1890s in Zimbabwe

Events

6 May – The Pioneer Column left Cecil Rhodes' farm at Kenilworth, a suburb of Kimberley, for Macloutsie under Col. Pennefather and Sir John Willoughby29 June – Archibald Ross Colquhoun becomes the Resident Commissioner of Mashonaland

July – Fort Tuli is built by the Pioneer Column at the place known as Selous Camp and used by Frederick Selous as a base for his hunting expeditions.13 September – The Pioneer Column ran up the Union Jack on Harare Hill in Salisbury and claimed Mashonaland for the British Empire, having arrived the previous day1 October – The Pioneer Column is disbanded and each member is granted land on which to farm

15 February – A temporary frontier at Manica is settled.9 May – Mashonaland, Matabeleland and Bechuanaland are declared British Protectorates in London by Order in Council.12 June – The United Kingdom and Portuguese governments reach agreement on the means of determining boundaries between their territories.27 June – First edition of the Mashonaland Herald, later the Rhodesia Herald and later still the Zimbabwe Herald18 September – Leander Starr Jameson becomes the first Administrator of Mashonaland22 December – The British South Africa Company holds its first annual meeting in London.

22 June – Kopje Fort is completed at Salisbury.29 October – The Rhodesia Herald commences publication.

18 July – Matabele impis enter Victoria and attack the Mashona2 October – King Lobengula's impis attack patrols of the British South Africa company3 October – War on the Matabele is authorised – First Matabele War8 October – 22 January 1894 – Andrew Duncan becomes acting administrator for Leander Starr Jameson4 November – British forces occupy the site of Bulawayo. This marks the effective occupation of Matabeleland by British settlers3 December – British forces, in search of King Lobengula, suffer a humiliating defeat near the Shangani river. The incident becomes known as the Shangani Patrol. The remains of the 34 Patrol members killed on that day were eventually interred next to the bodies of Cecil Rhodes and Leander Starr Jameson at World's View in the Matobo Hills. The American scout, Frederick Russell Burnham, is one of only three survivors of the Patrol.

Spring – Matabele King Lobengula dies of unknown causes. His death is kept a secret from the British for many months.23 January – Mashonaland and Matabeleland protectorates merge to form South Zambesia
* Andrew Duncan is made the acting Chief magistrate of South Zambesia
May – Leander Starr Jameson is elected Chief magistrate of South Zambesia9 September – Leander Jameson becomes the Administrator of the South Zambesia Protectorate28 October – 1 April 1895 – Francis Rhodes stands in for Leander Jameson as acting Administrator of the South Zambesia Protectorate

3 May – South Zambesia and North Zambesia are united as Rhodesia

June – Joseph Vintcent becomes acting Administrator of the Rhodesia Protectorate29 December – The Jameson raid is commenced.

2 January – Leander Starr Jameson and his raiders surrender20 March – The First Chimurenga revolt against the British South Africa Company starts among the Matabele2 May – Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey becomes the second Administrator of Mashonaland and Administrator of the Rhodesia Protectorate14 June – The Mashona join in the First Chimurenga.13 October – The Matabele are defeated by the British South Africa Company, and their chiefs concede

November – Arthur Lawley becomes the Administrator of Matabeleland29 November – British forces leave Rhodesia as it is believed local troops can now defeat the Mashona

January – Final determination of the boundary between Rhodesia and Portuguese possessions to the east24 July – William Henry Milton becomes the 3rd Administrator of Mashonaland and Administrator of the Rhodesia Protectorate26 October – The municipalities of Salisbury and Bulawayo are formally created.27 October – The Mashona are defeated by the British South Africa Company thus ending the First Chimurenga.

An Order in Council grants Southern Rhodesia a part-elected Legislative council.17 April: Polling day in the first Legislative Council election.15 May: First session of the Legislative Council.