April 18, 1980, was an auspicious day in the liberation diaries of Africa. It was the day that Zimbabwe, the last European colony in Africa, gained its independence.
The Washington Post journalist Jay Ross wrote that “the strife-torn colony of Rhodesia became the independent, black-ruled nation of Zimbabwe today, ending 90 years of white domination and 15 years of illegal independence”.
“The independence ceremony, presided over by Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, began at midnight when the Union Jack was lowered for the last time in an African colony and the new five-coloured Zimbabwe flag was raised.”
The independence ceremony held in Harare was a grand festival of freedom and promise. It was attended by representatives from approximately 100 countries and 35 000 Zimbabweans. Robert Mugabe took the oath of office as prime minister. He spoke of how the reconstruction and rehabilitation
