Under the London Agreements signed in December 1979, Zimbabwe became independent on 18 April 1980. With the end of the conflict the ICRC, which for many years had been active not only in the capital, Harare (formerly Salisbury), but also in the rest of the country and in a number of neighbouring States affected by the repercussions of the fighting, began gradually to phase out some of its activities (mainly medical and relief programmes), depending on developments of the local situation. Discussions are now taking place with the government, the National Red Cross Society and various welfare organizations on the practical measures to be adopted for handing over certain projects which had been until now under ICRC responsibility and are still necessary for the inhabitants' welfare.