Zimbabwe, formerly known as Southern Rhodesia, is a country in southern Africa. It gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1965. It also later transitioned from a country run by a white minority to African leadership. These political changes brought about many economic and social changes. Before the arrival of the British, indigenous African tribes called the Shona and Ndebele populated Zimbabwe. In 1888, settler Cecil Rhodes came to the area and purchased mining rights from the Ndebele people. In 1898 the region became known as Southern Rhodesia in honor of Cecil Rhodes and a British sphere of influence. The colony separated from the British in 1922 but remained independent of the British Empire for another thirty years. By the 1960s, Northern Rhodesia, neighboring Southern Rhodesia, had gained independence and is now known as Zambia. This event increased African demands for more political rights and white demands for independence. The Prime Minister at the time, Winston Field, was accused of moving too slowly towards independence and was subsequently replaced by his deputy, Ian Smith. In the 1965 election, Smith led the Rhodesian Front party to win a majority of the vote against moderate Europeans who opposed a move for independence. the reluctance to give Johnson-Brown blacks two-majority rule, a policy used in the British colonies at the time. This led to many negotiations with the UK which took place in the middle of paper...... depending on votes. Mugabe is now over 80 years old and still in power. The Zimbabwean economy is currently in a very poor state, with half the population unemployed and the value of the Zimbabwean dollar has declined. The main reasons for this decline are problems in the agricultural sector caused by land distribution, numerous droughts and massive HIV/AIDS infections among the workforce (iExplore). The failure of the economy has also led to the failure of the education system. Many teachers have left their jobs and students do not have adequate school supplies. This is how Zimbabwe has changed politically, economically and socially since 1945. Like many other African countries, these changes came after Zimbabwe gained independence from an imperialist country. Unfortunately, like other African countries, the country was left with a weak economy and government..