Harare

Harare (formerly Salisbury; pop. 656,000), capital and largest city of the Republic of Zimbabwe. It was founded as Fort Salisbury in 1890 by the British South Africa Company and became the capital of the colony of Southern Rhodesia in 1923. It remained capital during the period of the colonial Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (1953–63), and under the white minority rule of the Ian Smith government (1964–79). It became the capital of the independent country of Zimbabwe in 1980, changing its name to Harare in 1982. Harare is Zimbabwe's financial, commercial, and manufacturing center. Its industries include steel, chemicals, and textiles.

See also: Zimbabwe.