Harare on 11 November 1965, and proclaimed the Republic of Rhodesia in 1970. Subsequently, the nation became the short-lived state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia, it was not until 18 April 1980 that the country was internationally recognised as independent as the Republic of Zimbabwe. The name of the city was changed to Harare on 18 April 1982, the second anniversary of Zimbabwean independence, taking its name from the village near Harare Kopje of the Shona chief Neharawa, whose nickname was "he who does not sleep". Prior to independence, "Harare" was the name of the black residential area now known as Mbare. In
Harare City F.C. City of Harare FC rejoined the Harare Social League where they played for five seasons before joining the Highfield Area Zone League in 2000. The club even had a change of name for two years (2000–1)- "Bhanya Mulenge FC" – before reverting to their original name (City of Harare FC) in 2002. In 2008, the club rejoined the Division 3A League and won promotion after just that one season into Division 2A. When they started playing in Division 2A (2009) they renamed the franchise to "Harare City FC". Under coach Arthur "Tuts" Tutani, the club gained promotion into the Northern