Key moments in Zimbabwe’s troubled history

Zimbabwe is voting in a historic election that is the first without Robert Mugabe.

He had led the southern African nation since independence from white minority rule in 1980 but stepped down last year under military pressure amid a ruling party feud.

Here is a look at milestones in the country’s troubled history.

– 1982: A deadly, years-long military offensive begins in Matabeleland against supporters of Mr Mugabe’s former ally Joshua Nkomo, with thousands of civilians killed.

– 1987: Mr Mugabe becomes president after changes to the constitution.

– 2000: Mr Mugabe launches a deeply unpopular campaign to seize land from white farmers, leading to international condemnation. The opposition MDC party gains momentum.

– 2002: Mr Mugabe is re-elected as foreign observers call the vote badly flawed. The European Union imposes sanctions.

– 2003: The United States imposes sanctions for “undermining democratic institutions or processes”.

– 2005: US secretary of state nominee Condoleezza Rice calls Zimbabwe one of the world’s six “outposts of tyranny”.

– 2013: A new constitution that strengthens human rights is approved in a referendum amid scepticism that Mr Mugabe will loosen his grip on the country. He wins another term a few months later as the MDC claims the election was fraudulent.

– August 2017: Mrs Mugabe is accused of assaulting a young woman at an upscale hotel in neighbouring South Africa but is granted diplomatic immunity.

– November 21 2017: Politicians begin impeachment proceedings and Mr Mugabe resigns after 37 years in power.

– November 24 2017: Mr Mnangagwa, 75, is inaugurated, urging Zimbabwe to let “bygones be bygones”.

– June 23: The EU deploys its first election observers in Zimbabwe in 16 years as Mr Mnangagwa pledges a free and fair election while seeking the lifting of international sanctions – including US sanctions on himself.