Zimbabwe

The Republic of Zimbabwe is situated in Southern Africa. The landlocked nation is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia to the northwest, and Mozambique to the east. Harare is the capital of Zimbabwe. The human rights are badly violated in the country as reported by human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

HISTORY:- The Khoisan people were the first inhabitants of Zimbabwe around 200 BC. After the Bantu immigration, the Shona people, the Nguni people and Zulu people started settling in the region. Later in the mid 19th century, Ndebele people established a strong Matabeleland Empire. British explorers arrived in the region in the 1850s. Cecil Rhodes set up the British South Africa Company. The territory of Zambesia was known as Rhodesia. Southern Rhodesia is later renamed as Zimbabwe. Southern Rhodesia became an autonomous British colony in 1923. The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was founded unifying Nyasaland with Southern Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia in 1953. In 1963, Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia voted for independence while Southern Rhodesia remained a British colony. The government proclaimed independence in 1970 with the name of the Republic of Rhodesia but this republic was only recognized by South Africa. After the guerrilla activities started in the country, the white-minority government decided to transfer the power to the black majority in 1978. In 1980’s multiracial elections, Robert Mugabe became the president. The country achieved independence in 1980. In 1990 multiparty system was introduced by Mugabe which he himself outlawed.

GEOGRAPHY:- Zimbabwe is situated at 20 00 S, 30 00 E in Southern Africa. The total area of the country is 390,580 sq km, in which 386,670 sq km area is covered with land masses and 3,910 sq km area is covered with internal waters. The landlocked nation shares its border with Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zambia. Zimbabwe is mostly formed of high plateau and higher central plateau and mountains in the east. The country mostly comprises desert and savanna. The lowest point of Zimbabwe is located at the juncture of the Runde and Save Rivers (162 m) while the highest point is Inyangani (2,592 m).

CLIMATE:- The climate of Zimbabwe is mostly tropical to subtropical, which is moderated by altitude. The rainy season persists from November to March.

GOVERNMENT:- Zimbabwe has a parliamentary democracy. The constitution was adopted on 21st December 1979. The legal system is a blend of the Roman-Dutch law and the English common law. The three major branches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the President (chief of state and head of government), the Vice President, and cabinet. The cabinet ministers are, responsible to the House of Assembly, but appointed by the president. The president is elected by a popular vote on a 5-year term.

Legislative branch comprises the bicameral Parliament, consists of a Senate (93 seats) and the House of Assembly (210 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the local and customary courts and the High Court.

 Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF); Movement for Democratic Change (MDC); United People's Party (UPP) are the principal political parties of Zimbabwe. Suffrage is universal at the age of 18.

President   Robert Mugabe

Vice Presidents  Joseph Msika and Joice Mujuru

Foreign Minister  Simbarashe Mumbengegwi

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:-Zimbabwe is composed of 8 provinces and 2 cities with provincial status (Bulawayo, Harare).

CULTURE:- Football and cricket are the most popular and most practiced sports in Zimbabwe. The inhabitants of the nation practice traditional arts and crafts like pottery, basketry, textiles, jewelry, and carving. Bota, sadza are two traditional dishes in Zimbabwe. Any celebrations in the country, be it a wedding or graduations or any family gatherings, are initiated with killing a goat or a cow to make barbecue or roast.

ECONOMY:- Shortage of foreign exchange and supply, growing inflation are the main obstacles to the economic development in Zimbabwe. Mineral exports, agriculture, and tourism are main industries to earn foreign revenues.

GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $2.211 billion; per capita $200.

Real growth rate: –6.1%.

Inflation: 10, 453%

Unemployment: 80%.

Arable land: 8%.

Agriculture: Corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts; sheep, goats, pigs.

Labor force: 4.032 million (2007); agriculture 66%, services 24%, industry 10% (1996).

Budget:  

Revenues: $2.442 billion

Expenditures: $3.017 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt: 211.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Debt - external: $5.155 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Industries: Mining (coal, gold, platinum, copper, nickel, tin, clay, numerous metallic and nonmetallic ores), steel; wood products, cement, chemicals, fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs, beverages.

Natural resources: Coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals.

Exports: $1.766 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.): cotton, tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, textiles or clothing.

Imports: $2.055 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.): machinery and transport equipment, other manufactures, chemicals, fuels.

Major trading partners: South Africa, Switzerland, UK, China, Germany, Botswana (2004).

Monetary unit: Zimbabwean dollar

LANGUAGE:- English is the official language of Zimbabwe whilst Shona, Sindebele are also widely spoken by the tribal groups.

CITIES:- The capital Harare is the largest city of Zimbabwe. Other major cities are Bulawayo, Chitungwiza, Mutare, Gweru, Kwekwe, Masvingo, Marondera.

POPULATION:- The population is approximated 12,311,143 with a growth rate of 0.6%.

Density per sq mi: 82

Literacy rate: 91% (2003 est.).

RACE:-

African 98% (Shona 82%, Ndebele 14%, other 2%)

Mixed and Asian 1%

White less than 1%

RELIGION:-

Syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%

Christian 25%

Indigenous beliefs 24%

Muslim and other 1%

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 27.38 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 21.7 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 50.58 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 39.73 years

Total fertility rate: 3.03 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 170,000 (2003 est.)

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 146

UNICEF:- UNICEF supported Zimbabwe’s first National HIV Conference apart from providing trainings to counselors and educators on HIV. 60,000 insecticide-treated bed-nets and 4 million vitamin A supplements are distributed among pregnant women and children. UNICEF-supported ‘Young People We Care’ is a forum where the youth are being encouraged to work for ills and orphans. UNICEF provides vaccines, modern equipment, trained health-care workers and technicians to fight against several diseases. UNICEF also promotes safe drinking water.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: total: 3,077 km (2002).

Highways: total: 97,440 km ; paved: 18,514 km ; unpaved: 78,926 km (2002 est.). Waterways: Lake Kariba (2005).

Ports and harbors: Binga, Kariba.

Airports: 430 (2002).