Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

Introduction

Background

The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the [British] South Africa Company in 1923. A 1961 constitution was formulated that favored whites in power. In 1965 the government unilaterally declared its independence, but the UK did not recognize the act and demanded more complete voting rights for the black African majority in the country (then called Rhodesia). UN sanctions and a guerrilla uprising finally led to free elections in 1979 and independence (as Zimbabwe) in 1980. Robert MUGABE, the nation’s first prime minister, has been the country’s only ruler (as president since 1987) and has dominated the country’s political system since independence. His chaotic land redistribution campaign, which began in 2000, caused an exodus of white farmers, crippled the economy, and ushered in widespread shortages of basic commodities. Ignoring international condemnation, MUGABE rigged the 2002 presidential election to ensure his reelection. The ruling ZANU-PF party used fraud and intimidation to win a two-thirds majority in the March 2005 parliamentary election, allowing it to amend the constitution at will and recreate the Senate, which had been abolished in the late 1980s. In April 2005, Harare embarked on Operation Restore Order, ostensibly an urban rationalization program, which resulted in the destruction of the homes or businesses of 700,000 mostly poor supporters of the opposition. President MUGABE in June 2007 instituted price controls on all basic commodities causing panic buying and leaving store shelves empty for months. General elections held in March 2008 contained irregularities but still amounted to a censure of the ZANU-PF-led government with the opposition winning a majority of seats in parliament. MDC opposition leader Morgan TSVANGIRAI won the most votes in the presidential polls, but not enough to win outright. In the lead up to a run-off election in late June 2008, considerable violence enacted against opposition party members led to the withdrawal of TSVANGIRAI from the ballot. Extensive evidence of violence and intimidation resulted in international condemnation of the process. Difficult negotiations over a power-sharing government, in which MUGABE remained president and TSVANGIRAI became prime minister, were finally settled in February 2009, although the leaders have yet failed to agree upon many key outstanding governmental issues. Mugabe in October publicly called for early elections in 2011-two years before his term ends-but no election date has been set.

Geography

Location

Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia

Geographic coordinates

20 00 S, 30 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 390,757 sq km
country comparison to the world: 61 land:386,847 sq km
water:3,910 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly larger than Montana

Land boundaries

total: 3,066 km
border countries:Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa 225 km, Zambia 797 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

tropical

moderated by altitude

rainy season (November to March)

Terrain

mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld)

mountains in east

Elevation extremes

lowest point: junction of the Runde and Save Rivers 162 m
highest point:Inyangani 2,592 m

Natural resources

coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals

Land use

arable land: 8.24%
permanent crops:0.33%
other:91.43% (2005)

Irrigated land

1,740 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

20 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 4.21cu km/yr (14%/7%/79%)
per capita:324cu m/yr (2002)

Natural hazards

recurring droughts

floods and severe storms are rare

Environment – current issues

deforestation

soil erosion

land degradation

air and water pollution

the black rhinoceros herd – once the largest concentration of the species in the world – has been significantly reduced by poaching

poor mining practices have led to toxic waste and heavy metal pollution

Environment – international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Geography – note

landlocked

the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zambia

in full flood (February-April) the massive Victoria Falls on the river forms the world’s largest curtain of falling water

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Zimbabwean(s)
adjective:Zimbabwean

Ethnic groups

African 98% (Shona 82%, Ndebele 14%, other 2%), mixed and Asian 1%, white less than 1%

Languages

English (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of the Ndebele, sometimes called Ndebele), numerous but minor tribal dialects

Religions

syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%

Population

12,084,304 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72 note:estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS

this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Age structure

0-14 years: 41.9% (male 2,555,916/female 2,504,947)
15-64 years:54.3% (male 3,063,580/female 3,500,366)
65 years and over:3.8% (male 193,380/female 266,115) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 18.3 years
male:17.4 years
female:19.2 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

4.31% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1

Birth rate

31.86 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41

Death rate

13.58 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19

Net migration rate

24.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 1 note:there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2011 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 38% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:3.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

HARARE (capital) 1.606 million (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:0.83 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.75 male(s)/female
total population:0.91 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

790 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 13

Infant mortality rate

total: 29.5 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 70 male:31.98 deaths/1,000 live births
female:26.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 49.64 years
country comparison to the world: 214 male:49.93 years
female:49.34 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.63 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44

Physicians density

0.16 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
country comparison to the world: 155

Hospital bed density

3 beds/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 76

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 99% of population
rural: 72% of population
total: 82% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1% of population
rural: 28% of population
total: 18% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 56% of population
rural: 37% of population
total: 44% of population
unimproved:
urban: 44% of population
rural: 63% of population
total: 56% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

14.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

1.2 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7

HIV/AIDS – deaths

83,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease:malaria
water contact disease:schistosomiasis
animal contact disease:rabies (2009)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

15.7% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 33

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

14% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 58

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population:90.7%
male:94.2%
female:87.2% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years
male:10 years
female:9 years (2003)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 24.9%
country comparison to the world: 31 male:28.2%
female:21.4% (2002)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe
conventional short form:Zimbabwe
former:Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Capital

name: Harare
geographic coordinates:17 50 S, 31 03 E
time difference:UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

8 provinces and 2 cities* with provincial status

Bulawayo*, Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands

Independence

18 April 1980 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 April (1980)

Constitution

21 December 1979

Legal system

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

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987)

Vice President John NKOMO (since December 2009) and Vice President Joyce MUJURU (since 6 December 2004)
head of government:Prime Minister Morgan TSVANGIRAI (since 11 February 2009)

Deputy Prime Minister Arthur MUTAMBARA
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president and prime minister

responsible to the House of Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:presidential candidates nominated with a nomination paper signed by at least 10 registered voters (at least one from each province) and elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits)

elections last held on 28 March 2008 followed by a run-off on 27 June 2008 (next to be held in 2013)

co-vice presidents drawn from party leadership
election results:Robert Gabriel MUGABE reelected president

percent of vote – Robert Gabriel MUGABE 85.5%, Morgan TSVANGIRAI 9.3%, other 5.2%

note – first round voting results – Morgan TSVANGIRAI 47.9%, Robert Gabriel MUGABE 43.2%, Simba MAKONI 8.3%, other 0.6%

first-round round polls were deemed to be flawed suppressing TSVANGIRAI’s results

the 27 June 2008 run-off between MUGABE and TSVANGIRAI was severely flawed and internationally condemned

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate (93 seats – 60 members elected by popular vote for a five-year term, 10 provincial governors nominated by the president and the prime minister, 16 traditional chiefs elected by the Council of Chiefs, 2 seats held by the president and deputy president of the Council of Chiefs, and 5 members appointed by the president) and a House of Assembly (210 seats – members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections:last held on 28 March 2008 (next to be held in 2013)
election results:Senate – percent of vote by party – MDC 51.6%, ZANU-PF 45.8%, other 2.6%

seats by party – MDC 30, ZANU-PF 30

House of Assembly – percent of vote by party – MDC 51.3%, ZANU-PF 45.8%, other 2.9%

seats by party – MDC 109, ZANU-PF 97, other 4

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

High Court

Political parties and leaders

African National Party or ANP [Egypt DZINEMUNHENZVA]

Movement for Democratic Change or MDC [Morgan TSVANGIRAI]

Movement for Democratic Change – Mutambara or MDC-M [Arthur MUTAMBARA] (splinter faction of the MDC)

Peace Action is Freedom for All or PAFA

United Parties [Abel MUZOREWA]

United People’s Party or UPP [Daniel SHUMBA]

Zimbabwe African National Union-Ndonga or ZANU-Ndonga [Wilson KUMBULA]

Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front or ZANU-PF [Robert Gabriel MUGABE]

Zimbabwe African Peoples Union or ZAPU [Agrippa MADLELA]

Zimbabwe Youth in Alliance or ZIYA

Political pressure groups and leaders

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition

National Constitutional Assembly or NCA [Lovemore MADHUKU]

Women of Zimbabwe Arise or WOZA [Jenny WILLIAMS]

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions or ZCTU [Wellington CHIBEBE]

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Machivenyika MAPURANGA
chancery:1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:[1] (202) 332-7100
FAX:[1] (202) 483-9326

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Charles A. RAY
embassy:172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare
mailing address:P. O. Box 3340, Harare
telephone:[263] (4) 250-593 through 250-594
FAX:[263] (4) 796-488, or 722-618

Flag description

seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and green with a white isosceles triangle edged in black with its base on the hoist side

a yellow Zimbabwe bird representing the long history of the country is superimposed on a red five-pointed star in the center of the triangle, which symbolizes peace

green represents agriculture, yellow mineral wealth, red the blood shed to achieve independence, and black stands for the native people

National symbol(s)

Zimbabwe bird symbol

African fish eagle

National anthem

name: “Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe” [Northern Ndebele language] “Simudzai Mureza WeZimbabwe” [Shona] (Blessed Be the Land of Zimbabwe)
lyrics/music:Solomon MUTSWAIRO/Fred Lecture CHANGUNDEGA
note:adopted 1994

Economy

Economy – overview

Zimbabwe’s economy is growing at a brisk pace despite continuing political uncertainty. Following a decade of contraction, Zimbabwe’s economy recorded real growth of 5.9% in 2010. But the government of Zimbabwe still faces a number of difficult economic problems, including a large external debt burden and insufficient formal employment. Zimbabwe’s 1998-2002 involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo drained hundreds of millions of dollars from the economy. The government’s land reform program, characterized by chaos and violence, has badly damaged the commercial farming sector, the traditional source of exports and foreign exchange and the provider of 400,000 jobs, turning Zimbabwe into a net importer of food products. The EU and the US provide food aid on humanitarian grounds, though on a smaller scale than before. Until early 2009, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe routinely printed money to fund the budget deficit, causing hyperinflation. The power-sharing government formed in February 2009 has led to some economic improvements, including the cessation of hyperinflation by eliminating the use of the Zimbabwe dollar and removing price controls. The economy is registering its first growth in a decade, but will be reliant on further political improvement for greater growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.457 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159 $5.006 billion (2009 est.)
$4.723 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$7.474 billion
note:in 2009, the Zimbabwean dollar was taken out of circulation, making Zimbabwe’s GDP at the official exchange rate a highly inaccurate statistic (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10 6% (2009 est.)
-17.7% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 224 $400 (2009 est.)
$400 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 19.8%
industry:24.4%
services:55.7% (2010 est.)

Labor force

3.848 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 66%
industry:10%
services:24% (1996)

Unemployment rate

95% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199 80% (2005 est.)
note:figures reflect underemployment

true unemployment is unknown and, under current economic conditions, unknowable

Population below poverty line

68% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%:40.4% (1995)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

50.1 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 25 50.1 (1995)

Investment (gross fixed)

22.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86

Budget

revenues: $NA
expenditures:$NA (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

NA% of GDP (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

NA% of GDP (2010 est.)

Public debt

233.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1 277% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123 5.1% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

7.17% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1 975% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

41% (January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1 352% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$2.151 million (31 December 2008 est.)
note:Zimbabwe’s central bank no longer publishes data on monetary aggregates, except for bank deposits, which amounted to $2.1 billion in November 2010

the Zimbabwe dollar stopped circulating in early 2009

since then, the US dollar and South African rand have been the most frequently used currencies

there are no reliable estimates of the amount of foreign currency circulating in Zimbabwe

Stock of broad money

$3.057 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190 $NA (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$NA

Market value of publicly traded shares

$11.48 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 79 $5.333 billion (31 December 2007)
$26.56 billion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture – products

corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts

sheep, goats, pigs

Industries

mining (coal, gold, platinum, copper, nickel, tin, diamonds, clay, numerous metallic and nonmetallic ores), steel

wood products, cement, chemicals, fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs, beverages

Industrial production growth rate

6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70

Electricity – production

7.723 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98

Electricity – consumption

12.47 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83

Electricity – exports

54 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity – imports

5.268 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147

Oil – consumption

11,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146

Oil – imports

13,140 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209

Current account balance

-$767.3 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125 -$1.137 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$2.317 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127 $1.61 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

platinum, cotton, tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, textiles/clothing

Exports – partners

Democratic Republic of the Congo 14.8%, South Africa 13.4%, Botswana 13.2%, China 12.7%, Netherlands 5.9%, Italy 4.6% (2010)

Imports

$3.673 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130 $3.139 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery and transport equipment, other manufactures, chemicals, fuels, food products

Imports – partners

South Africa 58%, China 8.7% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$376 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154 $351 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$5.204 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108 $5.015 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$NA

Exchange rates

Zimbabwean dollars (ZWD) per US dollar -
234.25 (2010)
234 (2009)
30,000 (2007)
162 (2006)
78 (2005)

Transportation

Airports

216 (2010)
country comparison to the world:28

Airports – with paved runways

total: 19
over 3,047 m:3
2,438 to 3,047 m:2
1,524 to 2,437 m:5
914 to 1,523 m:9 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 197
1,524 to 2,437 m:3
914 to 1,523 m:120
under 914 m:74 (2010)

Pipelines

refined products 270 km (2010)

Railways

total: 3,427 km
country comparison to the world: 50 narrow gauge:3,427 km 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified) (2010)

Roadways

total: 97,267 km
country comparison to the world: 44 paved:18,481 km
unpaved:78,786 km (2002)

Waterways

(some navigation possible on Lake Kariba) (2009)

Ports and terminals

Binga, Kariba

Military

Military branches

Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF): Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ), Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) (2009)

Military service age and obligation

18-24 years of age for compulsory military service

women are eligible to serve (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,616,051
females age 16-49:2,868,376 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,528,166
females age 16-49:1,646,041 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 154,870
female:152,550 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 29

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

Botswana built electric fences and South Africa has placed military along the border to stem the flow of thousands of Zimbabweans fleeing to find work and escape political persecution

Namibia has supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 2,500 (Democratic Republic of Congo)
IDPs:569,685 (MUGABE-led political violence, human rights violations, land reform, and economic collapse) (2007)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Zimbabwe is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation

some victims of forced prostitution are subsequently transported across the border to South Africa where they suffer continued exploitation

Zimbabwean men, women, and children are subjected to forced labor in agriculture and domestic service in rural areas, as well as domestic servitude and sex trafficking in cities and towns

children are also utilized in the commission of illegal activities, including gambling and drug smuggling
tier rating:Tier 3 – the Government of Zimbabwe does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so

the government did not report investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of trafficking cases and continued to rely on an international organization to provide law enforcement training, coordinate victim care and repatriation, and lead prevention efforts (2011)

Illicit drugs

transit point for cannabis and South Asian heroin, mandrax, and methamphetamines en route to South Africa