a country in southern Africa, formerly called Rhodesia and earlier Southern Rhodesia. It was part of the British Empire and became independent and a member of the Commonwealth in 1980. From 1964 until it became independent, Zimbabwe was ruled by a white minority government led by Ian Smith , who announced a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) from Britain. After many discussions with the British government, the country became fully independent, with a black majority government led by Robert Mugabe. In 2002 Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonwealth and this led to a decision by Robert Mugabe to leave the Commonwealth in 2003. Its capital city is Harare and the official language is English.
► Zimbabwean adj , n .