Michael in Zimbabwe

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The first sales-based singles chart was compiled in Zimbabwe in 1961, and by 1969 a weekly Top 20 was compiled. This continued until the early 1990s, when the production of singles was largely discontinued - from the mid 1990s, a weekly Top 20 based on airplay was published. From mid 2002, the chart focussed on local Zimbabwean artists, and between mid 2003 and October 2005 non-Zimbabwean artists were excluded from the chart. Since then, a few foreign artists have been permitted to chart - however, this does mean the chart is no longer credible.

The first sales-based albums chart was compiled in 1972, before this date albums selling well enough were listed in the singles chart. Since then, the following charts have been compiled:

• Mid 1973 - Top 20 LP Hit Parade (sponsored by Texan).

• 1974 - weekly Sales LP Top 20 launched (sponsored by Supreme).

• January 1976 - weekly Top 20 LP Hits of the Week (sponsored by Supersonic), this chart was discontinued in March 1981.

• January to July 1982 - Top 20 LP Hits of the Week (sponsored by O.K.).

• June 1983 - weekly Top 10 LP chart compiled by Radio 3, this chart continued to November 1990.

• December 1990 - biweekly Top 10 albums chart compiled by Spinalong (a chain of record stores).

The global albums chart ceased publication in November 2002 - after this date, the only charts were published by individual record companies, and these charts include only local artists.

Many thanks to Christopher Kimberley for info on the history of charts in his homeland, and for all the chart action we have for Zimbabwe.

KEY:

Date = date of chart entry.
HP = peak position reached on the singles/albums chart.
Wks = weeks spent on the singles/albums chart.

If applicable, weeks spent at no.1 is given in brackets.

Singles

Albums