As per the Harare history, the city was founded in 1890 by Pioneer Column, which was a military volunteer force organized by Cecil Rhodes. This force was led by Major Frank Johnson. Harare was given the status of a fort at that time. It was then known by the name of 'Fort Salisbury'. The name was kept after the then British Prime Minister, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury.
After sometime, the place was known only as 'Salisbury'. In 1897, Salisbury was declared as a municipality. Railway was introduced in Salisbury in 1899 in the month of May. Cleveland Dam built the Seke Dam in 1913 to introduce piped water in Salisbury. In course of time a locomotive steam boiler was established for supplying electricity. By 1935, a number of industries and factories came up in the region.
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It was in the year of 1935, that Harare was declared as a city. According to the history of Harare, it served as the capital of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland for ten long years from 1953 to 1963. Thereafter, it became the capital city of Southern Rhodesia. Zimbabwe achieved its independence on 18th April, 1980. On the same day in 1982, Harare got its current name. The name Harare has been derived from the Shona inhabitants Neharawa. They used to inhabit at 'The Kopje', on which the city of Harare stands presently.
Due to the pleasant weather, the city is also known as the 'Sunshine City'. As per the contemporary history of Harare, it is one of the developed cities of southern Africa with a multi-ethnic character.
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