Zimbabwe
Country Guide

Explore Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe with its capital Harare is located in Africa (Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia). It covers some 390,758 square kilometers (about four times the size of Indiana) with 13,805,100 citizens. English, Shona, South Ndebele and North Ndebele are the languages commonly used by the people in Zimbabwe (consider regional differences). Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia are bordering countries.

Zimbabwe is a country in Southern Africa. It is landlocked and is surrounded by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia to the northwest, and Mozambique to the east and north. Mana Pools National Park, South of the Zambezi river in the North of Zimbabwe, is a UNESCO world heritage site. A remote location, it welcomes happy few safari lovers with an abundance of elephant, hippo, lions, antelope, girafe and other animals, and over 350 bird species, in stunning landscapes.

Popular Destinations in Zimbabwe

Administrative regions of Zimbabwe

• Bulawayo Province
• Harare
• Manicaland Province
• Mashonaland Central
• Mashonaland East Province
• Mashonaland West
• Masvingo Province
• Matabeleland North Province
• Matabeleland South Province
• Midlands Province

About the country

The landscape is mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld) and mountains in east. The average density of population is about 35 per km². The climate in Zimbabwe can be described as tropicalmoderated by altitude, rainy season (November to March). Potential threats by nature are floods and severe storms are rare recurring droughts

To reach someone Zimbabwe dial +263 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".zw". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 240 V - 50 Hz (plugs: D, G). The sign for the locally used currency Dollar is ZWD.

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.

The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the former 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 1997 and intensified after 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. In 2005, the capital city of 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. MUGABE in 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. Movement for Democratic Change - Tsvangirai opposition leader Morgan TSVANGIRAI won the most votes in the presidential poll, but not enough to win outright. In the lead up to a run-off election in June 2008, considerable violence 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 of national unity," in which MUGABE remained president and TSVANGIRAI became prime minister, were finally settled in February 2009, although the leaders failed to agree upon many key outstanding governmental issues. MUGABE was reelected president in 2013 in balloting that was severely flawed and internationally condemned. As a prerequisite to holding the election, Zimbabwe enacted a new constitution by referendum, although many provisions in the new constitution have yet to be codified in law.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 62)	390,757	sq km
Land (World Rank: 60)	386,847	sq km
Water (World Rank: 74)	3,910	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 50)	31.30	%
Comparative	about four times the size of Indiana; slightly larger than Montana
Landborder
3229
Elevation
Lowest point (World Rank: 19)	162	m
Highest point (World Rank: 97)	2,592	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 98)	42.50	%
Arable (World Rank: 103)	10.90	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 160)	0.30	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 50)	31.30	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 79)	1,740	sq km
Map reference
Africa
Environment
Issues	- air and water pollution - deforestation - land degradation - poor mining practices have led to toxic waste and heavy metal pollution - soil erosion - the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly reduced by poaching
Agreement party	- Biodiversity - Climate Change - Desertification - Endangered Species - Law of the Sea - Ozone Layer Protection
Hazzards	- floods and severe storms are rare - recurring droughts
Location
Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia
Climate
tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)
Terrain
mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 72)	13,805,100
Deathrate (World Rank: 38)	1.02	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 25)	3.42	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 71)	1.56	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 174)	-0.85	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 36)	3.98	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 189)	19.60
Female (World Rank: 188)	20.40
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 65)	2,658,560
0 14 female (World Rank: 61)	2,711,020
15 24 male (World Rank: 69)	1,383,340
15 24 female (World Rank: 68)	1,442,740
25 54 male (World Rank: 78)	2,207,010
25 54 female (World Rank: 79)	2,197,000
55 64 male (World Rank: 104)	233,771
55 64 female (World Rank: 86)	355,738
65 x male (World Rank: 96)	251,968
65 x female (World Rank: 92)	363,944
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 57)	3.27	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 200)	60	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 201)	63	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 201)	58	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 168)	0.07
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 117)	1.70
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 174)	36.80	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 126)	15.50	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 166)	76.90	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 105)	9,384,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 105)	7,630,000,000	kWh
Export (World Rank: 53)	1,239,000,000	kWh
Import (World Rank: 62)	1,139,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 136)	58.00	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 53)	37.10	%
Source renew (World Rank: 95)	5.00	%
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 122)	29,000	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 102)	26,390	bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 152)	11	m³
Carbon footprint
11000000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 6)	8	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 47)	2	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 98)	6	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 193)	-10	% of GDP
National symbol
Zimbabwe bird symbol
National colours
yellow
Adjective
Zimbabwean
Noun
Zimbabwean(s)
Background
The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the former 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 1997 and intensified after 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. In 2005, the capital city of 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. MUGABE in 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. Movement for Democratic Change - Tsvangirai opposition leader Morgan TSVANGIRAI won the most votes in the presidential poll, but not enough to win outright. In the lead up to a run-off election in June 2008, considerable violence 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 of national unity," in which MUGABE remained president and TSVANGIRAI became prime minister, were finally settled in February 2009, although the leaders failed to agree upon many key outstanding governmental issues. MUGABE was reelected president in 2013 in balloting that was severely flawed and internationally condemned. As a prerequisite to holding the election, Zimbabwe enacted a new constitution by referendum, although many provisions in the new constitution have yet to be codified in law.
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

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 128)	32,380,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 179)	0.70	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 199)	2,200	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 77)	12.50	%
Source industry (World Rank: 102)	27.00	%
Source service (World Rank: 117)	60.60	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 64)	7,701,000
In poverty (World Rank: 2)	72.30	%
Products
Industries	- beverages - cement - chemicals - clay - clothing - coal - copper - diamonds - fertilizer - foodstuffs - footwear - gold - mining - nickel - nonmetallic ores - numerous metallic - platinum - steel - tin - wood products
Agriculture	- coffee - corn - cotton - goats - peanuts - pigs - sheep - sugarcane - tobacco - wheat
Exports	- cotton - ferroalloys - gold - platinum - textiles/clothing - tobacco
Imports	- chemicals - food products - fuels - machinery - other manufactures - transport equipment

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 112)	305,720
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 178)	2.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 148)	89.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 93)	3,363,260
Population (World Rank: 180)	23.10	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 89)	17.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 21)	179.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 56)	3,427
Road
Total length (World Rank: 49)	97,267
Paved length (World Rank: 62)	18,481
Unpaved length (World Rank: 26)	78,786

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