Timeline of Bulawayo

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

19th century

 * 1830s - Ndebele Mzilikazi Khumalo locates seat of Mthwakazi nation in Bulawayo, in Matabeleland (approximate date).
 * 1893 - Ndebele capital "GuBulawayo" besieged, demolished by British South Africa Company forces during the First Matabele War.
 * 1894
 * Bulawayo town established near former settlement by British South Africa Company.
 * Telegraph begins operating.
 * Chronicle newspaper begins publication.
 * 1896/97 - Siege of Bulawayo during the Second Matabele War
 * 1897
 * Bulawayo becomes a municipality.
 * State House, Bulawayo completed as "Government House".
 * I.G. Hirschler becomes mayor.
 * Railway to South Africa begins operating.
 * 1899 - Railway to Salisbury and Mozambique begins operating.
 * 1900 - Beira–Bulawayo railway opened.

20th century

 * 1902 - Cecil Rhodes was buried at the Matoppo Hills at Malindidzimu
 * 1904
 * Statue of Cecil Rhodes erected.
 * "White" population: 3,840.
 * 1905 - Railway to Victoria Falls and Zambia begins operating.
 * 1919 - James Cowden becomes mayor.
 * 1926 - Rhodes Matopos National Park established near Bulawayo.
 * 1927 - Bulawayo Technical School established.
 * 1931 - Catholic Mission of Bulawayo established.
 * 1934 - Bulawayo Club building constructed.
 * 1943 - Bulawayo attains city status.
 * 1950 - Rainbow Hotel built.
 * 1957 - Bulawayo Thermal Power Station (coal-fired thermal power plant) opens.
 * 1960 - Trade fair begins.
 * 1964 - Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe opens.
 * 1970 - National Gallery of Zimbabwe branch opens.
 * 1972 - Bulawayo Railway Museum opens.
 * 1973 - Population: 307,000 (estimate).
 * 1981 - February: 1981 Entumbane uprising.
 * 1983 - Population: 429,000 (estimate).
 * 1985 - National Railways of Zimbabwe headquarters building constructed.
 * 1991 - National University of Science and Technology established.
 * 1992 - Population: 621,742.
 * 1999 - Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway (Beitbridge-Bulawayo) begins operating.
 * 2000 - June: Political activist Patrick Nabanyama of the Movement for Democratic Change kidnapped.

21st century

 * 2001
 * August: Municipal election postponed by Mugabe administration.
 * November: Political unrest.
 * Japhet Ndabeni Ncube becomes mayor.
 * 2008 - Patrick Thaba-Moyo becomes mayor.
 * 2012 - Population: 653,337.
 * 2013
 * Joshua Nkomo statue erected.
 * Martin Moyo becomes mayor.
 * Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport new terminal opens.