Sithole is arrested, on a charge of plotting to assassinate Mugabe, in a move widely seen as a way of keeping him out of the 1996 presidential election

Mugabe is elected unopposed for a new six-year term as president

Violent gangs, calling themselves the Mugabe War Veterans Association, start to 'liberate' more than 100,000 sq km of white-owned farmland in Zimbabwe

Trade unionist Morgan Tsvangirai leads a newly formed party in Zimbabwe, the MDC (Movement for Democratic Change)

The voters in Zimbabwe reject a new constitution enabling the government to acquire land compulsorily without compensation

In Zimbabwe's elections, marred by intimidation and violence, Mugabe's party wins 62 and Tsvangirai's 57 seats in the assembly

In Zimbabwe's presidential election, again characterized by violence and apparent vote-rigging, Mugabe defeats Tsvangirai

Morgan Tsvangirai is arrested on his way to a prayer rally in Harare, and is severely beaten and tortured in police custody

Evidence suggests that Tsvangirai has won Zimbabwe's presidential election, but after a delay of more than a month it is announced that a second round run-off is required

Robert Mugabe wins the second round in Zimbabwe's presidential election after Morgan Tsvangirai has withdrawn from the contest due to widespread violence against his supporters

Morgan Tsvangirai becomes prime minister of Zimbabwe, six months after agreeing to share power with Robert Mugabe

Zimbabwe's new constitution introduces important reforms but enables 89-year-old Robert Mugabe to serve two more 5-year presidential terms