Zimbabwe : economy statistics and industry reports

UN sanctions and a guerrilla uprising finally led to free elections in 1979 and independence (as Zimbabwe) in 1980.

Robert MUGABE, the nation's first prime minister, has been the country's only ruler (as president since 1987) and has dominated the country's political system since independence.

His chaotic land redistribution campaign, which began in 2000, caused an exodus of white farmers, crippled the economy, and ushered in widespread shortages of basic commodities.

Ignoring international condemnation, MUGABE rigged the 2002 presidential election to ensure his reelection.

In April 2005, Harare embarked on Operation Restore Order, ostensibly an urban rationalization program, which resulted in the destruction of the homes or businesses of 700,000 mostly poor supporters of the opposition.

President MUGABE in June 2007 instituted price controls on all basic commodities causing panic buying and leaving store shelves empty for months.

General elections held in March 2008 contained irregularities but still amounted to a censure of the ZANU-PF-led government with the opposition winning a majority of seats in parliament.

MDC opposition leader Morgan TSVANGIRAI won the most votes in the presidential polls, but not enough to win outright.

In the lead up to a run-off election in late June 2008, considerable violence enacted against opposition party members led to the withdrawal of TSVANGIRAI from the ballot.

Extensive evidence of violence and intimidation resulted in international condemnation of the process.

Difficult negotiations over a power-sharing government, in which MUGABE remained president and TSVANGIRAI became prime minister, were finally settled in February 2009, although the leaders failed to agree upon many key outstanding governmental issues.

MUGABE publicly called for early elections in 2011 - two years before his term ends - but no election was held.