Zimbabwe

Full name of country: Republic of Zimbabwe

Region: Africa

Official language: Shona, Ndebele, English, Chewa, Chibarwe, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Shangani, sign language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa

Population: 17,150,352 (2024 est.)

Nationality: Zimbabwean(s) (noun), Zimbabwean (adjective)

Land area: 386,847 sq km (149,362 sq miles)

Water area: 3,910 sq km (1,510 sq miles)

Capital: Harare

National anthem: "Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe" [Northern Ndebele language] "Simudzai Mureza WeZimbabwe" [Shona] (Blessed Be the Land of Zimbabwe), by Solomon Mutswairo/Fred Lecture Changundega

National holiday: Independence Day, April 18 (1980)

Population growth: 1.91% (2024 est.)

Time zone: UTC +2

Flag: The flag of Zimbabwe features seven horizontal stripes, beginning with green on the top, then yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and green at the bottom. The green represents agriculture and the yellow represents mineral wealth. The red represents the blood lost in the struggle to achieve independence and the black represents the country’s native people. On the left of the flag, a white isosceles triangle features a yellow Zimbabwe bird sitting in front of a red star.

Independence: April 18, 1980 (from the UK)

Government type: presidential republic

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law, Roman-Dutch civil law, and customary law

The Republic of Zimbabwe is a small, landlocked country in southern Africa. It is bordered to the north and northwest by Zambia, to the southwest by Botswana, to the east by Mozambique, and to the south by South Africa. Formerly known as Rhodesia, the country gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1980.

In the years after Zimbabwe's independence, President Robert Mugabe held power for decades. He was accused by international officials of election tampering and human rights abuses, as well as being responsible for the economic collapse of the country due to his controversial land redistribution plan. The political situation in the country remains problematic.

Another major challenge facing Zimbabwe is the HIV/AIDS epidemic, as the country has one of the highest prevalence rates of the disease in the adult population.

People and Culture

Population: Zimbabwe has the most official languages of any nation in the world—sixteen, as decreed by the 2013 constitution: English, sign language, and fourteen indigenous African languages. Previously, the country had no legally designated official language, but official business was traditionally conducted in English, while Shona (the most widely spoken language) and Ndebele (the second most widely spoken) were the only Indigenous languages taught in schools. Approximately 99.6 percent of Zimbabweans were ethnically African as of the 2022 census, with the Shona people constituting the largest segment of this population, followed by the Ndebele people. White Europeans account for a very small percentage of the population, though until recently they held a disproportionate amount of power and wealth in the country.

Roughly 32.5 percent of the Zimbabwean population lived in urban areas in 2023. The two major cities are Harare, the capital, which in 2023 had an estimated population of 1.578 million, and Bulawayo.

A 2022 government survey found an estimated 76.1 percent of Zimbabweans practiced various forms of Protestantism. Catholics made up about 6.4 percent of the population, other Christians 7.8 percent, and small minorities adhered to indigenous beliefs (1.5 percent) or Islam (0.5 percent). About 8.3 percent professed no religious beliefs.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has devastated Zimbabwe's population. In 2020, the adult prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS was estimated at 11.9 percent, which is among the highest in the world.

The median age of Zimbabweans is 21.2 years. Average life expectancy at birth is 63.79 years, breaking down to 65.6  years for men and 68.8  years for women. The infant mortality rate stands at 33.4 deaths per 1,000 live births (2024 estimates).

Zimbabwe was ranked 159 out of 193 countries and territories on the 2022 United Nations Human Development Index, which measures quality-of-life indicators.

Indigenous People: The Shona people are Zimbabwe's largest ethnic group and the most closely related to the country's native people. Bantu-speaking Shona ancestors migrated to Zimbabwe more than two thousand years ago, during the Iron Age.

The Ndebele people arrived in Zimbabwe in the early nineteenth century, and clashed with the Shona. The British arrived in force in 1890, and soon subjugated the Ndebele.

The British South Africa Company established gold mining operations, naming its new territory Southern Rhodesia, after English businessman Cecil Rhodes. The company conscripted the native population to work in the mines.

Education: In 2021, Zimbabwe's average adult literacy rate was estimated at 89.7 percent (88.3 percent among men and 90.9 percent among women). This rate was achieved despite the country having struggled to reach its goal of providing free and universal education due to increasing fees related to everything from tuition itself to fees for supplies, buildings, and exams.

Until 1979, around the time of Zimbabwe's independence, the education system was segregated, with different schools for Africans and for Europeans. Schools are now racially integrated, and the school system extends beyond the primary grades to teach students trades through technical programs and apprenticeships.

Zimbabwe has about a dozen public universities, many of which were originally teaching or technical colleges that have since been granted university status. The largest, oldest, and highest ranked is the University of Zimbabwe, located in the northern suburbs of Harare, which was established as an affiliate of the University of London in 1952 and was the only university in the country upon independence. The second-largest public university is the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Bulawayo, founded in 1991. Also notable are the Zimbabwe Open University, the nation's only distance education university, established in 1999; and the Women's University in Africa, a private nonprofit university established in 2002 and granted government charter in 2004. A small number of other private universities also exist.

Health Care: Most health services are concentrated in Zimbabwe's urban areas. The quality of health care has suffered, along with disease education programs, due to the country's economic problems.

Zimbabwe's health care system is under severe strain from the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Health care coverage was briefly made available to all Zimbabweans, though this privilege was revoked in light of the growing rate of infection. The government raised income taxes to help fund care for HIV-infected Zimbabweans, though the impact on public health was minimal due to the misallocation of funds and government corruption. The HIV adult prevalence rate dropped considerably after reaching nearly 30 percent in the late 1990s, but the disease remains a major issue.

Tuberculosis is another ongoing problem in Zimbabwe, with the number of cases increasing fourfold between 1995 and 2000. It increased again between 2000 and 2012. By 2017 it was the third leading cause of death in the country.

Food: The staple of Zimbabwean cuisine is sadza, a porridge made from maize meal. Other traditional foods include pumpkin and sweet potatoes. Meat, typically goat, is usually eaten only on special occasions.

Introduced foods, such as sugar and Western-style fast food, are widely eaten in Zimbabwe, but have contributed to the general poor nutrition of the population.

Frequent food shortages throughout Zimbabwe, often caused by periods of prolonged drought, have driven the price of basic goods out of the range of many Zimbabweans. The distribution of food aid in the country's rural areas is especially problematic.

Arts & Entertainment: Music is an important part of Zimbabwean culture. The traditional music of the Shona people is played on a mbira, a type of thumb piano. The instrument is also used in chimurenga, a genre of protest music native to Zimbabwe. Popular music in the country is a mixture of African and Western influences.

The Harare Chamber Orchestra performs regularly in Harare. Zimbabwean music is also popular internationally; the Zimbabwean Music Festival is held each summer in the United States' Pacific Northwest, and Zimbabweans from around the world join in a celebration of traditional and modern Zimbabwean music.

Traditional arts practiced in Zimbabwe include basket-weaving, pottery, and sculpture. Internationally renowned sculptor Nicholas Mukomberanwa (1940–2002) was known for incorporating elements of Shona spirituality in his work. Other famous Zimbabwean sculptors include Joseph Muzondo (b. 1953), also known for his painting and printmaking, and Tapfuma Gutsa (b. 1956).

Famous Zimbabwean authors include Chenjerai Hove (1956–2015), who wrote in the Shona language. Yvonne Vera (1964–2005), author of Under the Tongue (1997) and The Stone Virgins (2002), received the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Africa, the Swedish PEN Tucholsky Prize, and the first Macmillan Writers' Prize for Africa.

The National Gallery of Zimbabwe, located in Bulawayo, exhibits both traditional and modern Zimbabwean art and celebrates the country's native artists.

As in most African countries, football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Zimbabwe. Cricket and rugby are also popular, reflecting the lingering British influence in the country.

Holidays: The major Zimbabwean national holiday is Independence Day (April 18), which celebrates the country's independence from British rule. The country also recognizes the international labor day of May 1 as Workers Day. Africa Day (May 25) celebrates the anniversary of the formation of the Organization of African Unity in 1963. On Heroes' Day (August 26), many Zimbabweans visit National Heroes Acre, a burial place for officers killed in the line of duty. Other public holidays include National Youth Day (February 21), Defence Forces' Day (August 13), and National Unity Day (December 22).

Environment and Geography

Topography: Zimbabwe is characterized by a high plateau, known as the highveld, or grassland, which covers roughly one-quarter of the country's area. The plateau is flanked by the Zambezi River on the north and the Limpopo River on the south.

The less-populated lowveld contains the Limpopo River Valley, which surrounds the Limpopo River on both the Zimbabwean and South African sides. This valley is characterized by dry savanna, and has been the subject of debate between those who want to use the land for agriculture and those who desire to conserve and protect it.

The highest region in Zimbabwe is the Eastern Highlands. The country's highest point, at the peak of Mount Inyangani, is 2,593 meters (8,507 feet) above sea level. The junction of the Runde and Save Rivers is the lowest point, at only 162 meters (531 feet) above sea level.

Natural Resources: Most of Zimbabwe's mineral resources are found in a mountainous region known as the Great Dyke, in the highveld. Valuable minerals and metals mined in Zimbabwe include iron ore, coal, chromium, asbestos, silver, copper, gold, nickel, lithium, platinum, and tin.

As of 2018, almost 39.5 percent of the country was covered in forest. Hardwood trees such as teak and mahogany are exploited by the timber industry. Hydroelectricity is generated for Zimbabwe and its neighbors by the Kariba Dam; Lake Kariba was created by damming the Zambezi River.

The country's mining operations also cause pollution and toxic waste, which jeopardizes the wealth and welfare of the people. Deforestation is another environmental concern, as many Zimbabweans depend upon wood for fuel.

Plants & Animals: Zimbabwe's fertile highveld region is covered by savanna grassland. Common trees found in the lowveld region include baobab, mahogany, mukwa, teak, mopani, and fig trees.

Plant and animal life is preserved in Zimbabwe's many national parks and reserves. The country's largest, Hwange National Park, covers an area of 14,500 square kilometers (5,598 square miles), and is primarily know for its opportunities to view wild game animals. In addition to wildlife, Victoria Falls National Park is home to one of the world's largest waterfalls, measuring more than 1,700 meters (5,577 feet) across.

Zimbabwean wildlife is typical of that found in other southern African countries, and includes giraffes, lions, monkeys, baboons, and African elephants. Common bird species include the giant kingfisher and the great egret, along with more than six hundred others.

Poaching is a continuing threat to the animals of Zimbabwe and is responsible for the decline of the black rhinoceros population, among other species.

Climate: Zimbabwe's climate is tropical, but its high elevation tends to moderate temperatures. The central plateau experiences the most consistent and comfortable temperatures throughout the year.

During the summer, the average temperature is between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius (77 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit). In winter, the average temperature drops to between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius (59 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit).

The rainy season lasts from November until March. Rainfall is greatest in the cooler highveld, where precipitation averages about 1,780 millimeters (70 inches) each year. The southern region is hotter and drier, and typically receives less than 630 millimeters (25 inches) of rain a year. In general, rainfall is erratic, and droughts are frequent, making agriculture difficult.

Economy

Beginning in 2000, Zimbabwe’s economy began to experience a significant downturn, eventually grinding to a virtual standstill. Inflation increased prices more than 900 percent, and eventually the inflation rate reached 231 million percent. Although much of the country's money was lost in the 1998–2002 war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it is widely believed that corruption and illegal spending within the Mugabe regime was to blame for the country's economic situation. Although significant growth was seen from 2010 to 2013, this slowed in 2014 and the economy shrank again in 2016, illustrating the nation's volatility. Efforts to control inflation led to use of multiple foreign currencies beginning in 2009, with several more added as legal tender in 2015 in a bid to increase foreign investment and trade.

Zimbabwe's economy depends upon mining and agriculture, although the government's poorly executed land reform scheme has weakened agricultural production. Flooding and drought, in addition to food shortages and allegations of government corruption, have crippled Zimbabwe's economy at the start of the twenty-first century.

In 2023, Zimbabwe's gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated at US$58.583 billion, or US$3,500 per capita. In 2019, about 38.3 percent of the population were living below the poverty line. The unemployment rate was estimated at 8.76% percent of the workforce in 2023.

Industry: The service sector is Zimbabwe's largest economic sector, accounting for an estimated 18.5 percent of GDP in 2023. Manufacturing and other industries accounted for an estimated 46.9 percent. Most industrial activity is concentrated in Harare and Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe's industrial products include iron and steel, cement, chemicals, fertilizers, apparel and footwear, and processed foods and beverages. Wood products made from native teak and mahogany are also manufactured in Zimbabwe.

The country's major exports include platinum, cotton, tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, and textiles and clothing. Zimbabwe imports more products than it exports.

Agriculture: In 2023, agriculture accounted for 27 percent of Zimbabwe's GDP but employed an estimated 67.5 percent of the workforce. Farmers are routinely forced to contend with drought, soil erosion, and pollution.

Common crops grown in Zimbabwe include cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, and peanuts. Corn, the staple crop for domestic use, is also widely grown. Zimbabwean farmers also raise sheep, pigs, and goats.

After colonization, the majority of Zimbabwe's farmland was owned by the White minority population. In 2000, President Robert Mugabe embarked upon a controversial plan to seize land from White farmers and give it to Black settlers. As a result, most Black workers lost their jobs on White-owned farms. The Black settlers did not receive the supplies and training promised by the government, and were unable to keep up agricultural production.

Tourism: There are many tourist attractions in Zimbabwe, especially in the country's many national parks. Domboshawa National Park north of Harare contains many ancient rock paintings. Artifacts from Zimbabwe's ancient past may also be viewed at the Great Zimbabwe archaeological site.

Victoria Falls (also known as Mosi-Oa-Tunya, or "the smoke that thunders"), is an enormous waterfall, considered one of the greatest natural wonders in the world. Lake Kariba is another favorite tourist attraction, offering opportunities for fishing and sightseeing.

However, political unrest and safety concerns have kept many tourists away from Zimbabwe. Some airlines and hotel chains have discontinued service in the country.

Government

In the early twentieth century, Southern Rhodesia became a self-governing colony of the United Kingdom. It later joined with Northern Rhodesia (later Zambia) and Nyasaland (later Malawi) to form the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

After the dissolution of the federation, White-ruled Rhodesia voted for independence from Great Britain in 1965. The British refused to recognize independence without majority rule for the colony's Black African population. Racial tensions escalated into civil war in the 1970s.

The White population and some Black nationalist groups resisted efforts at majority rule until 1980, when a constitution was drafted and elections were held. Robert Mugabe became the new country's first prime minister and later president. He maintained power, despite his decreasing popularity, for thirty-seven years and was accused of election tampering and corruption. He resigned in late 2017.

Zimbabwe is technically a multiparty parliamentary democracy. The executive branch of government includes the president, the first vice president, and the cabinet. The National Assembly has 270 seats, while the Senate has 80 seats. The judicial system consists of a Supreme Court, High Court, Labor Court, Court of Appeal, Administrative Court, and local courts.

Zimbabwe consists of eight provinces: Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, and Midlands. The two largest cities, Harare and Bulawayo, also have provincial status.

Interesting Facts

• Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, was formerly known as Salisbury. When White colonists first intruded upon the country in 1890, they established Fort Salisbury as their base of operations.
• During the period of hyperinflation, Zimbabwe printed banknotes in denominations as high as 100 trillion.
• Victoria Falls is known in local Bantu languages as Mosi-oa-Tunya, means "the smoke that thunders."

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