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In 1890, the fortune-hunting Cecil Rhodes arrived at the head of a private army of settlers and commenced to conquer what he thought might be a rich gold-producing region. By 1897 the area had been completely subdued. In 1923 Rhodesia became a self-governing British colony, completely controlled by the white settlers. For much of the last half-century Zimbabwe's history has been that of the long struggle to end white rule.
Finally, in 1979, a new constitution that provided for democratic majority rule was established. The country had in recent years moved increasingly toward a more liberal economy, and the era of violent internal strife until recently seemed to have concluded. However, it appears that the country is again on the verge of civil war following government clamp downs on the press, intimidation of the judiciary, flagrant violation of human rights and summary executions of members of the opposition party – all in an attempt for that government to cling to power. Even in the face of express public opinion. | 
