company.

In 1923 Company rule in Rhodesia ended and what is now Zimbabwe became the Colony of Southern Rhodesia.

After several decades of the Rhodesian Bush War the Lancaster House Agreement agreed that Zimbabwe would become a independent country.

Zimbabwe

on 18 April 1980 Zimbabwe was formally granted independence from the United Kingdom.

Initially Zimbabwe remained a member of the Commonwealth of Nations however at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2002 Zimbabwe was formally suspended from the Commonwealth. Later in 2003 Zimbabwe formally withdrew from the Commonwealth.

On 18 February 2002 the European Union announced a travel ban on Robert Mugabe which prohibited him from entering the United Kingdom .