1923 Southern Rhodesia becomes a self-governing British colony.

1957 The Southern Rhodesia African National Congress (SRANC) is founded, with Joshua Nkomo as President, James Robert Chikerema as Vice President; this involves the coming together of the Bulawayo-based ANC and the Salisbury-based African National Youth League.

1959 February – The SRANC is banned; Nkomo goes into exile.

1960 January – The National Democratic Party (NDP) is founded. Michael Mawema is elected president but gives way to Nkomo in October. Robert Mugabe is given a leading position in the party.

1961 December – The NDP is banned and the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) is founded, with Nkomo as President.

1962 September, – ZAPU is banned and the struggle goes underground; in December, the Rhodesia Front (RF) comes to power.

1963 August – ZAPU splits and the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) is founded, with Ndabaningi Sithole as President, Leopold Takawira as Vice President and Robert Mugabe as Secretary-General.

1964 August – ZANU and ZAPU are banned and their leaders detained.

1965 On 11 November a Universal Declaration of Independence (UDI) is announced by the RF government, now led by Ian Smith; independence is not recognised by Britain nor by the international community and a policy of economic sanctions towards Rhodesia ensues.

1966 The Battle of Sinoia in April marks the beginning of the guerrilla war as ZANLA undertake their first significant military engagement with government troops.