Independence: 18 April 1980 (from UK; formerly Southern Rhodesia)
Constitution: 21 December 1979
Legal system: mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 April (1980)
Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government—Executive President Robert
Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987); Vice President Simon Vengai
MUZENDA (since 31 December 1987)
Political parties and leaders: Zimbabwe African National
Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), Robert Mugabe; Zimbabwe African National
Union-Sithole (ZANU-S), Ndabaningi Sithole; Zimbabwe Unity Movement
(ZUM), Edgar Tekere
Suffrage: universal at age 18