<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 18 April 1980 (from UK)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day, 18 April (1980)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 21 December 1979
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state and head of government:</hi> Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987); Co-Vice President Simon Vengai MUZENDA (since 31 December 1987); Co-Vice President Joshua M. NKOMO (since 6 August 1990); election last held 28-30 March 1990 (next to be held NA March 1996); results—Robert MUGABE 78.3%, Edgar TEKERE 21.7%
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet; appointed by the president; responsible to Parliament
<item><hi format=bold>Parliament:</hi> elections last held 28-30 March 1990 (next to be held NA March 1995); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(150 total, 120 elected) ZANU-PF 117, ZUM 2, ZANU-S 1
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> 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 and Abel MUYOREWA; Democratic Party (DP), Emmanuel MAGOCHE; Forum Party, Enock DUMBUTSHENA
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and green with a white equilateral triangle edged in black based on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird is superimposed on a red five-pointed star in the center of the triangle